Social Cues and Group Dynamics · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Reading the Undercurrents in Your Friend Group

Personal & Social Development · Friendship & Cooperation · ages 11-12
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What is an 'in-group'?

    • Anyone who is polite
    • The people who feel like they belong together in a group
    • A club with a written rulebook

  2. What does 'subtext' mean in a group of friends?

    • The real feeling or meaning hiding behind the words
    • The exact words someone says
    • A rule the group votes on

  3. Being assertive means shouting to make sure people notice you.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Ben notices a classmate eating alone every day while the rest of the group huddles together. What is the most helpful thing Ben can do?

    • Sit with the classmate or include them in one small thing
    • Ignore it since it is not his group
    • Ask the group why they left the classmate out, loudly, in front of everyone

  5. Two friends tell Marcus a secret about another classmate, and he feels closer to them right away. What is the hidden cost of that moment?

    • Nothing, secrets always stay secret
    • He automatically becomes the most popular person
    • The group may stop trusting Marcus with their own secrets

  6. Priya feels tension when her friends go quiet as she sits down. Which response is assertive, not aggressive?

    • Snapping, 'Why do you two always whisper about me?' in front of everyone
    • Quietly asking one friend later, 'Hey, is something going on?'
    • Saying nothing and starting to avoid the group

  7. Maya hears that a friend is mad at her. Instead of asking, she tells three other people her side of the story first, to get them on her side. What is the risk in doing this?

    • It spreads the conflict through gossip and can make things worse before she even talks to her friend
    • It automatically fixes the friendship faster
    • No risk, it helps her prepare for the conversation

  8. To stay popular, Jordan starts laughing at jokes that make fun of a quieter classmate, even though it feels wrong. What mistake is Jordan making?

    • Being sensibly assertive about the group's rules
    • Correctly reading the subtext of the group
    • Trading away his own values just to stay in the group
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Reading the Undercurrents in Your Friend Group W1-mt_nqM2OW0Qlm-s1

  1. The people who feel like they belong together in a group · An in-group is the circle of people who feel included. Anyone outside it becomes the out-group.
  2. The real feeling or meaning hiding behind the words · Subtext is what's really going on underneath the words, shown through tone, pauses, or looks.
  3. False · Assertive means calm and clear, not loud. Shouting or blaming is closer to aggressive.
  4. Sit with the classmate or include them in one small thing · You don't have to fix the whole group. One small, steady action can change someone's day.
  5. The group may stop trusting Marcus with their own secrets · Gossip can feel bonding in the moment, but people remember who talks about whom, and trust drops.
  6. Quietly asking one friend later, 'Hey, is something going on?' · Assertive means calm, direct, and private, not a public accusation or silent withdrawal.
  7. It spreads the conflict through gossip and can make things worse before she even talks to her friend · Talking around a problem instead of to the person turns it into gossip and can grow the conflict.
  8. Trading away his own values just to stay in the group · Going along with something that feels wrong just to stay in a group means trading your values for belonging.
Worksheet · LightMySky