UKS2 - Friendships

Build strong, resilient friendships with this outdoor friendship-skills unit, packed with hands-on activities, storytelling, and practical strategies that help children identify healthy relationships, manage conflict, and navigate changing social dynamics. Perfect for primary teachers seeking engaging outdoor PSHE lessons, this unit boosts emotional intelligence, confidence, and collaboration.

Lesson Plans

Building positive friendships

During this outdoor lesson your children will actively learn and apply five practical ‘Strategy Cards’ using fun, nature-based tasks to strengthen existing bonds and cultivate new, positive friendships that support their long-term wellbeing.

Learning objective:

To recognise the importance of friendships.

What makes a healthy friendship?

Explore the core attributes of a healthy friendship using this outdoor lesson plan. Providing easy-to-follow activities that give children the confidence to spot supportive bonds and navigate complex social situations.

Learning objective:

To identify the attributes of a healthy friendship.

Exploring healthy friendships

During this outdoor lesson your children will focus on how friendships make them feel and recognise core feelings such as inclusion and support of healthy friendships. This is done through an exciting, hands-on outdoor challenge that will utilise their collaborative skills.

Learning objective:

To recognise how healthy friendships make us feel.

Strategies for strong friendships

Equip your class with the emotional intelligence to navigate challenges that friendship can pose, moving beyond simple disagreements to secure reconciliation. This outdoor lesson provides a fun, practical framework for children to master conflict resolution, ensuring they build resilient bonds.

Learning objective:

To understand that friendships have ups and downs.

Recognising different types of friendships

This outdoor lesson provides a sensitive and engaging way to teach children how to navigate the complex, often emotional experience of a changing friendship. It empowers them, through storytelling, to reflect constructively on different relationship dynamics, ensuring they can manage shifts in their social life with confidence and emotional maturity.

Learning objective:

To recognise how friendships might change over time.

Before you get started

Safety and sustainability is super important!