Friendship Blueprint Guide Friendship Blueprint
Facilitator's Framework Guide
Group Goals
Enhance empathy through perspective-taking.
Build active listening skills.
Strengthen collaboration and communication.
Develop conflict resolution strategies.
Target Audience
Designed specifically for a pair of 4th and 5th-grade girls . This developmental stage is critical for navigating social nuances and shifting friendship dynamics.
Neuro-Inclusive Strategies
When working with girls who may have autism or neurodiverse communication styles, use these adjustments:
Explicit Instruction
Avoid abstract idioms. State social rules clearly (e.g., "In this group, we wait 2 seconds after someone finishes before we start talking.")
Visual Supports
Use the "Communication Bridge Cards" and Zones of Regulation check-ins to reduce anxiety and cognitive load.
Processing Time
Allow for "wait time." Some students need 10-15 seconds to process a social prompt and formulate a response.
Emotional Zones
Use color-coded Zones (Green, Blue, Yellow, Red) to help girls identify and communicate their current emotional state effectively.
Session Flow
1
The Together Pact (Expectations)
Focus on sensory needs and personal boundaries. "Do you like high-fives or just a wave?" should be part of the agreement.
2
The Quests (Active Practice)
Alternate between low-demand (pencil-paper) and high-demand (role play) tasks to prevent social fatigue.
Activity Breakdown
Quest 1: The Me Map
Low Social Demand
Goal: Finding common ground and celebrating differences.
Visualizing similarities. For neurodiverse students, this provides a "script" of topics they know are safe and shared.
Quest 2: Perspective Swap
High Social Demand
Goal: Building empathy by walking in another's shoes.
Scaffold this! Use the scenario cards to keep it concrete. Use the Zones to discuss how characters might be feeling.
Quest 3: Greeting Designers
Non-Verbal Focus
Goal: Non-verbal communication and collaboration.
Allows for interaction without the stress of verbal conversation. They design a 4-step "Special Greeting" using only gestures.
Quest 4: Kindness Detective
Goal: Affirming strengths in one another.
Focus on concrete actions ("I liked when you shared your eraser") rather than abstract personality traits.
Quest 5: The Friendship Fix-It
Goal: Constructive conflict resolution.
Use the "I Statement" visual cards. Explicitly teach that "fixing it" is a series of steps. Identify which Zone the situation might put someone in.
Quest 6: Future Fun Capsule
Goal: Planning and shared investment.
Planning ahead reduces anxiety about the future and provides a shared goal to work toward.
Facilitator Tip
Zones Check-In: At the start of each activity, ask the girls which Zone they are in (Green, Blue, Yellow, or Red). This builds self-awareness and helps you adjust the social demand of the task.
Pact and Map Worksheet The Together Pact
Our Shared Friendship Agreements
Names
Our Group Blueprint
To make this group a safe and fun place for both of us, we agree to...
Keep it Private: What we say in this group stays in this group.
Listen First: Give our full attention when the other person is speaking.
Kind Words Only: Use helpful, encouraging language.
Be Yourself: Respect each other's unique ideas and feelings.
Check our Zones: Tell our friend how we are feeling (Green, Blue, Yellow, or Red).
Our Added Agreements (What else do we need?)
Signed
Signed
The Me Map
Find where your worlds collide!
Just Me
Just Me
Common Ground
What do we BOTH love?
Hobbies
Fav Foods
Movies/Shows
Friendship Quest Pack Quest 3: Greeting Designers
Communication without words!
The Mission:
Design a 4-step "Special Greeting" that only the two of you know. The catch? You cannot speak while designing it! Use gestures and expressions to agree on the moves.
Step 1 & 2 Sketch
Step 3 & 4 Sketch
Reflection Question:
How did you tell each other "yes" or "no" without using your voices?
Quest 4: Kindness Detectives
Searching for hidden strengths.
Think about your partner. What "Friendship Superpowers" do they have? Consider how they help others stay in the Green Zone !
The Superpower of...
I noticed you were great at this when...
The Gift of...
You helped me feel better when...
Quest 6: Future Fun Capsule
Planning the ultimate friendship day.
Where would we go?
What's on the menu?
The Main Event (Activity)
Friendship Goal
One thing we want to keep doing to stay in the Green Zone together is...
Friendship Role Play Cards Friendship Lab Cards
Practice scenarios for Quests 2 & 5 (Set 1)
Quest 2: Perspective Swap
Instructions: Read the scenario. Act it out once. Then, SWAP roles and act it out again. Talk about how your feelings changed when you switched places.
Scenario A: The Recess Choice
Yellow Zone Potential
"One person really wants to play kickball, but the other person wants to sit under the tree and talk. Neither person wants to do what the other suggests."
Scenario B: The Group Project
Blue Zone Potential
"You are working on a poster together. One person is drawing everything and taking over, while the other person feels left out and bored."
Quest 5: The Friendship Fix-It
Instructions: Use "I Statements" to solve these tricky moments. Identify which Zone each character might be in before you start.
