# Lesson 211: Making friends

❤️ SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (40 Lessons) • 🔵 B. Understanding Others

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## Objective

I can use friendly words and kind actions to try to make friends. I can ask to join play kindly, and I can still feel okay if someone says "no" or "not now".

## Materials

- Plain paper or a notebook page
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Optional: small stickers or hearts to mark friendly choices

## Mini-lesson — How do we make friends?

A friend is someone we like to play with and spend time with. Friends use kind words, kind actions, and respect.

Friendly words to start

- Saying "Hi, my name is…"
- Asking, "Do you want to play with me?"
- Saying, "Can I join your game?"

Kind actions with new friends

- Sharing toys or space in the game.
- Listening to the other person's ideas.
- Taking turns choosing what to play.

When someone says "yes"

- We can smile and say, "Thank you."
- We try to follow the game rules.
- We remember to be kind and gentle while we play.

When someone says "no" or "not now"

- We can still be polite.
- We can say, "Okay" or "Maybe another time."
- We can find something else safe and fun to do, or ask a different child.

Keeping friends

- Good friends try to fix small problems with kind words.
- They say "I am sorry" when they make a mistake.
- They remember that everyone needs space sometimes.

Adults can help by showing simple scripts and practising them, so children feel more ready to try friendly words.

Picture strip: "Can I play with you?"

## Guided Practice — Friendship scripts

You and an adult will practise short friendship scripts to help you feel ready to talk to new friends.

1. On a notebook page, draw three speech bubbles in a column. Number them 1, 2, and 3.
2. In bubble 1, the adult helps you write or trace: "Hi, my name is ______."
3. In bubble 2, write or trace: "Do you want to play with me?" or "Can I join your game?"
4. In bubble 3, choose a polite answer for when someone says no, such as: "Okay, maybe another time." Write or trace it in the bubble.
5. Next to each speech bubble, draw two simple stick figures (you and another child) to show the conversation.
6. Practise reading the three bubbles aloud with the adult. The adult can switch roles so you can practise being both the person who asks and the person who answers kindly.

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Practice — Friendship circles

Use this practice to help your child notice who feels safe to play with and how they can be a friendly classmate.

1. On a new page, draw three circles like a target: a small circle in the middle, a bigger circle, and a biggest circle.
2. In the middle circle, write or trace: "Good friends I feel very safe with". The child can draw tiny pictures or write initials of one or two close friends or family members.
3. In the next circle, write or trace: "Children I like to play with sometimes". Add pictures or initials for classmates or neighbours they know.
4. In the outside circle, write or trace: "New children I might say hello to". Draw simple faces to show possible new friends.
5. Talk with the child: "Who do you feel safest with?" and "What friendly words can you use with children in each circle?"
6. Choose one small friendly action to try this week, like saying hello to someone in the outside circle, if it feels safe and comfortable.

## Quick Check — Making friends

Answer each question about friendly words, kind actions, and respecting others when you try to make friends.

1) What is a friend?

Someone who always lets you win. Someone you like to play and spend time with. Someone you must follow all the time.
A friend is someone you enjoy being with.

2) Which words can help you start making a friend?

"Hi, my name is…" "Go away. I do not like you." Saying nothing and pushing in.
Friendly words like "Hi, my name is…" can start a friendship.

3) Which question is a friendly way to join a game?

"Move. I am playing now." "You have to let me play." "Can I play with you?"
Asking "Can I play with you?" is friendly and polite.

4) A child says, "Not right now." What is a respectful answer?

"You are mean. I will push you." "Okay, maybe another time." Keep asking again and again.
Saying "Okay, maybe another time" respects their choice.

5) Which action can help keep a friendship?

Listening to your friend's ideas in a game. Always shouting your ideas only. Taking toys away without asking.
Listening and sharing ideas helps friendships grow.

6) Your friend looks sad and quiet. What is a kind friendship choice?

Laugh and ignore them. Tell them, "You are not allowed to be sad." Ask, "Are you okay?" or "Do you want to play?"
Checking in with kind words is a friendly action.

7) Which sentence shows a good friend?

"You must play only my way." "Let us take turns choosing the game." "If you do not let me win, I will not be your friend."
Good friends take turns and share choices.

8) You accidentally bump your friend and they fall. What is a friendly thing to do?

Say, "I am sorry. Are you okay?" Laugh and run away. Tell them it was their fault.
Saying sorry and checking on them is a friendly action.

9) If a game does not feel safe or kind to you, what can you do?

Stay and let people be mean. Be mean back. Step away, find something else safe to do, or ask an adult for help.
Friendship should feel safe; you can leave and ask for help.

10) What is one big goal of this lesson?

To force people to be friends with us. To learn kind, respectful ways to make and keep friends. To win every game we play.
The goal is to make and keep friends with kind, respectful choices.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can say in simple words what a friend is. Student can use at least one friendly greeting (for example, "Hi, my name is…"). Student can ask to join play in a kind, respectful way. Student understands that it is okay if someone says "no" and can choose a polite answer. Student can give one example of a safe, friendly action in a real-life setting (home, school, or playground).

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can use friendly words and actions to try to make friends. 🙂 I know some friendship ideas, but I want more practice. 😅 Making friends still feels a bit tricky for me.

#### Next time I will practise…

Saying "Hi, my name is…" Asking, "Can I play with you?" Being polite even if someone says "no"
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