Notice and Speak Up

This worksheet helps students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 build reading comprehension, personal safety awareness, and social-emotional skills through a realistic narrative about an unhealthy friendship. Students read a story in which one character begins pressuring another to break rules and ignore parents, then respond to open-ended questions that focus on identifying red flags, understanding why the situation feels unsafe, and reflecting on responsible, self-protective choices.

Learning Goals

• Identifying Unhealthy Relationships (Grades 4-6) – Recognize warning signs of manipulation, pressure, and unsafe influence in friendships.
• Reading Comprehension & Reflection – Analyze a narrative text by explaining character actions, motivations, and outcomes.
• Critical Thinking About Safety – Evaluate why certain behaviors are harmful and how discomfort can signal a problem.
• Self-Advocacy & Help-Seeking – Understand the importance of speaking up and involving trusted adults when situations feel unsafe.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed to align with SEL, health education, and ELA standards.
• Story-Based Learning – Uses a relatable friendship scenario to make safety concepts meaningful.
• Open-Ended Questions – Encourages thoughtful reflection, discussion, and student voice.
• Flexible Use – Suitable for classroom reading lessons, advisory periods, counseling groups, or homeschool instruction.

This printable worksheet helps students practice noticing red flags and trusting their instincts in social situations. By analyzing an unhealthy friendship and reflecting on safer choices, learners strengthen comprehension, emotional awareness, and personal safety skills. Ideal for classroom and homeschool settings, this activity supports confident self-advocacy, responsible decision-making, and healthy relationship boundaries.

This worksheet is part of our recognizing unsafe or unhealthy social interactions worksheets collection.