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By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Identify key components of healthy friendships
- Analyze the role of friendship in teenage development
- Evaluate their own friendship dynamics

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Students will develop:
- Critical thinking about relationships
- Communication skills
- Self-reflection abilities

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Essential Question: 'What makes a true friend?' Students discuss in pairs and share with class.

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Teacher presents key aspects of healthy friendships. Students will use Padlet to create a collaborative wall of friendship qualities.

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Friendships make life a little easier

Having good friends can help boost your emotional wellbeing. Good friends do more than just making you feel happy, they are there for you when things get tough, and help support you in lots of different ways.

Friends come and go in our life and it doesn't matter how long a friendship lasts, the most important thing is that your friend accepts you for you.

What makes a good friend?

A good friend is there for you no matter what, and will always have your back when things get difficult

A good friend will comfort you when you are upset or crying

A good friend will laugh with you and make you smile

A good friend is kind, respectful and listens to you

A good friend is trustworthy and willing to tell you the truth, even when it's hard for you to hear

A good friend will encourage you to be a better person and inspire you to achieve more in life

Most importantly, a good friend is someone that you enjoy talking to and spending time with

While most friendships are positive, sometimes we have people who we think are friends, but can make life a little difficult.

What type of friend is this?

Someone who will talk about you behind your back or could even share your secrets with others

Someone who will pressure you into doing things that you don't want to do, and could force you into making bad decisions

Someone who will constantly judge, question you or make you feel bad about yourself

Someone who won't be there for you when you need support or advice

Someone who could take advantage of you, and only talk to you or hang out with you when they want something

Someone like this is no friend at all.

Having good friends is important, but it's also important to be a good friend in return. You should aim to be the type of friend that you would wish to have.

How can I be a good friend?

Make time for your friends and be a good listener, offering advice and support when needed

Be trustworthy and keep your promises and secrets as best you can

Apologise if you have made a mistake. Remember, not everyone is perfect and mistakes happen, so be willing to work through any disagreements or arguments

Just be yourself and accept your friend for who they are

Be respectful of your friends opinions, beliefs or feelings

Encourage and support your friend, and help them grow as a person

Look out for them even if it means getting support from others to help keep them safe. This might be difficult to do and your friend may not like it at the time, but they will be grateful of your support later on

Remember: Good friendships can help in many ways, from improving your mood to supporting you through difficult times and everything in between. Some friendships will last longer than others, but all friendships play an important part in your life.

How to get help

If you have any more questions on this area or would like to speak to somebody about this topic, have a look at the links or search for your local services in the blue box below. Alternatively you can always contact your school nurse.

Find help in your local area

Find help in your local area

Find out what services are available to you in your area. Remember your school nurse is always there to give you confidential help and support.

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Love your body, love yourself, #lovehealth

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Friendship: Just The Facts | Health For Teens

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Having good friends can help boost your emotional wellbeing. Good friends do more than just making you feel happy, they are there for you when things get tough, and help support you in lots of different ways.

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Small groups analyze different friendship scenarios and discuss solutions to common friendship challenges.

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Toxic vs Healthy Friendships | What’s the Difference for Teenagers?

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Students individually complete a friendship web diagram identifying their support network.

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Class shares insights about maintaining healthy friendships while respecting personal boundaries.

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Advanced students can create a digital friendship advice column using Padlet's collaboration features.

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Teacher observes group discussions and evaluates student participation in scenario analysis.

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Students complete a friendship quality checklist rating their own friendship behaviors.

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Students provide constructive feedback on each other's friendship web diagrams.

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Students write one new insight about friendship and one action they'll take to be a better friend.

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Class creates a word cloud of the most important friendship qualities discussed today.

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Write a one-page reflection on how today's lesson will influence your approach to friendships.

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Create a digital or physical friendship appreciation card for a close friend, incorporating at least three qualities discussed in class.

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Easy & Beautiful WHITE PAPER Friendship Day Greeting Card | DIY Handmade Card for Best Friend

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Find and analyze a news article or story about teenage friendship and prepare a brief summary.