Friendship Stew Lesson Plan Friendship Stew
Mixing Good Qualities!
Audience Kindergarten
At a Glance
Total Time 30 minutes
Approach Interactive Discussion, Sorting, Creative Expression
Objective Students will identify and describe at least three positive qualities of a good friend.
Materials
Friendly Faces Slide Deck
Friendship Trait Cards
My Friendship Stew Sheet
Crayons or markers
Prep
10 Minutes:
Instructional Plan
Warm-Up: What is a Friend?
5 MIN
Begin with a brief discussion: "What does it mean to be a friend?" Ask students to share one thing a friend does for them. Introduce the concept of a Friendship Stew – a special mix of good qualities that make someone a great companion.
Introducing Friendly Qualities
10 MIN
Use the Friendly Faces Slide Deck to introduce traits: kind, helpful, good listener, shares, and respectful. For each, ask for "action examples" (e.g., "What does it look like to use gentle hands?"). Hold up the Friendship Trait Cards during the discussion.
Friendship Stew Activity
10 MIN
Distribute the My Friendship Stew Activity Sheet . Students draw or write (with support) three qualities they want in their "pot." Circulate to offer support and encourage students to explain their choices to you.
Cool-Down: Sharing Our Stew
5 MIN
Invite a few "chefs" to share their ingredients. Reinforce that good friends help everyone feel happy and safe. Affirm the importance of practicing these skills every day in the classroom.
Why This Matters
Kindergarten is a critical time for developing social-emotional skills. Identifying specific positive behaviors helps students move from abstract concepts like "being nice" to concrete actions like "listening" or "sharing," fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom community.
Friendly Faces Slides Friendship Stew
Mixing Good Qualities!
Teacher Notes: Welcome students and introduce the "Friendship Stew." Explain that just like a stew has ingredients, friendships have special qualities. Ask them what makes their friends special.
What is a Friend?
Close your eyes and think about your best friend.
What do they do that makes them a good friend?
Teacher Notes: Prompt students to share initial thoughts. Listen for keywords like 'play,' 'share,' 'happy.' Ask how a friend makes them feel.
Ingredient #1
Kindness
A good friend is kind . They use gentle hands and say nice things.
Teacher Notes: Explain kindness (gentle hands, nice words). Ask for examples: "How can you be kind to a friend today?"
Ingredient #2
Helpfulness
A good friend is helpful . They offer to share, or help when you need it.
Teacher Notes: Explain being helpful. Ask: "How can you help a friend who can't open their snack or who is struggling with a toy?"
Ingredient #3
Good Listener
A good friend is a good listener . They listen and let you finish talking.
Teacher Notes: Explain listening (eyes on speaker, quiet mouth). Ask: "Why is it important to listen to your friends?"
Ingredient #4
Sharing
A good friend shares . They share toys, snacks, and even their ideas!
Teacher Notes: Explain sharing toys, ideas, or feelings. Ask: "What is something fun you can share with a friend today?"
Ingredient #5
Respect
A good friend is respectful . They treat others nicely, even if they are different.
Teacher Notes: Explain respect (being polite, valuing differences). Ask: "What does it mean to respect a friend's choice?"
Your Friendship Stew!
Now it's your turn to choose the best ingredients for your own friendship stew!
Which qualities will you pick?
Teacher Notes: Transition to the activity. Explain they will pick 3 favorite ingredients. Review the instructions for the worksheet.
Friendship Stew Script Facilitation Script
Friendship Stew: Mixing Good Qualities!
PART 1
Introduction
5 MINUTES
Slide 1: Title
Teacher: "Good morning, wonderful friends! Today, we are going to talk about something super special: friendship! Who here has a friend? Give me a thumbs up if you do!"
Wait for thumbs up.
"Awesome! Friendships are like a delicious stew, full of different yummy ingredients that make it taste amazing. Today, we're going to discover what ingredients make a truly amazing friend!"
Slide 2: What is a Friend?
Teacher: "Before we jump into our stew, I want you to close your eyes for a moment. Think about your best friend. What do they do that makes them a good friend? What makes you happy when you're with them?"
(Pause for a few seconds.)
"Okay, open your eyes! Who would like to share one thing their friend does that makes them a good friend?"
Call on a few students. Affirm their answers (e.g., "That's a great example of being a good friend!").
PART 2
Friendly Qualities
10 MINUTES
Slide 3: Kindness
Teacher: "Fantastic! Now, let's look at some important ingredients for our Friendship Stew! The first ingredient is kindness . Can everyone say 'kindness'?"
"A good friend is kind . They use gentle hands and say nice things. What does kindness look like? Can someone show me a kind face?"
Encourage demonstration. Ask: "If your friend falls, what's a kind thing to do? If someone is sad, what's a kind thing to say?"
Slide 4: Helpfulness
Teacher: "Our next ingredient is helpfulness ! Say 'helpfulness' with me! A good friend is helpful . They offer to share, or help when you need it. If you see a friend struggling to open their lunchbox, what could a helpful friend do?"
Wait for responses. "Being helpful means looking out for each other and making things a little easier!"
Slide 5: Listening
Teacher: "Here's another super important ingredient: being a good listener ! A good friend listens when you talk. When I'm talking, what do your ears do? They listen! When your friend is talking, what do your eyes do? They look at your friend!"
"Why is it important to listen to your friends?" (Guide them to respect and understanding feelings.)
PART 3
Friendship Stew Activity
10 MINUTES
Slide 8: Action
Teacher: "Wow, we have so many wonderful ingredients! Now, it's your turn to be the chef! You get to choose the best ingredients for your own friendship stew!"
Friendship Trait Cards Friendship Trait Cards
Print and cut these cards to use during the lesson or for sorting activities.
Kind
Using gentle hands and saying nice words.
Helpful
Helping others when they need a hand.
Good Listener
Listening when others talk and paying attention.
Shares
Sharing toys, snacks, and even your ideas.
Respectful
Treating everyone nicely, even if they are different.
My Own Idea My Friendship Stew Worksheet My Friendship Stew
What ingredients make a great friend?
Name:
Date:
Instructions
Think about our Friendship Stew! Inside the big pot below, draw three things that make a great friend. You can also write the words if you want to!
My Friendship Pot
Draw Your Ingredients Here
I chose these 3 ingredients:
"Good friends make our hearts feel happy and safe!"
