Ask students to raise their hand if they can think of a pair of good friends from television shows or movies they have seen. Once students have thought about it, ask them to share how they know they are good friends. After a few examples have been given, tell students, “Today, we are going to discuss the qualities of a good friend.”

Ask students to share what they feel are the qualities of good friends. As students list qualities, write them on an anchor chart. Guide students to understand that friends understand each other, friends should be able to trust each other, friends don’t always agree, friends give each other encouragement, and friends help each other.

Tell students, “Now that we have discussed the qualities of a good friend, we are going to make ‘friendly high fives’ to remind us what good friends do. That way, each time you give a person a high five, you will remember how to be a good friend.”

Pass out gold or silver hands and a marker to each student. Instruct students to write their names in the palm of the hand. Then, on each finger, write one quality of a good friend using the qualities listed on the anchor chart. Once finished, each student should end up having five traits of a good friend on their hand. Have students decorate their hands and display them in the classroom.

Once all hands are completed, divide students into equal groups and tell them, “Now, we are going to practice one of our friendly qualities: encouragement. I want each of you to high five the classmates in your group and give him or her a genuine compliment. Once you have done so, return to your desk.” Circulate around the classroom as students are complimenting their peers.

Tell students that any time they give a classmate a high five, they should think about how they can be a good friend to that person. Remind students that to have a good friend, you need to be a good friend.