Building Healthy Connections

Overview

This 60-minute PSHE session aims to develop Year 5 students' understanding of relationships, focusing on respect, communication, empathy, and the qualities of healthy friendships. This lesson aligns with the PSHE association Programme of Study for Key Stage 2 and the National Curriculum for Relationships Education guidance (England).

National Curriculum Links

Relationships Education – Key Stage 2

By the end of primary school, pupils should know:

How friendships can support mental wellbeing and the importance of respect, including recognising differences
That healthy friendships are based on mutual respect, trust, and caring
How to manage conflict positively and recognise bullying
Basic skills for active listening, effective communication, and showing empathy

PSHE Association Programme of Study (KS2)

Pupils should have opportunities to:

Develop knowledge and understanding of different types of relationships
Explore respect and empathy as core relationship skills
Learn to communicate effectively, including listening and expressing feelings
Reflect on strategies to maintain positive relationships

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

Describe key characteristics of healthy relationships, including respect and trust.
Demonstrate respectful communication and active listening in a group setting.
Show empathy by recognising and responding sensitively to others’ feelings.
Reflect on their own experiences of friendship and identify ways to improve relationships.

Success Criteria

Pupils can identify at least three qualities of healthy friendships.
Pupils actively participate in respectful discussions and role plays.
Pupils show understanding of empathy through thoughtful role-play responses.
Pupils complete a reflection that shows insight into their own relationships.

Resources Needed

Scenario cards for role play (various friendship situations)
Whiteboard and markers
Reflection worksheet (What makes a good friend? What can I do better?)
Emotion flashcards showing facial expressions
Large paper for group mind-map (qualities of a healthy relationship)

Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (10 minutes)

“Emotion Match” – Understanding Empathy

Show emotion flashcards (happy, sad, frustrated, excited).
Ask volunteers to name emotions and share a time they felt this way in a friendship.
Brief discussion on why recognising emotions in others is important in relationships.

Curriculum focus: Recognising and responding to emotions (PSHE Association KS2)

2. Introduction to Healthy Relationships (10 minutes)

Interactive Mind Map

On a large paper or whiteboard, brainstorm the qualities of a healthy friendship (e.g., respect, trust, kindness, honesty, listening).
As pupils contribute ideas, probe gently with questions: “How do we show respect?” “Why is trust important?”
Teacher consolidates with clear definitions aligned with curriculum language.

Curriculum focus: Understanding mutual respect and trust (Relationships Education)

3. Main Activity: Role Play (25 minutes)

“Friendship in Action”

Divide class into 6 groups of 5 pupils.
Give each group a different friendship scenario that involves a common conflict or challenge (e.g., someone feeling left out, a disagreement, apology after a mistake).
Each group prepares a short role play showing:
- Positive respectful communication
- Empathy responses
- Resolution of conflict
Groups perform to the class with class feedback focused on demonstrated skills.

Curriculum focus: Conflict resolution, communication skills, empathy (PSHE Association KS2)

4. Plenary and Reflection (15 minutes)

“Friendship Reflections”

Hand out reflection worksheets with questions:
- What does a good friend do?
- How can I be a better friend?
- What did I learn about communication today?
Pupils complete individually or in pairs.
Select volunteers to share reflections with the class.
Finish with a positive message about the importance of nurturing healthy relationships.

Curriculum focus: Self-awareness and reflection (Relationships Education KS2)

Assessment

Formative: Observation of pupil contributions during discussion, mind map activity, and role plays to assess understanding of key concepts.
Reflection worksheets: Evaluate pupils’ personal insights and ability to articulate qualities of healthy friendships and communication skills.
Checklist for teacher when observing role-play: active listening, respectful language, empathetic responses.

Differentiation

Support pupils who may find role play challenging by pairing them with confident peers.
Provide sentence starters on flashcards for expressing feelings and responses during role play.
Challenge more able pupils to suggest alternative resolutions or explain why respect is critical in different contexts.

Extension Ideas

Create a “Friendship Code” poster as a class to display in the classroom.
Link this learning to literacy by asking pupils to write a short story or diary entry about a time they showed empathy.
Use later PSHE sessions to explore managing online friendships and digital communication safely.

By weaving together active learning strategies that promote empathy, respectful communication, and reflection, this session ensures Year 5 pupils gain deeper, practical understanding of healthy relationships congruent with the statutory requirements for Relationships Education under the National Curriculum for England.

Teaching Instructions