Friendships

Unit Plan
Years 7

Friendships unit plan

Year 6-7

Objective
The objective of this unit plan is to give students the opportunity to explore friendships
and how they can influence a persons health and wellbeing. Students will investigate
the attributes of positive and negative friendships and learn how to deal with tricky situations they may encounter in friendships. Student will also research resources available
to help students learn how to navigate the complicated world of friendships.

Outcomes
By the end of this unit of work students will have an understanding of what positive and negative friendship look, sound and feel like. Students will develop and range of strategies and skill
to deal with situations such as negative friendships and peer pressure

Curriculum Areas
Health and physical education
Year 6
Personal, Social and Community Health

Examine how identities are influenced by people and places (ACPPS051)

Investigate community resources and ways to seek help

about health,safety and wellbeing (ACPPS053)

Communicating and interacting for health and wellbeing

Practise skills to establish and manage relationships (ACPPS055)

Year 7
Communicating and interacting for health and wellbeing

Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own
and others health and wellbeing (ACPPS074)

Analyse factors that influence emotions , and develop strategies to demonstrate empathy and sensitivity (ACPPS075)

Lesson 1 - Friendships and Feelings

Lesson objective
The aim for this lesson is for students to explore the feelings surrounding positive and negative
friendships in order to initiate each students thought process regarding how relationships can effect
theirs and others wellbeing.

Outcome
By the end of this lesson students will have an understanding of some of the feeling surrounding
positive and negative friendships and be able to represent their feelings about a chosen friendship
through the use of art.

Lesson Duration
50 minutes

Australian Curriculum
Communicating and interacting for health and wellbeing

Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own and others health and wellbeing (ACPPS074).

Lesson outline

Student will work in small groups 3-4 to create a Y chart of what they think a positive
friendship feels, looks and sounds like.

Student will work in small groups 3-4 to create a Y chart of what they think a negative
friendship feels, looks and sounds like.

Each group will share some of their ideas with the class to create a class Y chart for both positive and negative friendships.

As a class discuss and list how you would feel if you were in a positive and negative friendship and create a class list of positive an negative friendship feelings. (example: a positive
friendship would make you feel supported and safe and a negative friendship would make
you feel lonely and undervalued).

Illustrate a picture that captures how you have felt in a past positive or negative friendship.

Assessment
Each child will choose either positive or negative friendship feelings and using the class list for ideas
illustrate a picture that captures these feelings.

Collect and grade artwork.

Lesson 2 - Friendship Tree

Lesson objective
The aim for this lesson is for students to use the information generated in the previous lesson to
produce qualities of a positive friendship and qualities of a negative friendship. These qualities will
be displayed using the friendship tree.

Outcome
By the end of this lesson students will have a greater understanding of what qualities a good
friendship entails, whilst also discovering some of the undesirable qualities we would prefer our
friendships not to have. By exploring these qualities students gain insight into each others thoughts
about the good and bad qualities of friendships.

Lesson Duration
50 minutes

Australian Curriculum
Communicating and interacting for health and wellbeing

Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own and others health and wellbeing (ACPPS074).

Lesson outline
1. Introduce the concept of the friendship tree.

Leaf = member of the class community (each childs name)

Fruit = positive friendship qualities.

Rotten fruit on ground = negative friendship qualities.

2. Each child is provided with 1 leaf, 1 piece of fruit and one piece of rotten fruit (template in appendix).
3. Each child writes their name on their leaf and together build the canopy of the friendship tree
(teacher make trunk of tree using any material available such a paint or crepe paper)
4. As small groups of 3-4 the students discuss the positive and negative qualities of friendship and
compile a list.
5. Each group will share their idea with the class while the teacher compiles a positive and negative qualities list for future reference (this could be done on butchers paper or the interactive
white board)
6. Each student writes a positive and negative quality on a piece of fruit (by compiling the class
list hopefully their will be many different qualities on the fruit rathe then them all being similar.)
7. As each student sticks their fruit on or below the tree have them share with the class how they
think this quality helps or hinders and friendship and why. To help students understand what is
expect the teacher can place their pieces of fruit first.

Resources needed

Butchers paper for Y charts

Markers

Whiteboard or smart board to create class lists

Paper and art supplies to create friendship feelings illustration (teacher can choose a medium or allow students to choose)

Assessment
The most important aspect to this lesson is participation in group activity and their justification for
choosing their positive and negative friendship qualities.

Notes and observations.

Resources needed

Photocopied leaf, and fruit template (could be more effective is templates were printed on
coloured card)

Markers

Butches paper

Tree trunk to place leaves and fruit on.

(there are many options for the tree trunk, it all depends on the space you have available. You
could use a tree trunk painted on a big piece of paper, a tree trunk made using crepe paper on a
window or wall or you could even source a big branch and paint it your only limited by your creativity!!)

Lesson 3 - Benefits of Friendship

Lesson objective
The aim for this lesson is for students to explore their own friendships and how they have felt in the
past when they have had positive friendships and negative friendship. This differs from previous
exploration of positive and negative friendship as it is a personal reflection.

