This story is one of eight featured in the ebook, "Friendship and Loyalty: Eight Short Stories Vocab / SEL / ELA Activities 5-8."

Engage your students with "The Friendship Rescue," a compelling story that explores the themes of friendship, peer pressure, and personal growth. This comprehensive Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) unit is designed for students in grades 5-8 and aligns with both Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and National Health Education Standards (NHES).

The unit includes:

• The complete story, "The Friendship Rescue" (2000 words)
• Ten thoughtful assignments that explore character education, emotions, dealing with issues, and knowing when enough is enough
• A 20-word vocabulary list tailored to grades 6-9, including definitions and parts of speech
• Alignment with CCSS ELA standards for reading, writing, and speaking & listening
• Alignment with NHES standards for health promotion, analyzing influences, interpersonal communication, decision-making, and practicing health-enhancing behaviors

Through engaging with this unit, your students will:

• Analyze the story's themes and characters, citing textual evidence to support their ideas
• Write reflective essays, narratives, and arguments related to the story's themes
• Engage in collaborative discussions and role-playing activities to explore SEL concepts
• Develop a deeper understanding of loyalty, empathy, courage, and resilience
• Learn strategies for dealing with peer pressure and making healthy decisions
• Expand their vocabulary and improve their language skills

The assignments in this unit are designed to be flexible and adaptable to your classroom's needs. They can be used for whole-class instruction, small-group work, or individual student reflection. The variety of activities, including writing tasks, role-playing, creating posters and brochures, and class discussions, will keep your students engaged and motivated.