Friendship Feels PSHE lesson plan
A primary PSHE lesson for Years 5 and 6 that helps UK teachers introduce the qualities of a good friendship through a structured, ready-to-teach lesson. Pupils learn to recognise the signs of a good friend, understand why shared respect matters in friendships, and practise language for building and maintaining positive friendships.
Healthy Relationships & Communication
Snapshot
Friendship Feels
The lesson gives teachers a structured way to help pupils identify what makes a good friend and practise respectful, inclusive friendship behaviour. Feedback: 4.8/5 from 10 teacher ratings
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Spotting the signs of a good friend
Lesson Format
Teacher-led discussion and structured activities
What pupils will learn
By the end of the lesson, students will be supported to:
Recognise
recognise the signs of a good friend, such as kindness, honesty and inclusion
recognise when a friendship feels respectful and fair
recognise behaviours that can make a friendship feel one sided or unfair
Understand
understand why shared respect is important in friendships
understand that good friendships involve give and take from both people
Practise
practise describing the qualities they value in a friendship
practise using respectful language when talking about friendships
practise identifying simple steps to strengthen or repair a friendship
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for upper primary pupils in Years 5 and 6 who are developing more complex friendships and starting to notice patterns in how they are treated by peers.
It is suitable for:
primary PSHE lessons
relationships education
pastoral care, circle time or form time
friendship and social skills work
respectful friendships units
Suitability should be based on more than age alone. Teachers should consider the lesson focus, pupil maturity, cohort needs, classroom culture, existing discussion norms and available support pathways.
Best used when
Use this lesson when students need clear, practical language for recognising unkind behaviour and knowing what to do next.
Introducing friendship skills Use when pupils are beginning to explore what makes a good friend.
Building classroom culture Use when reinforcing respect, fairness and inclusion within peer groups.
Supporting inclusion Use when pupils need support noticing and including peers who may feel left out.
Reinforcing respectful communication Use when pupils need language for talking about friendships calmly and clearly.
Preparing for transition Use when friendship groups are changing, such as before moving to secondary school.
Creating a structured PSHE discussion Use when you want a calm, teacher led discussion about friendship qualities and shared respect.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Friendships play a big part in how pupils experience school life, and noticing the qualities of a good friend helps pupils build healthier, more respectful relationships with peers. Teaching pupils to recognise shared respect early helps them understand that friendships work best when both people feel valued, heard and included. This lesson supports pupils to think about their own friendships rather than waiting until a friendship problem occurs. By focusing on the signs of a good friend, the lesson helps pupils build the language and confidence to maintain positive friendships and seek support if a friendship starts to feel unfair or unkind.
How this lesson supports wellbeing
This lesson supports student wellbeing by building practical social and emotional skills students can use in everyday school life. It helps students develop:
Capability How the lesson supports it
Social awareness Pupils notice the qualities that make a friendship feel fair and respectful.
Empathy Pupils consider how their words and actions affect their friends.
Communication skills Pupils practise language for describing what they value in a friendship.
Relationship skills Pupils explore how shared respect helps a friendship work well.
Self awareness Pupils reflect on their own friendships and the qualities they bring to them.
Help seeking Pupils understand that a trusted adult can help if a friendship feels unfair or unkind.
For teachers and school leaders, the lesson contributes to broader wellbeing, respectful relationships, child safety and pastoral care goals in Australian primary schools.
Teaching notes & Delivery Considerations
This lesson includes content about unkind behaviour, exclusion and asking adults for help. It should be taught with calm, clear discussion norms.
Before teaching
Remind pupils not to name classmates or share stories about other people
Frame discussion around general examples rather than personal experiences
Make clear the lesson is about learning friendship skills, not deciding who is a good or bad friend
Identify trusted adults pupils can speak to if a friendship feels unfair or unkind
During delivery
Use general examples such as sharing, including others and listening
Give pupils time to discuss and reflect in pairs or small groups
Reinforce that friendships can have ups and downs and that this is normal
Allow pupils to respond through discussion or written reflection depending on confidence
Supporting safe discussion
Use privacy and respectful discussion as ground rules
Encourage pupils to use general examples rather than naming classmates
Be prepared to follow your school's safeguarding procedures and speak with the designated safeguarding lead if a pupil discloses harm or says they feel unsafe.
Adaptation options
Use small group discussion for confident pupils
Use written or drawn reflection for quieter pupils
Spend more time on trusted adults if pupils need support identifying help pathways
