Lessons·life-skills·kids · intermediate
Being a Good Friend
Explore what makes someone a good friend, learn how to listen well, include others, and handle disagreements kindly.
About 20 minutes
What's the difference between a friend and a GOOD friend?
Before you start
Watch What Makes a Good Friend? by BBC Teach (4 min) — Think about your best friend. Which of these friendship qualities do they have?
- What's the nicest thing a friend has ever done for you?
- Have you ever fallen out with a friend? What happened?
- What do you think is the most important quality in a friend?
The New Kid
A new girl called Priya joined Sam's class on Wednesday. At break time, she stood by the wall alone, watching everyone play. Sam's friend Jake said, 'Come on, let's play football.' But Sam noticed Priya.
'Hang on,' Sam said. 'She looks a bit lost. Let's ask her to join.'
Jake shrugged. 'She probably doesn't even like football.'
Sam went over anyway. 'Hiya! I'm Sam. Do you want to come and play? You can be on my team.'
Priya smiled. 'I've never played football before.'
'That's alright,' said Sam. 'We'll show you.'
By the end of break, Priya was laughing and running with everyone. Sometimes being a good friend means noticing someone who needs one.
The Friendship Recipe
Good friendships need these ingredients:
**1. Listening** — Really listen when your friend talks. Don't just wait for your turn to speak. Look at them. Ask questions.
**2. Kindness** — Say nice things. Help when they're struggling. Share. These small things matter more than big gestures.
**3. Including Others** — Don't leave people out. If someone looks lonely, invite them in. The best groups are the ones where everyone feels welcome.
**4. Honesty** — Good friends tell the truth, but kindly. 'I think you could try again' is better than 'That's rubbish.'
**5. Saying Sorry** — Everyone makes mistakes. A real friend says sorry and means it. And a real friend accepts the apology.
What You Now Know
- Active Listening
- Really paying attention when someone talks — looking at them, nodding, asking questions.Instead of looking at your phone, you put it down and listen to your friend's story.
- Including Others
- Making sure nobody is left out, especially people who are new or shy.Sam noticed Priya standing alone and invited her to play.
- Making Up
- When friends disagree, talking it through and saying sorry so the friendship can continue.'I'm sorry I said that. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.'
- Peer Pressure
- When friends try to get you to do something you don't want to do.A good friend won't pressure you. They'll say 'That's fine' if you say no.
Let's Talk About It
- What makes YOUR best friend special? What do they do that makes you feel good?
- What should you do if you see someone being left out at school?
- Is it better to have one really close friend or lots of friends? Why?
- What would you do if your friend wanted you to do something you thought was wrong?
Friendship Vocabulary
| English | Türkçe |
|---|---|
| mateHe's my best mate — we've known each other since Year 1. | arkadaş / kankaO benim en yakın arkadaşım — Year 1'den beri birbirimizi tanıyoruz. |
| fall outWe fell out over a silly argument, but we made up the next day. | küsmek / kavga etmekSaçma bir tartışma yüzünden küstük ama ertesi gün barıştık. |
| make upAfter saying sorry, they made up and were friends again. | barışmakÖzür diledikten sonra barıştılar ve yeniden arkadaş oldular. |
| leave outDon't leave her out — ask her to sit with us at lunch. | dışlamakOnu dışarıda bırakma — öğle yemeğinde bizimle oturmasını söyle. |
| stick up forA real friend sticks up for you when other people are being mean. | birinin yanında durmakGerçek bir arkadaş, başkaları sana kaba davrandığında seni savunur. |
| get along |
Writing task
Write about 80 words on this and have it marked, with corrections. Free account needed.
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