Outcome
Students will think about their personal relationships with others and explain how these relationships benefit them. They will write a short piece about what benefits they receive from a particular
friendship and how this friendship makes them feel.

Lesson Duration
50 minutes

Australian Curriculum
Communicating and interacting for health and wellbeing

Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own and others health and wellbeing (ACPPS074).

Lesson outline
1.

In their books or on paper students will respond to the following questions:

Think of one of your friendships and write a list of benefits you get from this friendship.

examples: company, support, laughter, excitement.

How do you think you would feel without this friendship? List some feelings?

Examples: sad , lonely, bored.

2. Write a small paragraph (minimum 4-5 sentences) about one of your friendships and how this
friendship makes your feel and why you think it make you feel this way. (can be a positive or negative friendship)

Assessment
Collect and mark lists and paragraph.

Resources needed

Questions on worksheet, whiteboard or interactive whiteboard. (Worksheet in appendix)

Books or paper to write on.

Lesson 4 - How We Act

Lesson objective
The aim for this lesson is to explore the realm of peer pressure and peer influence through the use
of scenarios and group discussion.

Outcome
By the end of this lesson students will have a greater understand of what peer pressure is and the
power of peer pressure. They will gain an understanding that we act differently depending on who
we are around and how this can effect their health, wellbeing and safety.

Australian Curriculum
Personal, Social and Community Health

Examine how identities are influenced by people and places (ACPPS051)

Communicating and interacting for health and wellbeing

Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own and others health and wellbeing (ACPPS074).

Examine how individuals, family and peer groups influence peoples behaviours, decisions
and actions.

Lesson outline
1. What is peer pressure? Ask the students what they think peer pressure is. Display answers on
whiteboard or butchers paper.
2. Teacher to introduce peer pressure and the different forms of peer pressure
Indirect, direct, positive , negative. (teacher cheat sheet in appendix)
3. Children will work through peer pressure scenarios as groups of 3-4 (Scenarios in appendix).
students will then decide if their peer pressure scenario is direct, indirect, positive or negative.
4. Discuss as a class how they think each scenario would change if they were on their own, with the
family or in a group?. Do your actions change if you are with different people? Why do you think
this happens?

Assessment
The most important aspect to this lesson is participation in group activity and their explanations as
to why they think their actions in scenarios would change or stay the same depending on who you
are with.

Notes and observations.

Resources needed

Scenario cards (see appendix).

Peer pressure info (on whiteboard).

Lesson 5 - Resisting Peer Pressure

Lesson objective
The aim for this lesson is to explore the website the cool spot in particular their pages on peer
pressure and the right to resist. From this students will gain greater understanding of peer pressure
and learn different ways and options you have when resisting peer pressure.

Outcome
By the end of this lesson students will have a greater understand of the different form peer pressure can come in and how to resist different types of peer pressure. Student will learn strategies
and hint on how to resist peer pressure in the future.

Lesson duration
40-50 minutes

Australian Curriculum
Personal, Social and Community Health

Investigate community resources and ways to seek help

about health,safety and wellbeing (ACPPS053)

Lesson outline
1.

This lesson will take place in a school computer lab or in class using iPads connected to the
school wifi. Students will access the website the coolspot and explore the information under
the peer pressure and the right to resist tabs.

2.

Students will fill out peer pressure and resisting peer pressure worksheet record the information learnt.

Assessment
Students will complete a resisting peer pressure worksheet to record knowledge obtained during
this online activity.

Collect and mark work sheet

Resources needed

Access to iPads or computer lab. Enough for one computer each or one per pair.

Resisting peer pressure worksheet (see appendix)

Lesson 6 - Sticky Situations

Lesson objective
The aim for this lesson is to use the knowledge that has been learnt in this unit so far to roleplay
saying no to different peer pressure scenarios.

Outcome
By the end of this lesson student will have practical experience using som of the resisting peer pressure strategies they have learnt during this unit of work so far.

Lesson duration
50 to 90 minutes

Australian Curriculum
Communicating and interacting for health and wellbeing

Practise skills to establish and manage relationships (ACPPS055)

Lesson outline
1.

Teacher will introduce lesson and split students into group of 3-4 and given a scenario. (5
mins)

2.

Students need to discuss and work together to come up with the best way to resist the peer
pressure scenario they have been given (5 -10 mins)

3.

Student will be given time to practice their role play (10-15 mins)

4.

Student will preform their role play to the class.

5.

Students watching role play will provide team roleplaying with feedback in the form of 1
star and 1 wish. A star is something they did well and a wish is something they could have
done differently for next time.

6. Assessment
Participation is key to getting the most of this lesson the teacher will observe children during the
discussion and practicing section of lesson. Peer feedback

Peer feedback 1 star 1 wish. (see appendix for template)

Resources needed

Peer pressure scenario cards

1 star 1 wish sheets.

Lesson 7 Finding Help

Lesson objective
The aim for this lesson is to investigate place, people and online resources you can use when you
are experiencing trouble when it comes to friendships, peer pressure and bullying.

