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Active Ears Challenge

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Stella Lacy

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Active Ears Plan

Students will demonstrate three active listening behaviors—eye contact, nodding, and follow-up questions—during a peer interview to strengthen communication and empathy.

Active listening builds empathy, improves peer relationships, and enhances classroom collaboration by teaching students to truly hear and respond to one another.

Audience

5th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive games, modeling, and peer practice.

Materials

  • Listen Up Slides, - Listening Bingo Game, - Listening Checklist Rubric, and - Active Ears Challenge Script

Prep

Prepare Lesson Materials

10 minutes

  • Review Listen Up Slides for key behaviors and prompts
  • Print and cut bingo cards for Listening Bingo Game
  • Make copies of Listening Checklist Rubric for each student
  • Familiarize yourself with the Active Ears Challenge Script dialogue and cues

Step 1

Listening Bingo Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Distribute bingo cards from Listening Bingo Game
  • Explain: listen for peers’ non-verbal cues and question prompts read from the Active Ears Challenge Script
  • Read 6–8 scripted statements; students mark matching behaviors
  • Quickly review patterns and celebrate winners
  • Assessment: note who identifies cues correctly
  • Differentiation: provide picture cue cards for students needing visual support

Step 2

Model Active Listening Behaviors

5 minutes

  • Project the first slides of Listen Up Slides showing eye contact, nodding, and paraphrasing
  • Role-play using the Active Ears Challenge Script with a volunteer
  • Ask class: which behaviors did you observe?
  • Invite 2–3 students to demonstrate one non-verbal cue
  • Assessment: check off observed behaviors on a quick checklist
  • Differentiation: pair ELL students with buddies for verbal prompts

Step 3

Peer Interviews

10 minutes

  • Assign pairs and roles: speaker and listener
  • Give each listener a blank copy of Listening Checklist Rubric
  • Speakers answer 2–3 prompts from the script; listeners practice eye contact, nodding, and ask one follow-up question
  • After 3 minutes, partners switch roles
  • Teacher circulates, using the rubric to note demonstration of each behavior
  • Differentiation: provide question starters on sticky notes for students needing support

Step 4

Checklist Reflection

10 minutes

  • Hand out completed Listening Checklist Rubric
  • Students self-assess: highlight behaviors they practiced well and mark one area to improve
  • In pairs, share one strength and one growth goal using sentence starters: "I did well at…" and "Next time I’ll…"
  • Teacher debrief: invite 2–3 pairs to share reflections aloud
  • Assessment: collect rubrics to confirm each student demonstrated all three behaviors at least once
  • Differentiation: offer printed sentence starter strips for students needing writing support
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Slide Deck

Listen Up: Active Listening

Master eye contact, nodding, and asking follow-up questions to become a great listener.

Welcome the class and introduce today’s topic: active listening. Explain that listening well helps us understand and connect with others.

Learning Objectives

• Identify three active listening behaviors
• Observe and practice these behaviors with peers
• Reflect on how these behaviors improve communication

Read through the objectives and ask students what they think each one means. Emphasize that today’s practice will be interactive.

Behavior 1: Eye Contact

Definition: Looking at the speaker’s eyes
Why it matters: Shows you are focused and interested
Class example: Facing your partner and maintaining gaze

Explain that keeping your eyes on the speaker shows respect and interest. Invite a volunteer to demonstrate eye contact with you.

Behavior 2: Nodding

Definition: Moving your head up and down
Why it matters: Signals understanding and encouragement
Class example: Nodding when you hear a key point

Demonstrate nodding yourself, then have 2–3 students show what nodding looks like. Highlight how it encourages the speaker.

Behavior 3: Follow-Up Questions

Definition: Asking a question that builds on what was said
Why it matters: Shows you’re thinking and care about details
Example Starter: “Can you tell me more about…?”

Introduce question stems on the board. Model a follow-up question after a brief student comment.

Role-Play Practice

Pair up! One student speaks and the other listens. Then switch roles.

Prompts:

  1. What’s your favorite hobby and why?
  2. Describe a memorable family event.
  3. Share a goal you have for this year.

Use eye contact, nodding, and ask one follow-up question.

Explain the role-play instructions and circulate to note each student’s use of behaviors. Encourage clear voices and eye contact.

Reflection

Think-pair-share:
• Which behavior was easiest for you?
• Which do you want to improve?

Write your thoughts in your checklist and share with your partner.

Distribute the Listening Checklist Rubric. Guide students through the reflection prompts and monitor partner discussions.

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Game

Listening Bingo Game

Objective: Reinforce and practice identifying active listening behaviors and follow-up question prompts in a fun, interactive bingo format.

Materials Needed:

  • Printed bingo cards (one per student)
  • Markers, chips, or pencils to mark squares
  • Active Ears Challenge Script for scripted statements (optional)

How to Play:

  1. Distribute a bingo card to each student and explain the rules:
    • As the teacher reads aloud a description of a listening behavior or question prompt (or as students hear them in peer interviews), they should mark the matching square.
    • The first student to mark five squares in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) calls out “Bingo!” and wins.
  2. Review the winner’s squares to reinforce understanding of each behavior or prompt.
  3. Continue playing additional rounds as time allows or until most students have practiced identifying the behaviors.

Differentiation:

  • Provide picture cue cards for students who benefit from visual supports.
  • Offer a word bank or glossary sheet for English Language Learners.
  • Pair struggling listeners with stronger peers for additional scaffolding.

Assessment:

  • Note which behaviors students identify accurately.
  • Debrief: ask students to name one new cue or question prompt they heard during the game.

Bingo Card Layout (5×5 grid):

Eye ContactNods HeadSmiles PolitelyLeans Forward“Can you tell me more…?”
“I see.”Repeat Key WordPause Before ReplyRaises Eyebrows“Why do you feel that way?”
Maintain Open PostureSay “That makes sense”Free Space“What happened next?”Mirror Facial Expression
Make Affirming Sounds (uh-huh)Restate Main IdeaLean to One Side“How did that make you feel?”Clap Softly
Take Brief NotesMirror Tone of VoiceUse Affirmations“Can you give an example?”Wait 3 Seconds Before Speaking












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Rubric

Listening Checklist

Student Name: _______________________ Date: _______________

BehaviorTeacher Observation (✔/✘)Student Self-Assessment (Met / Not Met)Comments
Eye Contact
Nodding
Follow-Up Questions Asked

Reflection

What was my strongest listening behavior today?






What will I focus on improving next time?






Teacher Comments:






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Script

Active Ears Challenge Script

Bingo Warm-Up Statements (read each aloud; students mark matching behaviors)

  1. “I see.”
  2. “Can you tell me more about your weekend?”
  3. [Teacher nods head.]
  4. [Maintain eye contact with your partner.]
  5. “What happened next?”
  6. “Uh-huh.”
  7. [Pause for three seconds before replying.]
  8. “Why do you feel that way?”

Model Demonstration Prompts (use for role-play with a volunteer)

  1. “Alex, what’s your favorite hobby and why?”
  2. “Tell me more about how you started that hobby.”
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