Building Strong Friendships

WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Develop trust and honesty in our friendships.
• Understand how openness helps relationships grow.
• Communicate positively with classmates.

Success Criteria

• I can share interesting facts about myself.
• I can listen respectfully to others.
• I can explain why trust and honesty are important in friendships.
• I can participate in group discussions and express my ideas clearly.

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Curriculum for Excellence Links

Health and Wellbeing (HWB 3-43a, HWB 3-44a)

• Developing self-awareness, interpersonal skills, and fostering positive relationships through trust and honesty.
• Recognising the importance of empathy and respect in friendships.

Literacy (LIT 3-09a, LIT 3-10a)

• Listening and talking skills developed via group discussion, turn-taking, and summarising ideas.

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Lesson Outline (45 mins)

1. Introduction and Welcome (5 mins)

• Teacher introduces herself, sharing two truths and one lie about herself with the class.
• Explain the rules of the game "Two Truths and a Lie" to engage curiosity.

2. Icebreaker Activity: Two Truths and a Lie (15 mins)

• Pupils take turns sharing two truths and one lie about themselves in small groups (5 groups of 6 pupils).
• Each group guesses the lie in each pupil’s statements.
• Teacher circulates to encourage discussion and support shy or struggling pupils.

Differentiation:

• Provide sentence starters on cards for pupils who need support (e.g., “I have been to…”, “My favourite food is…”)
• Use visual aids or symbols for pupils with reading difficulties/dyslexia-friendly font on prompts (Comic Sans or OpenDyslexic).

3. Group Discussion on Trust and Honesty (15 mins)

• Gather pupils in a circle and discuss:
  • What is trust? Why is honesty important in friendships?
  • How does sharing honestly help friendships grow?
  • What happens if someone is not honest in a friendship?
• Use open-ended questions to encourage reflection, e.g., “How do you feel when a friend tells the truth?”
• Teacher models positive communication and empathy language.

Differentiation:

• Use a ‘Talking Object’ (e.g., a soft ball) to ensure everyone gets a chance to talk.
• Pair pupils who are less confident with supportive buddies for talking.

4. Reflection and Recap (5 mins)

• Pupils write or draw one thing they learned about trust and honesty in friendships.
• Share examples with whole class as they feel comfortable.

Dyslexia-friendly options:

• Allow oral reflection for pupils who find writing difficult.
• Provide lined paper with larger spacing and margin guides.

5. Extension Activity (If time allows or for homework)

• Pupils create a “Friendship Poster” showcasing qualities like trust, honesty, kindness, and what makes a good friend using words and pictures.
• Advanced learners can write a short story or dialogue demonstrating honesty and trust in friendships.

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Assessment

• Teacher observes pupil participation in the Two Truths and a Lie activity and group discussion.
• Review reflections for understanding of trust and honesty concepts.
• Use questioning to gauge depth of understanding during discussion.

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Resources Needed

• Sentence starter cards with simple sentences and dyslexia-friendly font.
• Soft ball or talking object for discussion.
• Lined paper with spacing and margin guides for writing/drawing.
• Materials for poster (markers, coloured pencils, paper).

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Notes on Teaching Style

This plan supports a positive, inclusive classroom culture by encouraging pupils to share openly and listen respectfully. The icebreaker builds rapport and trusting classroom dynamics, aligning with Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence emphasis on health and wellbeing. The approach also nurtures communication skills by embedding active listening and empathy in the lesson.

This structure invites pupils to experience learning through play, discussion, reflection, and creativity, addressing diverse needs while promoting social and emotional learning outcomes for year 3 children.