On April 27, 2011, the UN declared July 30 as the official International Friendship Day. It is celebrated all over the world, and it includes many activities which are aimed at bringing those from different backgrounds together. In addition, many schools now focus that day’s education on friendship to foster good relationships between classmates and those with different cultural backgrounds.
Helping Students Learn About Friendships in Schools
Teachers must act as role models for young children. International Friendship Day is an excellent opportunity to provide students with lessons and advice on fostering friendships and explaining their importance. For example, teachers may wish to deliver lectures on the following topics:
- Identifying characteristics of a good friend
- Practicing skills and language makes people friends.
- Read books with honest discussions about friendships.
Fostering good friendships impacts children’s and adults’ well-being. They help children develop a moral compass and teach them to interact acceptably in social situations. Of course, this is an essential part of interaction in the classroom, but International Friendship Day is the ideal opportunity to focus on that learning.
International Friendship Day Activities in Schools
You can do many activities in school or at home to promote international Friendship Day. From worksheets to role-playing and discussions, you can use many activities. Here are some ideas.
- Start by setting the scene. Display bunting is ideal for getting your children prepared and focused on friendship activities.
- Ask children to write a lovely poem for their friends and what it means to be a good one.
- Use picture prompts to get your children thinking about friendships from different backgrounds and cultures.
