Psychological Corollary

A person can select appropriate settings and situations to enhance opportunities for positive social contacts.

Lesson Objective

Students will be able to identify five settings appropriate for making new friends and will model appropriate behaviors for such situations. For example, a person who has just met others can start conversations, be sociable, show interest in others, and compliment others.

Social Behaviors

This lesson shows students that successful people:

• start conversations
• are sociable
• mix socially
• are involved with others
• seek new experiences
• show self-direction

Other Vocabulary

• video arcade
• community
• recreation
• synagogue

Suggested Lesson Plans

Introduction

Introduce vocabulary.

Group Use of Student Workbook

• Have students read the directions for "Meeting Place."
• Have students use one of the following procedures to complete the chart. (NOTE: Students' answers will vary according to their preferences.)
• Have students decide whether each location is a good place to meet new friends and then estimate its cost.

Or

• Have students first estimate cost of each item; have students then decide which are good places to find new friends.
• Ask students to list additional places in your community that would be good for meeting new friends.

Follow - Up

• Have students nominate ideal places for finding new friends in your community; have the class vote to select a list of the ten best places.
• Ask students to examine this list to decide what the ten best places have in common. For example:
• Are they inexpensive?
• Are they safe?
• Are they fun?
• Do they offer similar types of activities?
• Do they give you a chance to get to know a person slowly?
• Would you feel comfortable being there alone?
• Do you like the kinds of people who spend time there?

Behavior Development Activity

To encourage students to start conversations:

• Ask students to brainstorm general "conversation starters." For example:
• I noticed your T-shirt. Were you at the concert last night?"
• You look familiar to me. Have we met before?"
• Do you come here often?"
• Have students decide which ways of starting conversations are best. (NOTE: Students' answers will vary.)
• Discuss how types of activities may determine how you can begin conversations (e.g., if you're at a football game, you can make a comment about the game).
• Divide the class into pairs; have pairs select two situations in which they might meet new people.
• Have each pair roleplay how they would start a conversation - assuming their partners are strangers--in the two situations they chose.
• Ask students to sustain these conversations for three to five minutes.
• Ask volunteers to roleplay how they would start conversations with strangers in the following situations:
• At a basketball game
• At a photography class
• At a dinner party at a friend's house
• At a video arcade
• Have observing students suggest additional ways to begin conversations in these situations.
• Discuss situations in which misunderstandings could result from starting conversations with strangers.
• Why might strangers misunderstand your intentions when you approach and talk to them?
• What can you do to avoid misunderstandings of this nature? (For example, look friendly, smile, and don't be aggressive.)
• Why is it important not to appear aggressive when approaching and talking to a stranger?
• Why should you be selective in deciding whom to approach?

Review

• Ask students to identify five good places to meet people (e.g., at a friend's home, a sports event, a library, a school, and a church).

Homework (Optional)

• Have students choose one place other than school where they might meet a new friend. Have students find out
• how much it costs,
• the hours of operation,
• how to get there, and
• what special events or activities are held there.
• Have students share this information with the class.