Making friends and building connections

Adolescence is a period of rapid change and discovery. Making lasting friendships during this time is an important coping strategy and skill. This lesson explores ways students can form new connections in a variety of contexts.

Year Level

7-8

Duration

60 minutes

Type

  • In class activity

SEL Competencies

  • Social awareness
  • Relationship skills

Learning Intention

Students examine ways to form new connections and relationships.

Key Outcomes

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • describe a variety of ways to make new friends
  • identify some reasons why friends are important.
Activity 01

Bingo: Find someone who... 15 min

  1. Explain to students that one way to make new friends and get to know people is to identify things you have in common with them.
  2. Provide students with a 4x4 bingo grid. (They could draw this in their books or use a handout.)
  3. Invite students to roam the room talking to each other to find people who have things in common with them.
  4. For each match they find, students write what they have in common in one of the grid squares, and have their match sign the box.
  5. Students have completed the task when all the squares are filled.

Some examples could include:

  • They like the same sport as you.
  • They have the same number of family members as you.
  • Their eyes are the same colour as yours.
  • They follow the same football team as you.
  • You like the same kind of music.
  • Their name starts with the same letter as yours.
  • Their pet dog is the same breed as yours.
  • Like you, they broke their arm when younger.

Note: A time limit can be applied. Encourage students to fill as many squares as possible before the time is up.