Mentor Chat Lesson Plan
Cross-Grade Advisory Protocol
Mentor Chat Lesson Plan
45-50 Minutes • Grades 6 & 8
A structured cross-grade dialogue where 8th graders share lived wisdom with 6th graders to demystify middle school social dynamics, peer pressure, and evolving friendships.
Core Objectives
- Identify common friendship shifts from elementary to middle school.
- Apply mentor strategies to defuse rumors, gossip, and peer conflicts.
- Establish personal "green flags" for healthy peer boundaries.
SEL Competencies
- Relationship Skills: Active listening, open-ended inquiry, repair.
- Social Awareness: Empathy across grade cohorts and social circles.
- Self-Management: Resisting negative social pressure.
Required Materials
- 1 set of Friendship Spark Cards per pair or triad.
- 1 copy of Reflection Worksheet per 6th grader.
- Timer / chime for rotational transitions.
- Chart paper & marker for debrief anchor chart.
Pre-Session Community Norms (Read Aloud)
For 8th Grade Mentors:
- Keep it Real, Keep it Kind: Share genuine struggles and lessons, not exaggerated drama.
- No Name-Dropping: Reference situations, never specific student names or ongoing feuds.
- Step Back, Listen Deeply: Make sure 6th graders speak at least half the time.
For 6th Grade Mentees:
- No Question is Too Silly: If you are wondering about it, others are too.
- Brave Space: What is shared in our circle stays in our circle.
- Active Note-Taking: Jot down at least one nugget of advice per round.
Instructional Timeline & Protocol
8 MIN Phase 1
Arrival, Pairing & Low-Stakes Warm-Up ("Common Ground")
Pair each 6th grader with one 8th grader (or triad: one 8th grader with two 6th graders). Pairs find 3 non-obvious things they have in common (e.g., favorite snack, elective subject, shoe brand, weekend hobby) before touching cards.
26 MIN Phase 2
Structured Mentor Chat Rounds (3 Timed Cycles)
Round 1 (8 min) Finding Your Crew
Questions on lunch tables, joining clubs, and making friends in new classes.
Round 2 (9 min) Drama & Boundaries
Questions on group chats, rumors, peer pressure, and saying "no" respectfully.
Round 3 (9 min) Evolving & Advice
Questions on outgrowing old friends, staying true to yourself, and survival tips.
Middle School Mentors Series • Lesson Facilitation Guide Page 1 of 2
Implementation Guide
Debrief Protocol & Troubleshooting
Page 2 of 2
10 MIN Phase 3
Whole-Group Anchor Debrief ("Wisdom Wall")
Gather all students back into a full circle or auditorium cluster. Facilitator asks 3 structured synthesis questions:
Question 1: "6th graders: What was the single most surprising or relieving piece of advice an 8th grader told you today?"
Question 2: "8th graders: If you could redo one social friendship situation from 6th grade, how would you handle it differently?"
Question 3: "Everyone: What is one middle school friendship myth that we can officially bust today?"
6 MIN Phase 4
Individual Reflection & Gratitude Close
6th graders complete their Friendship Playbook Reflection Worksheet. They fill out the tear-off gratitude slip at the bottom and hand it directly to their 8th grade mentor before departing.
Facilitator Watch-Outs
Mentor Dominates the Talking:
Prompt: "Mentor, ask your partner how this situation looks in their classes right now."
Awkward Silence or Shyness:
Instruct the 6th grader to draw a Wildcard card or have both read Card #1 aloud together.
Sensitive or Unsafe Disclosures:
If severe bullying or self-harm is mentioned, follow mandatory reporting protocol and alert the school counselor.
Differentiation & Accommodations
ELL & Language Learners:
Pair with bilingual 8th graders; allow students to discuss scenarios in home language; cards include clear iconography.
Social Anxiety / Introverted Learners:
Use 2-on-1 pairing (two 6th graders with one calm 8th grader); allow written card selection before speaking.
High-Energy Groups:
Use "Speed Mentoring" physical rotations every 6 minutes with a chime to maintain momentum.
Ongoing School Culture Extensions
Hallway High-Fives
Establish the norm that mentors and mentees acknowledge each other when passing between periods.
Lunch Buddy Fridays
Designate one Friday a month where 8th grade leaders sit with 6th graders to check in.
Mid-Year Checkpoint
Host a brief 20-minute Semester 2 follow-up session to review goals and celebrate growth.
Middle School Mentors Series • Lesson Facilitation Guide Page 2 of 2
Friendship Spark Discussion Cards
Friendship Spark Discussion Cards
6th Graders ask the questions • 8th Graders share real stories & advice
Cut along dashed lines or draw from card deck
Finding Your Crew #01
"How did you meet your closest friends in 6th grade, and did that friend group change by 8th grade?"
Ask Next: "Were you nervous on your first day?"
Mentor Prompt: Share how friend groups naturally shift and why that is completely normal.
Breaking the Ice #02
"What is your best trick for starting a conversation with someone you don't know in class or PE?"
Ask Next: "What is an easy question that never feels awkward?"
Mentor Prompt: Give 1 or 2 exact lines you use (e.g. asking about shoes, a funny teacher moment, or a hobby).
Lunchroom Realities #03
"What should you do if you walk into the cafeteria and have nobody you know to sit with?"
Ask Next: "Has this ever happened to you or a friend?"
Mentor Prompt: Share a practical game plan (library pass, open table, club meeting).
