Are you listening?

Students will learn the importance of listening and how to listen effectively.

A lesson plan for grades K–5 Guidance

By Linda Bazemore

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Learning outcomes

• The importance of listening
• How to listen effectively

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

25 Minutes

Pre-activities

Ask students:

• What is listening?
• What parts of your body do you use to listen with?

Activities

• Explain each activity.
• Demonstrate the activity with a volunteer.
• Let the students try the activity.
• Process the thoughts, feelings, and decisions.

Activity 1

Ask, “How was your summer vacation?” Have all the students talk at one time. Ask how many felt heard. Ask how they felt, what they were thinking and what they decided.

Activity 2

Ask for a student to share their thoughts about something (family, pet, favorite movie, etc.) Have all the other students wave their hands in the air as if they are wanting to say something. Ask the student how this made him or her feel, what he or she was thinking and what he or she decided.

Activity 3

Ask the students to pick a partner. One student says something he or she likes to do while the other student refuses to look at him or her. Process this with the students.

Assessment

Ask the students periodically “How many think we are practicing good listening skills?” Let the students assess themselves by a show of hands. Allow the students to give compliments to each other during the day when they see each other using good listening skills.

Supplemental information

Comments

This lesson on listening is part of the Positive Discipline/Class Meeting approach to classroom management. The counselor at Sharon Elementary School in Charlotte, NC is a resource for Class Meeting training as is Wallace Elementary School staff in Wallace, NC.