Friends Listen and Share wellbeing lesson plan
A primary wellbeing lesson for Years 1 to 2 that helps Australian teachers introduce everyday friendship skills through a structured, ready-to-teach lesson. Students learn what it looks like to listen, share and include others, and practise simple, everyday ways to be a good friend at school. The lesson gives teachers a calm, structured way to build friendship skills as part of regular wellbeing teaching, without needing a specific incident to prompt the discussion.
Healthy Relationships & Communication
Snapshot
Friends Listen and Share
This lesson gives teachers a structured way to teach everyday friendship skills, including listening, sharing and showing respect.
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Building everyday friendship skills, including listening, sharing and showing respect
Lesson Format
Teacher-led discussion and structured activities
What students will learn
By the end of the lesson, students will be supported to:
Recognise
recognise what listening and sharing look like in a friendship
recognise everyday actions that help a friend feel included
recognise how a friend might feel when they are listened to or left out
Understand
understand that being a good friend involves small, everyday choices
understand why taking turns and sharing are part of respectful friendships
Practise
practise using simple phrases to include a friend or ask to join in
practise active listening, such as making eye contact and waiting for a turn to speak
practise sharing and taking turns during a partner or small group activity
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for younger primary students in Years 1 to 2 who are building early friendship and social skills.
It is suitable for:
primary wellbeing lessons
Health or PDHPE teaching
pastoral care, circle time or advisory sessions
early social and emotional learning
classroom culture and friendship skill building
Suitability should be based on more than age alone. Teachers should consider the lesson focus, student 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 students are learning what it means to be a good friend, including listening and sharing.
Building classroom culture Use when reinforcing kindness, turn taking and inclusive play as part of class expectations.
Starting a new school year or term Use when students are forming new friendships and benefit from shared language for including others.
Reinforcing respectful communication Use when students need practise listening to friends and responding respectfully.
Supporting inclusion during play Use when students are learning how to invite others to join in and share games or activities.
Creating a structured wellbeing discussion Use when you want a calm, teacher-led discussion about everyday friendship behaviour.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Friendships are one of the first places students practise listening, sharing and including others, and these early habits shape how they treat people throughout school. Teaching friendship skills is not only useful after a falling out. It helps students build everyday habits, such as listening properly, taking turns and inviting others to join in, before difficulties arise. This lesson supports a positive classroom culture by helping students see that being a good friend is something they practise every day, through small, consistent choices rather than one big gesture.
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
Active listening Students practise giving a friend their full attention and waiting for a turn to speak.
Sharing and turn taking Students practise sharing resources, games or ideas fairly with others.
Empathy Students consider how a friend feels when they are included or left out.
Communication Students practise simple phrases for inviting a friend to join in.
Inclusion Students recognise everyday ways to make sure others feel welcome.
Respect Students practise treating friends fairly and kindly in everyday situations.
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 students not to name classmates or share personal stories about other people
Frame discussion around general examples and scenarios rather than individual friendships
Identify trusted adults students can speak to if they want to talk about a friendship further
Be prepared to follow your school's child safety, wellbeing or child protection procedures if a student discloses harm or says they feel unsafe
During delivery
Use simple, everyday examples such as taking turns, sharing and inviting a friend to play
Give students time to practise phrases aloud, such as asking to join in or offering to share
Allow students to respond through discussion, drawing or partner talk depending on confidence
Keep pace and language suited to Years 1 to 2
Supporting safe discussion
Use privacy focused language rather than asking students to share personal experiences
Encourage respectful listening when peers are speaking
Reinforce that everyone has different friendship experiences and that is okay
Adaptation options
Use partner talk or drawing for quieter groups
Use simple role play for confident groups practising friendship phrases
Spend more time on turn taking and sharing if students need extra support with these skills
