Who Makes a Good Friend? Print

A Lesson Plan from Life Planning Education: A Youth Development Program (Chapter Four)

NOTE:  Life Planning Education (LPE) is currently being revised. The printed/for-sale version includes an older version of this lesson plan. Please make sure you have looked at the PDF of Life Planning Education before purchasing - that is the version that is available to buy.

Purpose: To identify the qualities of a good friend.

Materials: One index card for each participant; container for collecting cards; newsprint and markers; board and chalk, pens/ pencils

Time: 30-40 minutes

Procedure:

  1. Explain that, by the early teen years, relationships with friends become extremely important. Say that this activity will focus on relationships with friends, examining what kind of friend is worth having.
  2. Ask everyone to think of a person they call a good friend, maybe even a best friend. Distribute index cards to everyone and write the following on newsprint or the board:
    “(Name of friend) is my good friend because …"
  3. Have participants copy the sentence on their index cards and complete it, filling in the name of a close friend and a characteristic or quality that makes the person a good friend. Reassure the participants that no one but you will see their index cards.
  4. After a few minutes, collect the index cards and place them in the container. Explain that you will read each one, omitting the name of the friend but reading aloud the qualities mentioned. As you read each card, list (on the board or newsprint) the qualities the participants identified. Translate long descriptions into one or two nouns. For example, rewrite “he always tells me the truth about things” as “honesty,” or “he never puts me down” as “respect.” If a quality is repeated, put a check beside it to indicate that it was identified more than once.
  5. When you have gone over all the cards and the list is complete, divide the participants into small groups of four or five and give them the following task:
    • Work together to list five qualities you want in a close friend.
    • Rank the qualities “1” for the most important and “5” for the least important.
  6. Allow about 10 minutes, then ask each group to share their choices and rankings.
  7. Conclude the activity using the discussion points below.

Discussion Points:

  1. Was it easy or difficult to decide which five qualities were most important? Why?
  2. How did your group decide which quality was most important? Was there disagreement? What were some of the other choices in your group?
  3. Did males and females choose friends for different reasons?
  4. Which qualities are especially difficult to find in a friend?
  5. What desirable qualities do you bring to friendships?
  6. What qualities would you like to develop to bring to your friendships?


Life Planning Education, Advocates for Youth, Updated 2009.

Adapted with permission from Teen Outreach Program: A Revised Curriculum Guide, Association of Junior Leagues, International, New York, NY.