In this lesson, we are learning to:

• Describe the qualities of a good friend.
• Identify skills for initiating and developing friendships.
• Make and share personal connections to a text.

Episode: ‘The Dawg’ – Eddie discovers that sometimes you can try too hard to be liked.

Find 'The Dawg' on NITV, Netflix or SBS On Demand. 

Capture students’ interest and elicit their prior knowledge about friendships by jointly constructing a large ‘Friendship’ Y-chart. Label the three sections ‘looks like’, ‘sounds like’ and ‘feels like’, then ask the class to contribute ideas for each section. Suggestions might include:

• Looks like: smiling, high-fives, having fun.
• Sounds like: inviting someone to play, compliments, laughter.
• Feels like: happiness, fun, trusting your friends.

This anchor chart can be displayed in the classroom and referred to throughout the year.

With a shared understanding of positive friendships now established, explain to students that they will watch an episode about making friends. In the Eddies Lil’ Homies episode titled ‘The Dawg’, Eddie is determined to befriend Champ the dog. The more ambivalent Champ becomes, the harder Eddie tries to win him over.

After viewing the episode, have students use the Think-Pair-Share strategy to reflect on and discuss the awkward relationship between Eddie and Champ. Could Eddie have done anything differently? Would you do anything differently in a situation like this?

Highlight for students some of the strategies that Eddie used to befriend Champ:

• Inviting him to play.
• Arrange a play after school’ should be a dot point.
• Giving him nicknames.

Then ask students to reflect on and share how they approach new friendships. What might they do or say while making a new friend?

 This could include:

• Introducing yourself
• Starting a conversation.
• Asking and answering questions.
• Being kind.
• Inviting someone to play.
• Sharing toys and other belongings.

Arranging a play after school.

Remaining in their groups, ask students to identify and discuss any strategies or programs at school that help children to make friends. For example, the school may have a Buddies program, a friendship bench or lunchtime clubs. Challenge each group to think of one new initiative that could help students make friends. Invite groups to share their thoughts with the wider class and discuss whether these ideas should be shared with the principal or student leaders.

In this lesson, students considered what makes a good friend and the skills for making new friends. Like Eddie and Champ in this episode, it is also important for students to know when to let go of a friendship.

Explain to students that it does take time and effort to make a good friend, but friendship shouldn’t feel like hard work or like a goal to achieve; it should be fun, comfortable and reciprocated. While it may feel scary or disappointing, it is often better to let go of a friendship if one person is disinterested. As Eddie discovered, we can still be kind to others without being great friends.

As a creative text response, ask students to individually design a playground clubhouse. They should include everything they will need to have fun with new and old friends.