Clubs & Teams #04
"How did joining a club, sport, or school event help you connect with people you normally wouldn't talk to?"
Ask Next: "Which club or activity do you recommend most?"
Mentor Prompt: Name specific activities at our school and how shared interests build bonds.
Drama Defusers #05
"What causes the most unnecessary friend drama in middle school, and how do you stay out of it?"
Ask Next: "What do you do when a friend tries to drag you into it?"
Mentor Prompt: Explain the power of staying neutral and refusing to carry gossip between people.
Group Chats & DMs #06
"What is your #1 rule for surviving chaotic group chats or when people start being rude online?"
Ask Next: "How do you leave a toxic group chat without creating drama?"
Mentor Prompt: Share rules on screenshotting, muting notifications, and logging off when heated.
Boundaries & 'No' #07
"How do you tell a friend 'no' or set a boundary without feeling guilty or risking the friendship?"
Ask Next: "What if they get mad and ignore you?"
Mentor Prompt: Explain that true friends respect boundaries; fake friends take boundaries personally.
Rumors & Repair #08
"If you hear someone saying something untrue about you or a friend, what is the smartest way to react?"
Ask Next: "Does confronting them right away help or make it worse?"
Mentor Prompt: Discuss when to address things privately 1-on-1 vs. when to ignore the noise.
Middle School Mentors Series • Discussion Cards Deck Set A (Cards 1–8) • Page 1 of 2
Friendship Spark Discussion Cards
6th Graders ask the questions • 8th Graders share real stories & advice
Cut along dashed lines or draw from card deck
Drifting Apart #09
"What should you do when an elementary school best friend starts having totally different interests or friends?"
Ask Next: "Can you stay friends even if you don't hang out every day?"
Mentor Prompt: Reassure that growing apart doesn't mean anyone did something bad; people evolve.
Real vs. Fake Friends #10
"How do you know if someone is truly a loyal friend versus someone who only hangs around when they need something?"
Ask Next: "What is a major 'green flag' you look for?"
Mentor Prompt: Share a green flag (cheers for your wins) vs red flag (makes fun of you in front of others).
Friends vs. Grades #11
"How do you manage your time when friends want to call or game for hours, but you have heavy homework or tests?"
Ask Next: "Have you ever let your grades slip because of friends?"
Mentor Prompt: Share how setting study hours earned respect and saved stress later in 7th/8th grade.
The 'Popularity' Myth #12
"Does being 'popular' actually matter in middle school, or is having two or three solid friends way better?"
Ask Next: "Are popular kids as confident as they look?"
Mentor Prompt: Be honest about the pressure of popularity vs. the safety of genuine friendships.
Serious Stuff & Help #13
"When should you break a friend's promise of secrecy and tell a teacher or counselor that they need help?"
Ask Next: "Who is the easiest adult in our building to talk to?"
Mentor Prompt: Safety always beats secrecy: remind them that getting an adult helps protect lives.
Do-Over Moment #14
"What is the biggest friendship mistake you made in 6th grade, and what did it teach you?"
Ask Next: "How did you patch things up afterwards?"
Mentor Prompt: Vulnerability builds trust: share an honest slip-up (e.g., trying too hard, a bad joke).
Golden Advice #15
"If you could send a one-sentence text message back in time to yourself on the first day of 6th grade, what would it say?"
Ask Next: "What worried you back then that turned out fine?"
Mentor Prompt: Keep it punchy, memorable, and empowering.
Wildcard Question #16
"Student Choice: Ask your mentor any middle school friendship question you've been wondering about!"
Prompt: Think about lockers, teachers, rumors, weekends, or sports!
Mentor Prompt: Answer honestly and candidly. If you don't know, brainstorm together.
Middle School Mentors Series • Discussion Cards Deck Set B (Cards 9–16) • Page 2 of 2
Friendship Playbook Reflection Worksheet
6th Grade Advisory & SEL
Friendship Playbook Field Notes
Student Worksheet
My Name:
Date:
My 8th Grade Mentor(s):
1
Pre-Chat Check-In
Before talking with your mentor: What is one question, worry, or confusing situation about middle school friends you hope to learn about today?
2
Field Notes From Mentor Rounds
(Jot key advice, stories, and tips during your chat)
Round 1: Finding Your Crew & Breaking the Ice Cards 1–4
What did your mentor say about making friends, finding cafeteria seats, or joining clubs?
Round 2: Drama, Rumors & Group Chats Cards 5–8
What strategy does your mentor use to stay out of drama or handle messy group chats?
Round 3: Evolving Friendships & True Advice Cards 9–16
What advice did they share about friends drifting apart or staying true to yourself?
Middle School Mentors Series • 6th Grade Reflection Playbook Page 1 of 2
Part II: Action & Synthesis
My Friendship Action Plan
Page 2 of 2
The "Golden Advice" Quote Box
Write down the single most helpful, funny, or real sentence your mentor shared today:
“
”
Friendship Reality Check
The Middle School Myth:
What I used to think or worry about friends in middle school:
The Real Truth:
What my 8th grade mentor showed me is actually true:
My 3 Friendship "Green Flags"
Based on today's chat, what are 3 traits you want in your closest friends?
1 A true friend...
2 A true friend...
3 A true friend...
My Next Step This Week
One action I will take this week to make a new friend, set a healthy boundary, or avoid drama:
Tear Off & Give to Your Mentor Mentor Appreciation Slip
To (Mentor):
From (Mentee):
Thank you for being my mentor today! The most helpful thing you taught me was:
