Friendships: Online vs Offline wellbeing lesson plan
A primary wellbeing lesson for Years 3 and 4 that helps Australian teachers introduce how friendships work both in person and online through a structured, ready-to-teach lesson. Students learn to recognise the rules and responsibilities that come with online and offline friendships, understand how their choices affect others, and practise respectful ways to communicate and include friends across different settings.
Online Safety, AI & Digital Literacy
Snapshot
Friendships: Online vs Offline
This lesson gives teachers a structured way to introduce how friendship rules and responsibilities apply both face to face and online.
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Managing friendships across in-person and online settings
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 that friendships involve rules, responsibilities and participation both in person and online
recognise examples of respectful and unfair behaviour in online and offline friendships
recognise that online actions can affect friendships in similar ways to face to face actions
Understand
understand that personal information should stay private when talking with friends online
understand how online choices can affect how a friend feels, even when they cannot see them
Practise
practise using respectful language when communicating with friends online and offline
practise thinking before sharing information about a friend online
practise including others in both online and offline friendship groups
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for students in Years 3 and 4 who are beginning to navigate friendships both at school and online, including through messaging, group chats or online games. It suits students who have some early experience with digital devices or online communication, even if this mostly happens at home.
It is suitable for:
primary wellbeing lessons
Health or PDHPE teaching
digital literacy or online safety programs
pastoral care, circle time or advisory sessions
classroom discussions about friendship rules and responsibilities
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 online friendship expectations Use when students are starting to use messaging, group chats or online games with friends and need clear expectations.
Reinforcing classroom digital citizenship Use when revisiting class agreements about respectful online behaviour and communication.
Supporting friendship group changes Use when friendship groups shift between classes, year levels or online spaces and students need guidance on fair participation.
Practising respectful online communication Use when students need practical language for communicating kindly and clearly in online and offline friendships.
Building digital literacy skills Use when connecting friendship skills to broader learning about privacy, digital footprints and online safety.
Creating a structured wellbeing discussion Use when you want a calm, teacher-led discussion about how friendship rules and responsibilities apply both on and offline.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Friendships now happen across many settings, from the classroom and playground to messaging apps and online games. Students benefit from understanding that the same rules of respect, responsibility and fair participation apply whether they are talking face to face or on a screen. Supporting students to think about their online choices early helps build habits of privacy, respectful communication and inclusion before these become harder to unpick. This is proactive skill building rather than a response to a specific concern. The lesson helps students see that being a good friend online and offline draws on the same underlying skills, including listening, fairness and thinking about how their actions affect others.
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 Students notice how friendship behaviours look different, or stay the same, online and offline.
Digital literacy Students build understanding of digital footprints and how online actions can be seen by others.
Empathy Students consider how online comments or exclusion can affect a friend's feelings.
Responsible participation Students practise following agreed rules when taking part in group chats, games or online spaces.
Privacy awareness Students recognise the importance of keeping personal information private when talking with friends online.
Relationship skills Students practise respectful communication and inclusion in both online and offline friendships.
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 describe specific online situations involving other people
Frame discussion around general examples and scenarios, not personal accusations
Make clear the lesson is about learning safe, respectful choices, not blaming anyone
Identify trusted adults students can speak to at school
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 everyday examples such as group chats, online games or messaging that students may recognise
Give students time to discuss and practise respectful phrases aloud
Reinforce that friendship rules and responsibilities apply the same way online and offline
Allow students to respond through discussion, drawing or partner talk depending on confidence
Supporting safe discussion
Encourage privacy by reminding students not to share personal details about other people's online experiences
Ask students to use general examples rather than describing specific situations involving named classmates
Reinforce that asking a trusted adult for help is a responsible choice if something feels unfair or unsafe online
Adaptation options
Use partner discussion for students who are less confident speaking in a whole class setting
Spend more time on privacy and digital footprints if students have limited experience with online friendships
Extend discussion into group chat or gaming scenarios for classes with more independent online use
