Fishing for Friendship

To play a game about choosing how to be a good friend to others

The children will demonstrate ways they can be good friends.

• Paper fish of different colors (one per child)
• A fishing pole made out of a dowel rod with yarn attached and a magnet at the end of the yarn

• After discussing Saint Peter and how he was a friend to Jesus, tell the children that they will be fishing for ways to be good friends. Brainstorm some ideas together.
• Tell the children that you have written down on fish shapes ways that they can be good friends. Since Peter was a fisherman, they each will have a turn fishing.
• Ask the children to form a circle. The middle of the circle is the imaginary Sea of Galilee. Place the fish in the middle with the paper-clip sides up.
• Pass the fishing pole around the circle and have each child catch a fish. Each child should read how he or she will practice being a good friend starting the next day. Tell the children that next week you will ask them how they carried out the friendship action written on their fish.
• Encourage the children to take their fish home to remember their friendship action.

Art/Space Smart, Self Smart

Tape a paper clip to one side of each fish. On the other side, write a different action that shows friendship. (Examples: I will play with someone new today at school; I will share my treat with someone; I will give a compliment to a friend; I will help a friend learn something new; I will be a good listener; I will take turns when playing on the playground.)

At the end of class, remind the children to practice the action written on their fish.

If there are children in your group with special needs (physical, visual, hearing, language, or behavioral disabilities), adapt the activity accordingly.