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Browse all lessons
Lesson

Rewarding Relationships (Adapted for Youth with IDD)

How can I make sure my relationships are healthy and positive?

Grades

9–12

Time

75 mins.

"It's complicated" can describe many of our relationships with other people, both romantic and otherwise. Add digital devices and social media to the mix, and things get even more complicated. Help students take the first step toward building healthy and rewarding friendships and romantic relationships, both online and off.

Common Sense Education worked in collaboration with Mathematica and the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to adapt this lesson to meet the unique learning needs of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This adaptation was funded under contract HHSP233201500035I/HHSP23337008T with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau.
 

Objectives:
  • Reflect on how devices and the internet affect their relationships.

  • Identify the qualities of healthy and rewarding relationships.

  • Use the Feelings & Options thinking routine to brainstorm strategies for navigating challenging relationships.

Vocabulary Show definitions
red flag feeling · boundaries

red flag feeling – when something happens that makes you feel uncomfortable, worried, sad, or anxious
boundaries – the limits and rules we set for ourselves in our relationships with other people.
Lesson video
Teen Voices: Friendships and Boundaries (Adapted)
Educator Video
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Topics 1

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Key Standards Supported

Lesson Plan

75 mins.

Pre-Teach and Comprehension Check (Optional)

5 mins.

Consider: Texting and talking

10 mins.

Explore: Friendships and Feelings

20 mins.

Analyze: Feelings & Options

20 mins.

Lesson review

20 mins.
Creative Commons Attribution, Non Commercial,No Derivatives
© Common Sense Media. Lessons are shareable with attribution for noncommercial use only. No remixing permitted. View detailed license information at creativecommons.org. Lesson last updated: February 2023

What You'll Need

In Class

  • Lesson Slides
  • Video: Teen Voices: Friendships and Boundaries (Adapted for youth with IDD)

For Families

  • Family Activity
  • Family Tips
    English Spanish More languages
    Open
Select a resource, then open in English or Spanish.
Creative Commons Attribution, Non Commercial,No Derivatives
© Common Sense Media. Lessons are shareable with attribution for noncommercial use only. No remixing permitted. View detailed license information at creativecommons.org. Lesson last updated: February 2023

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