a dog looks at a frog while a cat looks at a little duck
Shutterstock.com
Infographic,

How to Make a New Friend

Just in time for back to school, here are a few tips for meeting new people and striking up a friendship.

From the September 2021 Issue
Complexity Factors
  • Purpose
    The infographic offers advice for starting a new friendship.
  • Structure
    Information is presented in five sections of text and images around a central image.
  • Language
    The language will be mainly familiar; it includes the term nerve-racking.
  • Knowledge Demands
    Harry Potter, YouTube, and cat videos are mentioned.
Standards
  • Common Core
    Anchor Standards: R.1, R.2, R.7, W.2 Grade 4: RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.7, W.4.2 Grade 5: RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.7, W.5.2 Grade 6: RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.7, W.6.2
  • TEKS
    Grade 4: 4.9f; 4.12c Grade 5: 5.9f; 5.12c Grade 6: 6.8f; 6.11c

Presentation View
See Student View

Valerie Loiseleux/Getty Images (Foam Finger); iStockPhoto/Getty Images (Laptop); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)

Make the First Move

Whether it’s a fist bump, an emoji wave , or a simple “Hi,” greeting someone shows you’d like to know them better. But it can be nerve-racking for anyone. To help calm those nerves, try practicing with a family member first!

Join a Group

Friends often bond over shared interests. So go ahead and join a sports team or a virtual book club! Chances are you’ll meet someone who’s as obsessed with Harry Potter as you are.

Have a Conversation

Remember this: People enjoy talking about themselves! The next time you meet a future friend, ask them about their favorite snack or YouTube star. Then share about yourself! That should keep the conversation going.

Keep in Touch

It takes more than meeting once to make a friend. You have to stay connected. You can play video games together, send each other old-fashioned postcards, or hang out after school!

Be There

Being a friend means being there in good times and in bad. Cheer your friend on their big win at the basketball game AND cheer them up with a funny cat video when they’re feeling blue.

Write to Win

It’s the night before the first day of school. Write a journal entry explaining how you plan to make a new friend. Use ideas from the infographic—and add your own personal touches! Send your journal entry to “New Friend Contest” by November 1, 2021. Five winners will each receive a Storyworks prize. See page 2 for details. 

This infographic was originally published in the September 2021 issue.

Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (2)
Answer Key (2)
Activities (3) Download All Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (2)
Answer Key (2)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Table of Contents

1. Reading and Discussing 

2. Writing

3. Ideas to Engage and Inspire

1. Reading and Discussing 

Project the infographic as students follow along in their magazines.

Prompt students to use the headline, subhead, and central 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 central image. Ask:

  • How are they related to the central 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 “Write to Win” box.

Download and distribute the guided-writing activity that goes along with the infographic.

Have students respond to the writing prompt. If you wish, send their responses to our infographic contest. 

3. Ideas to Engage and Inspire

Have students create their own infographics! Download our “Make Your Own Infographic” activity from Storyworks Digital.

Text-to-Speech