- Ask students to identify people who have maintained relationships for a long time (e.g., best friends since grade school, boyfriend/girlfriend for over a year, married couple).
- Have students invite these people into the class to interview them about their relationships (or interview them and report back to the class).
- Have students interview the people they have identified to find out:
- What each likes about the other person
- Why each feels the relationship has lasted over time
- What each person expects from the other in the relationship
- What each person sees as his or her role in the relationship
- If the friends see each of the following as important in maintaining the relationship--thoughtfulness, consideration, sensitivity, empathy, and willingness to admit mistakes. (Ask the friends to cite examples of the above behaviors in their relationships.)
- Any problems they had to overcome or behaviors they had to change to keep the relationship going
- Discuss the interviews.
Return to: Lesson 5: Ice Breakers
Go to: Part 2: Soft Skills