Building Positive Connections

Context

This 45-minute Health and Wellbeing session is designed for Year 3 students within the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence framework. The focus is on relationships—getting to know each other and the new teacher—to support pupils' social and emotional wellbeing as they settle into a new class environment.

WALT (We Are Learning To)

Recognise and describe qualities that help make positive relationships.
Share information about ourselves with peers and the teacher.
Develop listening and communication skills to foster respectful interactions.

Success Criteria

I can name qualities that help build good relationships.
I can share something about myself confidently.
I can listen respectfully and respond appropriately to others.
I can participate positively in group activities to get to know others.

Curriculum for Excellence Links

Health and Wellbeing - Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood

EXA 0-04a: Develop personal, social and emotional skills to build constructive relationships.
HWB 2-44a: Explore and develop respectful and responsible relationships with others.
HWB 2-16a: Demonstrate understanding of respectful listening and effective communication.

Resources

Name tags
“All About Me” worksheet (with simple prompts and images for dyslexia-friendly reading)
Soft ball or talking object for circle time
Large chart paper and coloured markers
Stickers for positive reinforcement

Lesson Activities

1. Welcome & Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Teacher introduces themselves using a 'fun facts' format with photos or objects.
Icebreaker: “Two Truths and a Wish” - each pupil says two true things about themselves and one wish or goal.
Use a soft ball to pass around during this activity to encourage turn-taking.

Differentiation: Provide sentence starters on cards for pupils needing language support or structure.

2. Group Discussion: What Makes a Good Friend? (10 minutes)

Create a mind map on large chart paper, asking children "What makes a good friend?"
Elicit qualities such as kind, listens, shares, polite, etc.
Model and encourage use of positive language and respectful listening.

Dyslexia Friendly: Use clear, large font and include simple icon visuals around mind map keywords.

Differentiation: Support non-verbal learners by allowing drawing or gesture to demonstrate qualities.

3. “All About Me” Activity (15 minutes)

Pupils complete a simple, dyslexia-friendly worksheet with prompts: name, favourite hobby, favourite food, something kind they can do.
Pupils then pair up to share their answers with a partner, practising listening and communication.

Extension: Advanced learners can write or dictate a short sentence about why these qualities are important in friendship.

Differentiation: Offer one-to-one support or scribe assistance for pupils with additional support needs.

4. Circle Sharing: Getting to Know Each Other (10 minutes)

Pupils sit in a circle; each shares one interesting thing learned about their partner.
Teacher models respectful listening and encourages positive feedback ("That’s great!", "I like that too.")
Reinforce one pupil sharing at a time using the soft ball or talking object.

5. Reflection and Reinforcement (5 minutes)

Recap what we learned about relationships and the importance of kindness and listening.
Each pupil places a sticker next to one quality on the "Good Friends" mind map which they will try to show this week.

Assessment

Formative: Observation during discussions and sharing activities assessing communication skills and understanding of relationship qualities.
Pupils’ ability to articulate friendship qualities during the mind map and partner sharing will demonstrate learning.

Differentiation Summary

Visual and dyslexia-friendly materials with icons and large font.
Sentence starters and oral options for expression.
Opportunities for drawing or non-verbal responses.
One-to-one support as needed.
Extension tasks for able learners to deepen their understanding and communication.

Extension Activities

Create a “Friendship Tree” in the classroom: each leaf represents a quality or kind action performed, updated weekly.
Write or dictate a thank-you note to a friend or the teacher, promoting kindness and reflecting on positive relationships.

Teacher Notes

Use enthusiastic and warm tone to model positive communication and build trust with new pupils.
Emphasise confidentiality and respect throughout all sharing activities to create a safe environment.
Consider repeating similar activities in the first few weeks to build gradual confidence and stronger peer connections.

This lesson plan embeds key Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes to scaffold Year 3 learners’ social and emotional skills through active relationship building, matching the teacher’s focus on community and belonging at the start of the school year.

Teaching Instructions