myself
lesson 4:
A FRIEND UNTO MYSELF
Lesson Summary
Students practice responding to a friend who needs a little kindness and support. They have an opportunity to consider their own ‘inner voice’ and to understand how important this inner voice is. This lesson encourages positive self-talk, kind words to self and to others and helps students realise how being a friend to yourself is an important part of being a good friend to others.
Purpose
Purpose: To practice how we can respond to a friend when they are feeling down. To recognise and understand the importance of positive self-talk, treating yourself with dignity and respect, having self-belief, and being kind and gentle to yourself when you make mistakes. It is vital to be a friend unto thyself.
Process
Time Needed: 25 to 30 minutes
Around the World (5 mins)
Role Play (15 mins)
Draw Your ‘Inner Friend.’ (5 mins)
Debrief (5 mins)
Materials & downloads
For this lesson, you will need the following:
Blank paper
Coloured pens and pencils
Optional: Student workbook / notebook
Activity 1: around the world
Set Up
Choose 4 countries and assign one to each corner of the room (e.g., Australia, Japan, Brazil, Egypt).
Students pick a country to start in.
How to Play
To “travel around the world,” students move clockwise from their country to the next.
To move, they must challenge someone in their current country to Rock, Paper, Scissors.
If they win, they travel on to the next country.
If they lose, they stay where they are and find a new partner to try again.
The goal is to see how far around the world they can get before time is up.
Teacher Script
Okay, travellers! Each corner of the room is a country. Pick your starting country! To travel around the world, you’ll need to play Rock, Paper, Scissors. If you win, you can move on to the next country. If you lose, stay where you are, find another partner, and try again. Let’s see how far you can travel around the world in two minutes!
Debrief.
Did you notice how you couldn’t get around the world on your own? You needed other people to play with, and they needed you too. It’s the same in life, we can go further when we have others beside us. Just like in Friendship, it’s important to show kindness, fairness, and respect, because those are the blocks that help us build sturdy bridges with others.
A friend unto myself
Welcome back to Friendship Fitness!
In this lesson, we’re going to explore how we would help a friend if they were feeling down. In a moment we will hear from Callum, who is having a hard day. During a role-play activity, you will have an opportunity to speak to Callum as a good friend would. I want you to notice carefully how you speak to your friend Callum and the things that you say to him. The way in which we speak supportively to our friends is also how we should speak to ourselves in times of hardship. Being kind to yourself is so important — because before you can be a friend to others, you need to be a friend to yourself first.
Class Question: Have you ever thought about being your own friend?
Activity 3: Role Play
Work in pairs and role-play a conversation as Callum and his friend.
Or, you can do this as a whole-class activity:
Choose one student to be Callum. They sit in a chair at the front.
Everyone else plays the role of Callum’s friends and can take turns responding.
Callum’s Role: What to Say and Do
Explain how you feel.
Ask questions to understand more.
Show your feelings with your face and body.
Thank your friend and respond kindly.
Friend’s Role: What to Say
I understand you feel because It’s ok to have these feelings.
It’s okay if you’re not the best at soccer because .
Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, like when .
The most important thing is to have fun by .
I like playing with you because .
Reflection
Ask:
Callums: How did it feel when your friend spoke kindly to you?
Friends: What did you say to help Callum?
Friends: What did you say to help Callum?
What if someone spoke unkindly?
(Discuss as a class.)
Key Message – Be Kind to Yourself too!
The way you were kind to Callum is how you should be kind to yourself. In fact, it is the way we should speak to ourself.
Sometimes we feel sad or worried like Callum. When that happens, be:
Kind to yourself – in your thoughts, words, and actions.
Gentle with yourself – nobody is perfect; mistakes are okay.
Encouraging – believe in yourself and keep trying.
Honest – it’s okay to admit when things are hard.
Remember: Before you can be a good friend to others, you need to be a good friend to yourself.
Activity 2: case study (15 mins)
Introduction: Case Study
Let’s start with a story...
There is a student in your class called Callum. Callum is 8 years old. He’s been feeling sad because he thinks he’s not very good at soccer. He likes playing with his friends during break, but he often misses the ball or can’t keep up.
He feels frustrated and worries he’s letting his team down. You and Callum are very good friends, and have been for years. He comes to you to explain how he is feeling, and you have a chance to respond.
Class Discussion
How do you think Callum feels?
Have you ever felt like that?
(Pause for answers.)
ACTIVITY: Draw Your Inner Friend (5 mins)
Ask students to draw or create a character that represents their “inner friend” — the voice inside that encourages and supports them. Remember, this inner friend is a kind and uplifting friend; they are a friend that’s always with you.
Write some speech bubbles around your character, sharing some supportive things they may say.
REMEMBER: Always be a friend unto yourself.
Lesson Debrief
It is important to be a supportive and encouraging friend. It is good to listen to a friend and offer kindness and supportive words when we can.
It is important to notice our own inner voice and to ensure that it is also a supportive, encouraging and loving voice that we speak within ourselves.
We need to be kind and loving to ourselves and have empathy and compassion for ourselves, especially when we make mistakes. We can be a good friend to others when we are a good friend to ourselves first.
