Psychological Corollary:

Not making an effort often leads to failure.

Lesson Objectives:

Given an example of failure, students will identify two kinds of effort that, because they were not made, helped cause the failure. For example, failing to make friends can be the result of not making an effort to be with people, not giving people attention, and not responding to invitations for friendship from others.

Social Behaviors

This lesson shows students that successful people:

Suggested Lesson Plans

Introduction

• Remind students that in Unit 1, Lesson 1, Tony learned why it was important to put forth effort in order to get and keep a job. Ask students what might have happened if Tony had ignored Liza's displeasure with how he did his job (e.g., she might have fired him).
• Ask students to imagine that their family has just moved to a new town.
• Ask students to describe how they think they might feel (e.g., lonely or scared).

Group Use of Student Workbook

• Ask students to read the top of page one and explain what Peter's problem is. (He has made no friends in the town to which he recently moved.)
• Ask students to read each cartoon and identify the situation depicted in the cartoon.
• Read each statement or action Peter could make or take.
• Evaluate each item to determine if it might lead to a friendship between Peter and the other person.
• Suggest additional things Peter could do or say to get to know the other person.

Follow - Up

• Pretend you are going to a party tomorrow night where you will meet new people. List at least five things you could do to make friends and have a good time and describe things you should not do (e.g., sit alone or refuse to join in a game).

Behavior Development Activity

To encourage students to ask questions and show interest:

• Have students brainstorm ways of finding out what a person's interests are; for example, ask questions like:
• What do you do in your free time?
• Do you have interesting plans for the weekend?
• Ask a student volunteer to roleplay a conversation with you. Demonstrate to students how you can use questions to find out about the volunteer's interests; sustain a conversation on this topic for two or three minutes. When you finish the conversation, have students add questions you might also have asked.
• Divide the class into pairs. Have each pair roleplay a conversation in which Peter tries to make friends with the person in each of the following situations:
• Peter calls Luke about going to a movie.
• Peter stops to talk with Tim while Tim works on his bicycle.
• Peter talks to Carlos while Carlos waxes his car.
• Peter talks to Tran in the Burger King.
• Peter talks with Sam as they

Review

• Ask students to identify three ways by which lack of effort might cause the following failures:
• Not having new friends at a new school (e.g., not saying hello to anyone, not smiling, and not getting involved in any activities).
• Having a miserable time at a party (e.g., not talking to people, not asking anyone to dance, and sitting in a corner).
• Ask students to identify at least two things they could do to make friends in a new town (e.g., ask people questions about themselves and their jobs, and show interest in others).

Homework (Optional)

Have students compose a letter to Peter, either in writing or on video. Students' letters should give Peter at least three suggestions to help him make new friends.