Social Studies · Primary 1

Active learning ideas

Social Networks and Relationship Building

Young learners thrive when they explore social concepts through movement, talk, and play. This topic on friendships gives them concrete ways to practice kindness and listening, linking new ideas to familiar school routines. Active tasks let them test ideas in safe, guided settings before applying them in real interactions.

• MOE Syllabus Outcomes
• MOE: Social Psychology - MS

• 20–30 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Role Play
• 20 min · Pairs

Pair Brainstorm: Good Friend Qualities

Partners discuss and list three qualities of a good friend on chart paper. Pairs share one idea with the class, which the teacher records on a shared anchor chart. End with a class vote on top qualities.

What makes someone a good friend?

Facilitation Tip

For Pair Brainstorm: Good Friend Qualities, set a timer so pairs discuss for 1 minute, then swap partners and share one new idea to keep energy high.

What to look for

Show students pictures of different social interactions (e.g., one child sharing a toy, another child ignoring someone). Ask students to point to the picture that shows a 'good friend' and explain why using one vocabulary word.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Role Play
• 30 min · Small Groups

Role Play: Making Friends

Set up three stations with scenarios: greeting a new classmate, inviting to play, resolving a small disagreement. Small groups rotate, practicing and performing for the group. Debrief what worked well.

How do you make a new friend?

Facilitation Tip

In Role Play Stations: Making Friends, provide props like toy phones or puppets to reduce self-consciousness and focus on the social steps.

What to look for

Pose the scenario: 'Imagine a new student joins your class and looks sad. What are two things you could say or do to show them you care and want to be their friend?' Facilitate a brief class discussion, noting student responses.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Role Play
• 25 min · Whole Class

Friendship Web Toss: Showing Care

Students sit in a circle. One holds a ball of yarn, names a caring action for a friend, and tosses to another who repeats. Continue until a web forms, then reflect on the network.

What do you say or do to show a friend that you care about them?

Facilitation Tip

For Friendship Web Toss: Showing Care, use a soft ball and encourage a gentle underhand throw to create a relaxed space for sharing kind words.

What to look for

Give each student a small piece of paper. Ask them to draw one way they can be a good friend at school tomorrow and write one word describing that action.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 04

• Role Play
• 20 min · Individual

Draw Your Network Map

Each child draws a simple map of their friends and family connections, labeling relationships. Pairs then exchange maps and discuss one new connection they notice.

What makes someone a good friend?

Facilitation Tip

During Draw Your Network Map, model how to draw lines between people so students see connections clearly before adding details.

What to look for

Show students pictures of different social interactions (e.g., one child sharing a toy, another child ignoring someone). Ask students to point to the picture that shows a 'good friend' and explain why using one vocabulary word.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers approach this topic by modeling the language of friendship and giving children repeated chances to rehearse it. Keep sessions short and playful to match young attention spans. Avoid over-correcting during role plays; instead, guide reflections afterward to build awareness without discouraging effort.

Successful learning looks like children naming qualities of good friends, trying out new words and actions during role plays, and showing care through simple gestures. You will notice growing confidence as students share ideas, listen to peers, and reflect on their own relationships.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Pair Brainstorm: Good Friend Qualities, watch for pairs listing only traits like 'always agrees' or 'always shares'.

  Ask guiding questions such as 'What could you do if your friend wants to play with blocks and you want to play with cars?' to highlight compromise during the brainstorm.

• During Role Play Stations: Making Friends, listen for students saying 'I only play with my best friend'.

  Use the role play cards to introduce scenarios where children practice inviting others to join an activity, showing that friendship groups can expand.

• During Friendship Web Toss: Showing Care, notice children offering only physical help like 'I will give you my snack'.

  Prompt them to add words by asking 'What kind words could you say at the same time?' to connect care actions with verbal kindness.

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Methods used in this brief

• Role Play