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 recognize different kinds of friends.

Materials: For each participant, one copy of the handout, Circles of Friendships; newsprint and markers or board and chalk; pens/pencils

Time: 20-30 minutes

Planning Notes:

• For Step 3, draw a large illustration of your circles of friends on newsprint or the board. To do so, follow the instructions in Step 4.
  

Procedure:

1. Point out that not all friends are best friends or even close friends. In fact, friends can range from very close to not so close. Ask if participants know what you mean.
2. Display the large illustration of your circles of friendships. Explain that this represents your friendships, with your closest friends in the circle closest to the center, casual friends in the next circle, and acquaintances in the outside circle.
3. Distribute the handout and ask participants to make their own friendship circles:
• Write your name in the center circle.
• Write the name(s) of your closest friend(s) in the next circle.
• Write in the middle circle the names of casual friends, those you know well enough to talk to or have lunch with, but not as well as your closest friends.
• Write in the outer circle the names of acquaintances, people you speak with sometimes, but do not think of as friends.
4. Allow five to 10 minutes for participants to complete their circles.
5. Conclude the activity using the discussion points below.
   

Discussion Points:

1. Some people have many several best friends while others have one best friend. Some have many casual friends while others think of most people as acquaintances. What did you learn about your own friendships from this activity?
2. How did you decide who is in your inner circle? The middle circle? The outside circle?
3. What are the ages of your closest friends? Casual friends? Acquaintances? Why do people choose friends of different ages? Are there advantages from having an older adolescent or adult as a friend? Disadvantages?
4. In which circles did you place friends of the same? Other sex? Why?
5. What are two things that you would talk about with close friends, but not with casual friends or acquaintances? Why?
6. Would you like to make changes in your friendship circles? Which ones?
7. What three things you could do to get to know an acquaintance better? To grow closer to a casual friend?
   

Life Planning Education, Advocates for Youth, Updated 2009.

Adapted with permission from Sexuality Education: A Curriculum for Adolescents, ETR Associates, Santa Cruz, CA, 1984. For information about this and other related materials, call 1-800-321-1407.