a dog, frog, duck, and cat
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Infographic,

How to Make a New Friend

Back to school is a great time to find new friends. Here are some tips to get you started!

From the September 2022 Issue
Featured Skill: Main Idea and Supporting Details,

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Valerie Loiseleux/Getty Images (Foam Finger); Shutterstock.Com (All Other Images)

Make the First Move

Greeting someone shows you’d like to get to know them better. Start by waving hello, saying “Hi,” or giving a friendly fist bump. If you’re feeling nervous, remember that you’re not alone! Many kids feel shy when meeting new people. 

Join a Group

People often become friends because they share similar interests. So go ahead and join that sports team or after-school club! Chances are you’ll meet someone who loves Harry Potter or singing as much as you do.

Have a Conversation

People like to talk about themselves! The next time you meet a possible friend, ask about his or her favorite snack or animal. Then share something about yourself! That will keep the conversation going. 

Keep in Touch

It takes more than meeting someone once to make a friend. You have to stay connected. You can hang out after school, play video games together, or kick a ball around at recess.

Be There

Being a friend means being there in good times and in bad. Cheer on your friend at their recital and cheer them up with a funny cat video when they’re feeling sad.

Think and Write Contest

Imagine it’s the night before the first day of school. Write a letter to a family member explaining how you plan to make a new friend. Use ideas from the infographic and add your own! Five winners will each receive a Scholastic e-gift card.

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Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
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Activities (3) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Can't Miss Teaching Extras

Our May/June 2021 fiction story, “The Stars Below Me,” explores the anxiety and rewards of making a friend after moving to a new home. Your students will enjoy the story of Mara who moves from the countryside to New York City. She’s sure she’ll never fit in . . . until she meets Chloe.

New friends can come from unexpected places. Have your students read our September 2020 fiction “Missing” for a lovely story about how a lost cat leads to a new intergenerational friendship.

Sometimes we can’t see our friends as often as we’d like. Share tips for staying in touch when you can’t be together in person from our infographic “5 Ways to Stay Connected.” You can find it as part of our February 2021 paired texts feature.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
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1. READING AND DISCUSSING

Project the infographic as students follow along in their magazines.

  • Prompt students to use the headline, subhead, and main image to identify the topic of the infographic.
  • Ask: Is the purpose of the infographic to 
    • explain something to you?
    • convince you of something?
    • tell you how to do something?
  • Have students look over the labels and images surrounding the main image. Ask:
    • How are they related to the main image? (They provide details about the main idea.)
  • Break students into groups to read each section of the infographic and discuss what they find interesting, surprising, or convincing.
  • Come back together as a class and ask volunteers to summarize the main idea and supporting details from the infographic.

2. WRITING

  • Preview the writing prompt in the “Think and Write Contest” box.
  • Download and distribute the Guided Writing skill builder that goes along with the infographic.
  • Have students respond to the writing prompt. If you wish, send their responses to our infographic contest. Details are at Storyworks 3 Digital.

EXTENTION!

Have students create their own infographics! Download our Make Your Own Infographic skill builder from Storyworks 3 Digital.

COMMON CORE STATE STANDARD

RI.1, RI.2, RI.7, W.1, W.2

Text-to-Speech