LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify which friend type describes you best; describe strengths and potential weaknesses of your type; identify how your current role in friendships is relevant to your health, present and future 

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 2: Analyze the influence of peers, personal values, and beliefs on individual health practice and behaviors. 

CASEL COMPETENCY: Relationship skills; self-awareness 

KEY VOCAB

compassionate, defense mechanism, allegiance

Lesson Plan: What Type of Friend Are You?

Friendship with others teaches you a lot about yourself, but did you know it can even help you select a future career? Take our quiz to find out how you can use your own unique friendship superpowers to help others AND yourself. 

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

How can understanding my own role in friendships improve my present and future health? 

 CLOSE-READING QUESTIONS

  1. Which self-care tip does Dr. Bonior recommend for Party Starters? Dr. Bonior recommends that Party Starters avoid filling their schedule too much so they can enjoy unstructured moments with friends as well as by themselves.
  2. Which types of people can you connect with even if you aren’t close to those in your peer group? Give at least two examples from the article. Accept any two: A kid you babysit; a cousin; an elderly neighbor. 
  3. What is a potential pitfall for Biggest Fans and what can they do about it? Biggest Fans sometimes have trouble challenging their friends when they need to be challenged. As a result, Biggest Fans may need to push themselves to tell their friends something they don’t want to hear. 

 CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS

  1. Which friendship strengths did you most identify with from the article and why? Answers will vary. 
  2. Which types of people do you tend to get along with the best, and why? Answers will vary. 
  3. Think of your own favorite friend duo from movies, television shows, books, or video games. Describe at least one duo not mentioned in the article and which friend type you think each character represents. Answers will vary. 

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

DIGGING DEEPER

NHES 2

CASEL Competency: Self-awareness

Give students a chance to feel awesome about their friendship superpowers in this FEEL-GOOD INTERVIEW. Have students interview someone who they are close to, whether that person is in the class or not. Then, have them share their favorite or funniest answer with the class.  (Click here to find this Skill Builder.)

EXTENSION ACTIVITY

NHES 7

CASEL Competency: Relationship skills; self-awareness

After students consider their friendship superpower, allow them to consider how it can translate to a CAREER SUPERPOWER. In this activity, they will take a glimpse into the future by considering which career they are most suited for based on the type of friend they are. (Click here to find this Skill Builder.)

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