Lesson Plan

Friendship Detectives Plan

Students will act as “Friendship Detectives” to identify and discuss key qualities of good friends through a group warm-up, scenario investigations, and personal reflection, fostering kindness and positive peer interactions.

Building friendship skills in 2nd graders promotes empathy, kindness, and a supportive classroom community, setting the stage for healthy peer relationships and social-emotional growth.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Gather and Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Detective Warm-Up

3 minutes

Step 2

Scenario Investigations

8 minutes

Step 3

Reflection and Badge Ceremony

4 minutes

Slide Deck

Friendship Detectives

Welcome, Friendship Detectives! Today we’ll explore what makes a great friend. Get your detective badges ready and let’s investigate together.

Detective Warm-Up

Introduce the warm-up by asking students to think like detectives. Prompt them to share qualities they notice in good friends.

Friendship Qualities Chart

Show the blank chart and explain columns. Invite volunteers to come up and write a quality under “Yes.” Remind students of our detective mission.

Scenario Investigations

Explain the scenario activity. Circulate and encourage discussion. Ask guiding questions: “Why is this kind?” or “What could make it kinder?”

Friendship Reflection

Distribute the reflection worksheet. Encourage students to think of a concrete action. Invite a few to share before the ceremony.

Badge Ceremony

Congratulate all students on completing their detective work. Hand out each child a badge and encourage them to practice kindness.

Lesson Plan

Friendship Detectives Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Gather and Prepare Materials

Step 1

Detective Warm-Up

Step 2

Scenario Investigations

Step 3

Reflection and Badge Ceremony

Slide Deck

Friendship Detectives

Detective Warm-Up

Friendship Qualities Chart

Scenario Investigations

Friendship Reflection

Badge Ceremony

Activity

Worksheet

Warm Up

Cool Down

Friendship Detectives

Michelle Elliott