Outcome
Students will find and know how to access resources that will help them during difficult experiences
such as making friends, peer pressure, and bullying.

Lesson duration
50 minutes

Australian Curriculum
Personal, Social and Community Health

Investigate community resources and ways to seek help

about health,safety and wellbeing (ACPPS053)

Lesson outline
1.

Teacher will discuss looking for help or getting strategies from online by showing a video on
YouTube about how to end bad friendships. Link : - https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=wPwck0EQkgs

2.

Student will use computers or iPads to research and discover online resources that can be
used if they are experiencing trouble making or keeping friends, peer pressure or bullying.

3.

Students will fill out worksheet with details of each website they find so that we can create a
class directory of helpful websites. Each child must do at least 1 website however the more is
encouraged.

Assessment

Student will be assessed on the details worksheet they provide for the class directory each
child is require to do at least one website.

Resources needed

Access to computer lab or iPads

Worksheet to enter website details.

Websites that may be helpful

Youtube - www.youtube.com
Reachout - http://au.reachout.com/
Kids help line - https://kidshelpline.com.au

Appendices

Lesson 2friendship tree templates

Lesson 2Friendship tree templates

Lesson 3Benefits of Friendship

Worksheet
Think of one of your friendships and write a list of benefits you get from this friendship. examples:
company, support, laughter, excitement.

How do you think you would feel without this friendship? List some feelings?
Examples: sad , lonely, bored.

Write a small paragraph (minimum 4-5 sentences) about one of your friendships and how this
friendship makes your feel and why you think it make you feel this way. (can be a positive or negative friendship)

Peer Pressure Teacher Cheat Sheet

What is Peer pressure?
Peer pressure is the powerful feeling of pressure from someone your own age that can push you
toward making certain choices, good or bad. Peer pressure can take a number of different forms,
both spoken and unspoken, and can lead to risky, disapproved, or personally unwanted behavior.
Information sourced from http://www.thecoolspot.gov/documents/2peerpressurebagoftricks%20final%
20edits%2010-31-07mg.pdf

Negative Peer Pressure

Negative peer pressure is friends negatively influencing each other. This can be direct or indirect.
Examples of negative peer: can be as simple as talking someone into doing something they otherwise wouldn't do such as cheating on a test or bullying to more serious forms such as talking someone into trying drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, and sex.

Direct Negative Peer Pressure

One of the most powerful forms of peer pressure is direct peer pressure as it entails a friend directly
asking someone to do something. Which is the hardest to resist if you do not know any resistance
strategies. It is also hard to resist as you may be afraid of upsetting or losing friends if you do resist.

Indirect Negative Peer Pressure

Indirect negative peer pressure is not as powerful as direct peer pressure but can still greatly influence the decisions we make. Indirect peer pressure is what we see and hear our peers doing such as
what they wear and how they act. We then follow suit to be part of the group. No one asks you to
do this but we feel we have to in order to fit in. You may think this type of peer pressure is easier
to resist but it is equally as difficult due to not wanting to seem uncool in the eyes of your peers.

Positive Peer Pressure

Positive peer pressure is when your friends push you or influence you to do good thing and excel.
This is the good type of peer pressure. It's when friends push you to do great things and empower
you. A teen may feel empowered by his/her friends because they are encourages and complimented when they do good deeds etc.
Information sourced from http://teens.lovetoknow.com/Type_of_Peer_Pressure

Lesson 4How We Act

Scenario Cards

Scenario 1 - You are at the mall with a group of friends and they want
you to steal a chocolate bar from the supermarket. They say they do it all the
time and never get caught. What would you do?

Scenario 2 - Your friends all have new Nike sneakers. Yesterday someone
pointed out that you did not have Nike sneakers and this made you feel left
out. What do you do?

Scenario 3 - You have a maths test after lunch and you aren't very confident you will do well. Your friend from a different class offers to give you the
answers as their class did the test yesterday. What would you do?

Scenario 4 - At lunch your friends are throwing their potato chips at shy
girl from your class. You can tell she is upset but you dont want your friends
to not like you so you throw a chip at her as well.

Scenario 5 - your friend volunteers at the local nursing home on Saturdays

helping the elderly in their gardens. She is always talking about how much
she loves doing this and asks if you want to join her on the weekend.

The Coolspot - Resisting peer pressure

worksheet
What is peer pressure?

What is spoken peer pressure?

What is unspoken peer pressure?

What are the peer pressure tricks?

Can peer pressure be positive? Give examples of positive peer pressure.

What are the 5 quick tips for resisting peer pressure.

List 3 of the dos and 3 donts when resisting spoken peer pressure.

What is the best way to say no, give an example of when you have resisted peer pressure.

Two stars one wish templates

Helpful Website Worksheet

Title of website

Link

What is it used for?

What issues doe it discuss/cover?

What did you like most about this website?

Title of website

Link

What is it used for?

What issues doe it discuss/cover?

What did you like most about this website?