The "Left Out" Text
Red/Yellow Zone
"You saw a picture of your friend hanging out with someone else over the weekend, and you weren't invited. You feel hurt and a little jealous."
The Personal News Slip-Up
Yellow/Blue Zone
"You told your friend something private, and they accidentally told someone else in class. Now you're worried about who else knows."
Zone Reflection Questions
"What can we do to help our friend get back to the Green Zone?"
"When your friend is in the Yellow Zone, what kind of communication do they need most?"
"If someone is in the Blue Zone, how can we be an active listener for them?"
Friendship Lab Cards
Practice scenarios for Quests 2 & 5 (Set 2)
Quest 2: Perspective Swap
Scenario C: Three's a Crowd?
Blue/Yellow Zone
"A third person joins you at lunch. One of you is very excited to talk to them, but the other person feels left out and wishes it was just the original two of you."
Scenario D: The Borrowed Item
Yellow Zone
"You borrowed a favorite pencil case and accidentally spilled juice on it. You are nervous to tell your friend, and they are starting to ask for it back."
Quest 5: The Friendship Fix-It
The Winner's Circle
Green (Excited) vs Blue (Sad)
"You both entered an art contest. One person won an award and is talking about it constantly. The other person is happy for them but starting to feel really discouraged about their own art."
The Last-Minute Switch
Red Zone Potential
"You had a playdate planned for weeks. Your friend cancels on the morning of because an older sibling offered to take them to the mall, which they think is 'cooler.'"
Social Bridge Cards Plus Social Bridge Cards
Visual supports for conversation and connection
Use these sentence starters if you get "stuck" or aren't sure what to say next. These are tools to help your ideas travel from your brain to your friend!
To Start a Topic
"One thing I really like is..."
"Have you ever tried...?"
"I wanted to tell you about..."
To Add On
"That reminds me of..."
"I also think that..."
"Me too! I also like..."
To Ask a Question
"What do you think about...?"
"Can you tell me more about...?"
"What is your favorite part of...?"
To Fix a Muddle
"Wait, can you say that again?"
"I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean...?"
"I need a second to think about that."
My Emotional Zone
Friendship feels best when we check in. Which zone are you in right now?
Blue Zone
Sad, Tired, Bored, Moving Slowly
Green Zone
Calm, Happy, Focused, Ready
Yellow Zone
Frustrated, Worried, Silly, Excited
Red Zone
Angry, Terrified, Out of Control
I feel...
I need...
Social Bridge Cards
Advanced tools for deeper connection
To Show Empathy
"I can see you're in the [Color] Zone."
"That sounds like it was really hard."
"I'm here for you if you want to talk."
To Disagree Nicely
"I see it differently. I think..."
"That's a cool idea, but I prefer..."
"I'm not sure about that. Maybe we could...?"
To Give a Boost
"I really like how you..."
"You are so good at...!"
"It made me happy when you..."
To Ask for What I Need
"I need a break for a minute."
"Can we try it this way instead?"
"I'm feeling [Color Zone]. Can you help?"
Bridge-Building Tips
Face In
Look toward your friend when you speak.
Wait Time
Give your friend 10 seconds to respond.
Just Right
Use your 'Conversation Volume'.
Social Bridge Cards
Advanced tools for conflict and collaboration
Friendship Session Log Blueprint Session Log
Facilitator's Progress & Observation Tracker
Group Members
Meeting Time/Location
Quest Checklist
Q1: Me Map Q4: Kindness Det. Q2: Perspective Q5: Fix-It Q3: Greetings Q6: Capsule
SESSION 1: ____________________
Quest: __________
Start Zone
End Zone
Observations & Communication Bridges Used
SESSION 2: ____________________
Quest: __________
Start Zone
End Zone
Observations & Communication Bridges Used
SESSION 3: ____________________
Quest: __________
Start Zone
End Zone
Observations & Communication Bridges Used
SESSION 4: ____________________
Quest: __________
Start Zone
End Zone
Observations & Communication Bridges Used
SESSION 5: ____________________
Quest: __________
Start Zone
End Zone
Observations & Communication Bridges Used
SESSION 6: ____________________
Quest: __________
Start Zone
End Zone
Observations & Communication Bridges Used
Post-Group Summary
Overall Connection Growth
Neuro-Inclusive Adjustments Made
Student Quest Tracker Quest Tracker
My Friendship Blueprint Journey
Architect Name
Quest 1: Me Map
Color Me
Quest 2: Perspective
Color Me
Quest 3: Greetings
Color Me
Quest 4: Detective
Color Me
Quest 5: Fix-It
Color Me
Quest 6: Future
Color Me
Skills I'm Building
Checking my Emotional Zones
Using my Communication Bridge
Active Listening with my friend
Solving muddles with "I Statements"
Friendship Graduation Certificate Master Architect
The Friendship Blueprint Program
This certificate is proudly presented to
For demonstrating exceptional skills in active listening , navigating emotional zones with empathy, and using communication bridges to build a stronger, more inclusive friendship.
Facilitator
Date
