Working and playing in a group can be hard. Most adults might even shy away from group work. But, in Habits of Friendship: Groups, we dive right in and learn how to share with others, care about others, and lead others to do the same. Download this lesson to help your students develop the group skills needed in every friendship.
What is Habits of Friendship?
Maybe you missed the first post that introduced The Habits of Friendship program. If so, head over here to read up on the program and get your free, printable progress tracker. You can also download the first two lessons here:
- Habits of Friendship: Communication
- Habits of Friendship: Manners
- Habits of Friendship: Emotions
- Habits of Friendship: Conflict
In short, after Habits of Learning took shape in my mind, I began to realize it was an incomplete program. Our lives are not just about learning, they are about more than that.
If you have been here for a while, you know I talk a lot about goal setting and balance. When I am talking about those things, I often quote one of my favorite Bible verses: Luke 2:52.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Luke 2:52, KJV
In this verse we see that as Jesus grew from child to man, he developed in four areas of his life:
- Wisdom: Learning and education
- Stature: Physical health and wellness
- Favour with God: Spiritual development
- Favour with man: Social and emotional development
Habits of Learning focuses on the “wisdom” part of that verse. Habits of Friendship will focus on “favour with man”. These are the two modules that will be taught, two times a year at A One-Room Schoolhouse.
Preparation For Habits of Friendship: Groups
Once you have completed the progress monitoring circle listed in the introductory post, you are ready to dive into week one Habits of Friendship: Groups. Here is all you need to do to get ready for this week:
- Download the lesson plan (link below), print it if desired.
- Bookmark this blog post that includes live links to use for each lesson containing a video.
- Print off the resources included at the end of this post.
- Gather a few soft balls or soft toys.
Now you are ready to go!
Remember to Practice
The general instructions for the Habits of Friendship stay the same from week to week. This week (and from here on out) you will want to encourage your children to do the exploration activities from the previous week’s lesson.
This may be a copy sheet, hymn study, or memorization. Maybe they might like to read a book from the list or watch one of the video links. It does not matter which activity they do, what does matter is that they are still thinking about and learning about the previously studied habit.
Furthermore, make sure you are always looking for ways to praise your children as they progress in the previously studied habits. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO!
This focus on continual practice and praise will help further development and generalization. It reinforces the idea that we are always working to improve ourselves.
Special Elements of Habits of Friendship: Groups
Below are some of the special elements that you might want to read about before completing the Habits of Friendship: Groups lessons.
Builder or Wrecker?
by Edgar Guest
I watched them tearing a building down,
A gang of men in a busy town.
With a ho-heave-ho and lusty yell,
They swung a beam and a sidewall fell.
I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled,
The men you’d hire if you had to build?”
He gave me a laugh and said, “No indeed!
Just common labor is all I need.
I can easily wreck in a day or two
What builders have taken a year to do.”
And I thought to myself as I went my way,
Which of these two roles have I tried to play?
Am I a builder who works with care,
Measuring life by the rule and square?
Am I shaping my deeds by a well-made plan,
Patiently doing the best I can?
Or am I a wrecker who walks the town,
Content with the labor of tearing down?
Five Lesson Learned From Geese
Fact One: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the birds that follow. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson One: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of each other.
Fact Two: When a goose falls out of formation it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds in front of it.
Lesson Two: If we have as much sense as a goose, we’ll stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
Fact Three: When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the formation and another goose flies point.
Lesson Three: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership.
Fact Four: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson Four: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging.
Fact Five: When a goose sets sick, wounded, or shot down two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson Five: If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we’re strong.
“Lessons from Geese” was transcribed from a speech given by Angeles Arrien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network and is based on the work of Milton Olson.
Unwritten Rules
- Watch out for and be considerate of younger kids or those with different abilities.
- Take care of toys, sports equipment, and tools you are working and playing with.
- Use polite language.
- Stay away from dangerous areas like the street, waterways, or construction sites.
- Include those that are being left out or struggling to keep up.
- Negotiate through disputes.
- Compromise to resolve conflicts. (Do-overs, take-turns, or share)
- Get adult help when someone is hurt or in a dangerous situation.
- When possible, find a way to play together without tattling.
- Never play or work to hurt someone or leave someone out.
- Apologize right away when you make a mistake or hurt someone.
- When in doubt: let others go first, allow the do-over, and say sorry.
Grow Our Community
We are growing rapidly and we are so pleased with your support. Keep tagging your friends, using our hashtag (#habitsoffriendship), and sharing your Habits of Friendship journey.
Let’s keep the social media ball rolling and share this program with your friends! Take pictures and videos of your Habits of Friendship: Groups lessons. Post these on Facebook or Instagram. Use the hashtag #habitsoffrienship and tag @aoneroomshoolhouse. Follow the Schoolhouse and our hashtag to join other Habits of Friendship users!
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