Hope and Resilience

Overview

Unit: Building Resilient Relationships
Lesson Number: 6 of 7
Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 8 students
Age Group: Year 7 (11-12 years)
National Curriculum Reference:

PSHE Education (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) – Core theme 1: Health and wellbeing
Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) – Developing confidence and responsibility; making informed choices
Relationships and Health Education statutory guidance (DFE, 2021) – learning to engage positively with others and managing relationships

Learning Objectives

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

Understand the concept of hope in the context of friendships and community involvement.
Identify personal qualities that contribute to resilient friendships.
Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals to strengthen their friendships.
Create a simple action plan outlining steps to improve their relationships and contribute positively to their community.

Curriculum Links

PSHE Association Programme of Study: Key Stage 3
- Health and Wellbeing – "how to manage transitions and change, including changes in friendships" (H1)
- Relationships – "how to develop and maintain a variety of healthy relationships within a range of social/cultural contexts" (R2)
- Living in the wider world – "how to contribute positively to communities" (L3)
Statutory Relationships and Health Education (2021)
- "how friendships support wellbeing and the importance of respecting others"
- Understanding how to set personal goals for social development

Resources Needed

Whiteboard and markers
A4 paper or worksheet templates for goal setting and action plans
Colourful pens/pencils
Small envelopes or folders to keep action plans
‘Hope & Resilience’ scenario cards (short role-play situations)

Lesson Structure

Starter (5 minutes): Reflecting on Hope and Resilience

Begin with a quick circle discussion:
Question: "What does hope mean to you when it comes to friendships?"
Students share one word or short phrase, teacher writes key words on the board.
Briefly define hope as an optimistic attitude that helps us stay positive when facing friendship challenges.

Main Activity 1 (10 minutes): Qualities of Resilient Friendships

In pairs, students brainstorm and list qualities that make friendships strong and resilient (e.g., trust, kindness, communication).
Teacher shares examples aligned with PSHE relationships learning outcomes.
Pairs feed back, teacher cultivates a master list on the board stressing qualities linked with hope and resilience.

Main Activity 2 (20 minutes): Setting SMART Friendship Goals

Teacher introduces the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) in simple terms tailored to friendships.
Students individually reflect on their own friendships and community involvement, then write down 2-3 SMART goals, e.g.:
- "I will invite a different classmate to play on the playground once a week for the next month."
- "I will listen carefully when my friends talk and ask questions to show I care."
Teacher circulates, supporting goal-setting and ensuring goals are realistic and aligned with lesson objectives.

Main Activity 3 (7 minutes): Creating an Action Plan

Students receive a simple action plan template:
- Goal(s)
- Steps to achieve goal
- Possible obstacles and solutions
- How they will know they have succeeded
Students complete at least one action plan linked to a friendship or community goal.
Emphasis on personal responsibility and hope as motivation to persist with goals.

Plenary (3 minutes): Sharing Hope

Invite volunteers to share one goal or action step they are excited to work on.
Reinforce how hope and resilience are critical in building strong friendships.
Teacher reminds students this is part of a 7-lesson journey and next time they'll review progress.

Assessment & Feedback

Formative assessment through observation during pair discussions and goal-setting activities.
Review of students’ SMART goals and action plans to ensure understanding and alignment with lesson aims.
Teacher provides targeted verbal feedback, praising realistic and thoughtfully planned goals.
Encourage peer support by creating a ‘buddy check-in’ system to revisit goals in Lesson 7.

Differentiation

For students needing extra support: Offer simplified SMART goal prompts and one-on-one help with writing.
For more able students: Challenge them to consider how their goals could positively influence others beyond their friendship group (broader community impact).
Visual aids and examples provided to reinforce understanding.

Cross-Curricular Links

English: Speaking and listening skills during discussions and presentations.
Citizenship: Understanding responsibilities and taking positive action within communities.
Drama: Optional extension with role-playing resilience scenarios for deeper empathy and communication skills.

Reflection for Teacher

How engaged were students in articulating what hope means for friendships?
Did students demonstrate understanding of SMART goals?
Were action plans realistic and reflective of personal responsibility?
How might you support the students in recalling and acting on these goals during the final lesson?

This lesson capitalises on the emotional and social development of Year 7 pupils, encouraging ownership of their relationships, and fostering resilience through hope—a vital attribute for their mental wellbeing and personal growth, all firmly embedded within the National Curriculum framework.

Teaching Instructions