The Science Behind Friendship Skills Classroom Guidance Lesson STEM Activities
Using STEM Activities, students are introduced to friendship skills that attract friends and behaviors that repel friends through fun science experiments. Learning to be a friend is an important skill and sometimes it is hard for students to understand how their behavior can impact their friendships. This lesson makes learning how to be a friend fun, exciting, and memorable! Imagine your students’ faces when they find out we can do science experiments to explain friendship behavior. Using the story of a new student with unfriendly behaviors, students learn the impact of their behavior on friendships.
The lesson starts with a story about a new student who exhibits repelling behaviors. The Repelling Pepper Experiment is used to demonstrate the reactions of students. Then, the story is retold with a better outcome, and the Attracting Pepper Experiment is used to demonstrate students' positive reactions. The lesson continues with discussions on magnets that attract and repel, an interactive sort on the board, and students becoming Human Magnets to apply what they have learned. Finally, the lesson concludes with the Elephant's Toothpaste experiment, which serves as a reminder that words, like toothpaste, cannot be taken back once they are out.
This lesson is an opportunity to combine STEM activities with Social Emotional skills! Included are a PowerPoint version and a SMARTboard version. The SMARTboard version requires SMARTBOARD NOTEBOOK software on your computer. It is intended to be used with elementary students. This packet is designed to provide you with a lesson, presentation, and activities for students. No planning is required; however, there is prep work required for the science experiments! The lesson can be used in the classroom or for small groups.
After completion of the lesson, students will be able to:
• Understand the importance of using friendly behaviors.
• Identify behaviors that repel friends.
• Identify behaviors that attract friends.
What is included in this packet?
1. Science Behind Friendship Lesson Plan (4 pages)
2. Science Behind Friendship interactive SMARTBOARD NOTEBooK (9 slides)
3. Science Experiments Step by Step Directions (2 pages)
4. 24 Magnet Movement Cards (4 pages)
Not sure if you can do these science experiments? Sure you can! Watch these videos to see how easy it is!
Elephant Toothpaste Experiment
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