How to Be a Good Friend

Social Studies

Children will brainstorm and illustrate the dos and don'ts of friendship as a book or classroom display.

What You Need

• Chart paper
• Drawing paper
• Crayons, markers

What To Do

1. Point out that good friends follow a set of rules on how to act and how not to act as friends, even if those rules aren't written down.
2. Brainstorm with children what the dos and don'ts of a good friendship are. Here are some examples:
   • Friends take turns in games.
   • Friends stick up for each other.
   • Friends cheer each other up when one is sad.
   • Friends don't play mean tricks on each other.
   • Friends don't steal from each other.
   • Friends don't make fun of each other.
3. Write the dos and don'ts on the chalkboard or on chart paper as children contribute examples.
4. Invite children to each choose one rule to illustrate. Children can write the rule as a caption under the picture. (“Don't” pictures can illustrate the negative behavior with a diagonal line through it.)
5. Encourage children to include details. For example, if two friends are playing a game, is it checkers, soccer, or a computer game?
6. Display children's illustrations in the classroom under a heading such as “How to Be a Good Friend” or “Dos and Don'ts of Friendship”.
7. You might also wish to collect children's illustrations in a class book.