Taking Care of Relationships: Grade 8 Well-being

• newEditor
• Wellbeing
• Secondary Education
• Age 13

Grade 8: Wellbeing - Taking Care of Relationships

What do you already know about building strong relationships?

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you will be able to recognise, understand, and practise positive relationship skills including how to handle difficult conversations, be assertive, identify important relationships, and invest in them.

Success Criteria

• I can recognise, understand and practice + relationship skills

• I understand more about how to handle difficult conversations

• I understand the need to be assertive at times

Why Relationships Matter

Healthy relationships help us feel safe, supported, and happy. They are important for our well-being at school and at home.

Vocabulary: Key Words

uncomfortable, emotional, awkward, outcome, solutions, empathy, assertive, passive, aggressive, communicate, nurture

Using the right words helps us talk about relationships, solve problems, and understand each other better.

Why They Matter

Words to Know

Difficult Conversations: What & Why

We sometimes avoid tough talks because they feel uncomfortable, emotional, or awkward. Examples: telling a friend they upset you, asking for help, saying no to peer pressure. They are important because they can lead to better solutions and stronger relationships.

Handling Difficult Conversations

- Fear of hurting feelings - Worry about outcomes - Feeling awkward or nervous

Strategies

- Stay calm - Use active listening - Show empathy - Take the other person’s perspective

Why People Avoid Them

Being Assertive: Three Styles

Passive: Afraid to speak up, speaks softly Aggressive: Controls group, ignores others’ feelings Assertive: Values self, makes eye contact, speaks clearly

Task: Polite Refusal Statements

Practise saying: 'It’s very kind of you to offer, but no thank you.' Use this model to create your own polite refusal for different situations.

Identifying Important Relationships

Think about family, friends, peers, teachers. What do you value in these relationships? List important people and explain why they matter.

Investing in Relationships

Choose one important relationship. Reflect: - Things you value - Qualities you admire - Good experiences shared - Weaknesses - How they support you - What you can do to nurture the relationship

Reflection & Self-Assessment

How will you use empathy, assertiveness, and your new awareness to take care of your relationships this week? Rate your confidence in handling a difficult conversation (1-5).

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.