Working It Out wellbeing lesson plan
Working It Out is a ready-to-teach primary wellbeing lesson for Years 3 and 4 that helps Australian teachers introduce friendship problems in a structured, practical way. Students learn how to recognise common friendship problems, think through different ways to solve them, and practise simple strategies for working things out with a friend. The lesson keeps the focus on everyday classroom and playground situations, giving students language and strategies they can use when disagreements or misunderstandings happen.
Goal Setting, Mindset & Self-Worth
Snapshot
Working It Out
This lesson gives teachers a structured way to introduce friendship problem solving using practical, age-appropriate language. Feedback: 4.0/5 from 31 student responses
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Working through friendship problems and practising simple coping strategies
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 common types of friendship problems, such as disagreements or hurt feelings
recognise that friends can see the same situation differently
recognise early signs that a friendship problem is starting to feel difficult to manage
Understand
understand that friendship problems can usually be worked through with calm thinking and communication
understand why it helps to consider more than one way of solving a problem
Practise
practise simple strategies for calming down before talking through a problem
practise using respectful language to explain how they feel
practise deciding when to ask a trusted adult for support with a friendship problem
Who this lesson is for?
Working It Out is designed for Years 3 and 4 students who are building early skills in resolving friendship problems and managing the feelings that come with them. Most students at this stage are developing the language and self-awareness to talk through disagreements, but may still need guided support to do this calmly and fairly.
It is suitable for:
primary wellbeing lessons
Health or PDHPE teaching
pastoral care or advisory sessions
classroom culture and friendship skills work
small group or whole class coping strategies practice
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 building early language for working through disagreements with friends.
Reinforcing classroom culture Use when revisiting expectations around respectful communication and fair problem solving.
Supporting coping strategies Use when students need structured practice calming down before talking through a problem.
Practising goal setting and reflection Use when students are learning to think through more than one way to solve a problem.
Preparing for transition Use when peer groups are changing and students need confidence to work through new friendship dynamics.
Creating a structured wellbeing discussion Use when you want a calm, teacher-led discussion about friendship problems rather than responding to a specific incident.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Friendship problems are a normal part of primary school life, and students benefit from having simple, practical ways to work through them rather than relying on guesswork. Building this skill early can help students approach disagreements with more confidence and less distress. Working It Out focuses on proactive skill building rather than waiting for a disagreement to happen. Students learn that most friendship problems can be worked through with calm thinking, clear communication and, when needed, support from a trusted adult. This approach supports a classroom culture where students feel more capable of managing everyday friendship challenges and know that asking for help is a reasonable and responsible choice.
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
Self-awareness Students notice how they feel during a friendship problem.
Perspective-taking Students consider how a friend might see the same situation differently.
Communication Students practise explaining their feelings using respectful language.
Coping strategies Students learn simple ways to calm down before talking through a problem.
Problem solving Students think through more than one way to respond to a disagreement.
Help-seeking Students recognise when to ask a trusted adult for support.
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 specific stories about other people
Frame the discussion around general examples and scenarios, not personal accusations
Identify trusted adults students can speak to at school if a friendship problem feels hard to manage
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 disagreements, hurt feelings or feeling left out of a decision
Give students time to practise calming strategies and respectful language aloud
Reinforce that most friendship problems can be worked through without arguing or retaliating
Allow students to respond through discussion, drawing or partner talk depending on confidence
Supporting safe discussion
Keep the focus on general situations rather than real-time friendship conflicts in the room
Reinforce that asking for help with a friendship problem is a responsible choice
Follow your school's usual support pathways if a student needs extra help after the lesson
Adaptation options
Use partner talk or small group discussion for confident classes
Use drawing or individual reflection for quieter students
Spend more time on coping strategies if students need extra support managing feelings
