Why explore friendship and belonging with children?
Friendship and belonging are among the first philosophical topics children care about. Questions such as whether you can be friends with everyone, or whether a friend can ask too much, connect directly to everyday life in the playground and online.
In a community of enquiry, children and young people give reasons, listen to different views and test ideas with examples. The activities here move from a teddy bear’s search for a friend to Aristotle’s three kinds of friendship.
Free activities to download
Ready-to-run EduTrend Contents philosophy enquiry workshops for primary, middle and high school. Each free download includes a step-by-step session plan, facilitator notes, three student worksheets and an assessment checklist. Full 20-week programmes are available in EduStore.
What Is a Friend?
Primary · Ages 5–7
Foundation · 30 min
Young children help a teddy bear decide who could be its friend and enquire into what makes someone a friend.
Can You Be Friends With Everyone?
Primary · Ages 8–11
Developing · 45 min
Pupils consider whether it is possible or right to be friends with everyone, and what makes friendships special.
Belonging
Middle School · Ages 11–13
Intermediate · 50 min
Students explore belonging to groups, the good and harm it can bring, and whether groups should decide who belongs.
Can a Friend Ask Too Much?
Middle School · Ages 12–14
Intermediate · 50 min
Students consider a dilemma where loyalty to a friend conflicts with honesty and fairness, and enquire into the limits of friendship.
Three Kinds of Friendship
High School · Ages 15–18
Advanced · 60 min
Students test Aristotle’s three kinds of friendship against modern cases, including online friendships.
Liked the free activities? Go further with a 20-week programme.
Each free activity comes from a full EduTrend Contents programme: a Family Guide or Teacher's Guide with one-page session plans for 20 weeks, plus an Assessment Toolkit with rubrics, trackers and certificates. Choose the one for your child's age or your class below. Instant PDF download after checkout.
P4C-321 · 20 WEEKS · $29
Friends and Family Enquiries
Family · Ages 5–11 with a grown-up
Talking about friends and belonging at home.
P4C-322 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Friendship and Belonging Enquiries
Primary · Ages 5–11
Class enquiries on friends, fairness and groups.
P4C-323 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Friendship Philosophy Lab
Middle school · Ages 11–14
Belonging, loyalty and kinds of friendship.
P4C-324 · 20 WEEKS · $45
Friendship Enquiry Leaders
High school · Ages 14–18
Lead friendship enquiries for younger children.
Photos: Jay Chen, Nathan Dumlao, Robert Collins, Katherine Hanlon, MI PHAM / Unsplash
Friendship and Belonging
Explore friendship and belonging with five free printable philosophy activities, from a teddy bear’s search for a friend to belonging, loyalty dilemmas and Aristotle’s three kinds of friendship. For longer learning, choose a 20-week programme for families, primary, middle or high school.
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Friendship and Belonging
