Building Trust & Respect

Lesson Overview

Duration: 30 minutes
Class size: 8 students
Unit: Building Positive Relationships (Lesson 4 of 5)
Age group: Year 2 (ages 6-7)
Subject: PSHE
Curriculum link:

• PSHE Association Programme of Study (KS1, Years 1 and 2)
• Relationships Education (Statutory, DfE 2021)
• Focus on key skills: recognising feelings, showing empathy, building respectful relationships, and understanding trust.

---

Learning Objectives

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

• Understand what trust and respect mean in friendships and relationships.
• Identify behaviours that help build trust and show respect.
• Participate in activities that encourage trust and respectful interactions.
• Reflect on how trust and respect make relationships stronger.

---

Resources Needed

• Soft ball or beanbag
• "Trust Circle" activity cards (simple phrases about respect/trust)
• Large poster/chart paper with keywords: Trust, Respect, Kindness, Listening
• Drawing materials (paper, crayons or colouring pencils)
• Timer or stopwatch
• Stickers or small reward tokens

---

Lesson Structure

1. Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes)

• Set the scene: Gather children in a circle on the carpet.
• Brief intro: "Today, we are learning about two important parts of good friendships: trust and respect!"
• Use a big poster with keywords "Trust" and "Respect," ask children what these words mean to them - accept all answers and gently shape understanding.
• Explain that when we trust and respect others, friendships grow stronger and happier.

2. Trust-Building Game: "Catch My Word" (10 minutes)

• Pupils stand in a circle. Using a soft ball/beanbag, the teacher says a behaviour or action (e.g. "looking after your friend's feelings," "listening carefully," "sharing toys") before throwing to a student.
• That student catches the ball, repeats the behaviour in their own words, then shares an example of how they show that to a friend, then throws to another student.
• Continue until all have had a turn or time runs out.
• Purpose: To encourage listening, turn-taking, sharing thoughts about trust and respect in a fun way.

3. Whole-Class Discussion: What Builds Trust and Respect? (7 minutes)

• Refer back to the circle, and introduce simple statements from "Trust Circle" cards, e.g.:
  • "I keep secrets when friends tell me."
  • "I say sorry if I hurt someone."
  • "I listen when my friends talk."
• Read each aloud, ask children if they think it helps build trust or respect.
• For each, discuss: "Why is this important in a friendship?"
• Write key ideas on large poster/chart for visual reinforcement.

4. Individual Reflection Drawing (5 minutes)

• Give children paper and drawing materials.
• Prompt: "Draw a picture of you and a friend showing trust or respect. It might be sharing, helping, or saying kind words."
• As they draw, circulate to encourage sharing or reinforcing the concepts discussed.

5. Wrap-Up and Positive Reinforcement (3 minutes)

• Invite a few volunteers to briefly explain their drawings or share what they learned about trust & respect.
• Summarise key points: "Trust means we believe in our friends. Respect means we treat friends kindly."
• Praise all efforts, distribute stickers or small tokens for participation.
• Briefly preview next lesson topic: "Tomorrow, we'll learn how to solve problems with friends carefully."

---

Differentiation and SEND Support

• Provide visual aids and gestures to support understanding of vocabulary.
• Allow additional time to process during discussions or drawing.
• Use physical positioning to encourage participation with the ball (e.g. seated or standing).
• Pair children who may need extra support with a peer buddy during activities.

---

Assessment for Learning

• Observe participation in "Catch My Word," noting understanding and use of vocabulary.
• Listen to language used during discussions to check grasp of trust and respect concepts.
• Review drawings for evidence of applying ideas about trust and respect.
• Use questioning to clarify any misconceptions during activities.

---

Links to Future Learning

• Next lesson (Lesson 5): "Handling Difficult Feelings in Friendships" – building on relationships and communication skills.
• Reinforcement through daily routines: recognising trustworthy behaviour in class and playground.

---

Teacher’s Reflection Notes

• Was the circle discussion inclusive? Did quieter pupils engage?
• How well did the children understand trust as a concept?
• Were the games effective to cement understanding or should more visual prompts be added?
• Plan possible adaptations for younger or older groups using similar themes.

---

This creative, interactive lesson balances playful activities with thoughtful reflection tailored to Year 2 pupils, building foundational PSHE skills in line with UK statutory guidance. It encourages verbalisation of social-emotional ideas alongside personal expression, making abstract concepts tangible for young learners.