Positive Relationships

Overview

This is the final lesson (6 of 6) in the "Exploring My Identity" unit designed for Year 5 students. The focus is on maintaining positive relationships, both online and offline, by reflecting on personal growth and strategies learned throughout the unit.

Duration: 45 minutes
Class size: 3 students
Subject: PSHE
Key Stage: KS2 (Year 5)
Curriculum Reference:

PSHE Association Programme of Study for Key Stage 2
National Curriculum for England – Personal, Social, Health and Economic education
Relationship Education statutory requirements (DfE, 2020)
PSHE Key Stage 2 Learning Objectives:
- To understand how friendships can change over time, provide support and how to recognise if a friendship is making you unhappy.
- Recognise the importance of respecting others, even when they are very different from you.
- To understand how to stay safe online and the importance of saying no or seeking help when necessary.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

Identify effective strategies to maintain positive relationships in both real life and online environments.
Reflect on their personal journey in understanding their identity and the influences around them.
Create a personalised action plan to promote healthy relationships and positive interactions daily.
Demonstrate understanding of the importance of respect and empathy in friendships.

Curriculum Links and Competencies

PSHE Association Framework (Key Stage 2):
- Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) – Lesson 6 focuses on maintaining healthy relationships.
- Living in the Wider World – Encouraging responsible behaviours online and offline.
National Curriculum Statutory Guidance, Relationships Education:
- Understanding and managing friendships.
- Respecting differences and promoting inclusivity.
- Recognising when relationships might be unhealthy.

Resources Needed

"Relationship Roadmap" printed sheets (a visual map scaffold for planning positive relationships)
Personal Action Plan templates (simple, guided formats)
Whiteboard and markers
Student journals or exercise books
Sticky notes and coloured pens
Scenario cards (online and offline relationship challenges)
Reflection prompt sheets

Lesson Breakdown

1. Welcome and Recap (5 minutes)

Welcome each student and briefly revisit key themes from the unit: identity, influence, friendship qualities, and online safety.
Use a quick verbal quiz/flashback: Ask each student to name one thing they’ve learned about themselves or friendship so far.

2. Group Discussion: What Keeps Relationships Positive? (10 minutes)

Display the heading: "What Helps Us Maintain Good Friendships?" on the whiteboard.
Invite students to brainstorm strategies for maintaining positive relationships online and offline—examples may include: honesty, respect, communication, empathy, setting boundaries, and seeking help.
Write responses on sticky notes, categorising them on the whiteboard under "Online" and "Offline."
For each suggestion, prompt: "Why is this important?" and "Can you think of a time you used this?"

3. Scenario Role-Play and Problem-Solving (10 minutes)

Distribute scenario cards depicting common challenges in friendships (e.g., misunderstanding, exclusion, online disagreement/cyberbullying).
In pairs, students choose one scenario and role-play how they would respond positively using the strategies discussed.
After each role-play, the third student provides constructive feedback focused on respectful behaviour and solutions.
Rotate roles so each student gets to participate in role-play and feedback.

4. Reflective Personal Action Plan (15 minutes)

Hand out the "Relationship Roadmap" and personalised action plan templates.
Guide students through reflecting on their own experiences in the unit, prompting them to write down:
- Three strengths they bring to friendships.
- Two strategies they will use to keep relationships positive (online and offline).
- One action they will take if they feel uncomfortable or unhappy in a relationship.
Encourage creativity: decorate or draw on the plan to personalise it.
Circulate and support students in articulating clear, realistic goals.

5. Sharing and Closure (5 minutes)

Invite each student to share one item from their action plan they feel confident about.
Reinforce the importance of respect, empathy, self-awareness, and communication.
Conclude with a positive note: “Being kind and thoughtful is a superpower for keeping friends!”
Assign the personal action plan to keep in their PSHE journals and review periodically.

Assessment and Evaluation

Formative assessment: Observation of participation during discussion and role-play, ensuring understanding of strategies to maintain relationships.
Reflection and application: Quality and thoughtfulness of the personal action plan as evidence of internalising learning objectives.
Peer feedback: Encourages reflective learning and supports social skills development.

Differentiation and Inclusion

For students needing scaffolded support, provide sentence starters or visual prompts during the reflection activity.
Use role-play to engage different learning styles (kinesthetic, auditory).
Encourage all students to contribute equally during discussions and peer feedback.
For any student with SEN, ensure instructions are clear and provide personalised encouragement.

Extension Ideas

Invite students to interview a family member or friend about positive relationship strategies to bring perspectives from outside school.
Create a “Friendship Charter” poster as a class to display in the classroom, summarising key principles.
Set up a “Kindness Challenge” where each student completes acts of kindness daily and reflects on impact.

This lesson plan is designed to conclude the unit on identity by connecting personal growth with practical, everyday application to cultivate lasting, positive relationships fitting the Year 5 age group and the National Curriculum for England.

Teaching Instructions