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Are You Really Listening?

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Lesson Plan

Are You Really Listening?

Students will be able to demonstrate three components of active listening in a practice conversation.

Effective listening is crucial for strong relationships, academic success, and understanding the world around us. This lesson will equip students with practical skills to genuinely hear and comprehend others.

Audience

10th Grade

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, modeling, partner practice, and group debrief.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Markers or whiteboard, Active Listening Slide Deck, Active Listening Scenarios, and Listening Self-Assessment Worksheet

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: The Power of Listening

5 minutes

  • Hook (2 min): Begin by asking students:

Step 2

Modeling: Levels of Listening

5 minutes

  • **Introduce

Step 3

Partner Practice: Active Listening Dyads

8 minutes

  • Explain Activity (2 min): Divide students into pairs. Explain that they will take turns being the

Step 4

Group Debrief: What Changed?

2 minutes

  • Whole Group Discussion (2 min): Bring the class back together.
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Slide Deck

Are You Really Listening?

What does it mean to truly hear someone?

It's more than just words – it's about understanding feelings and meaning.

Welcome students and introduce the topic. Ask a provocative question to engage them. Transition into the importance of listening beyond just hearing words.

What is Active Listening?

Active listening means fully focusing on the speaker.

Key Components:

  • Show You're Engaged: Eye contact, nodding, open posture.
  • Give Feedback: "I hear you," "Uh-huh," "That makes sense."
  • Ask for More: "Can you tell me more about that?", "What do you mean by...?"
  • Reflect What You Hear: "So, what I'm hearing is...", "It sounds like you're feeling..."

Define active listening and break down its core components: body language, verbal affirmations, and asking clarifying questions. Provide simple examples for each.

Time to Practice!

Let's put active listening into action!

Activity: Partner Dyads

  1. One person is the Speaker, sharing a scenario.
  2. The other is the Listener, practicing active listening.
  3. After 3-4 minutes, switch roles.

Use your Active Listening Scenarios and Listening Self-Assessment Worksheet!

Explain the partner activity clearly. Emphasize the roles of speaker and listener. Distribute the scenarios and the self-assessment worksheet. Remind them to use the components of active listening we just discussed.

What Changed?

Let's talk about it!

  • What did active listening feel like as the listener?
  • What did it feel like to be actively listened to?
  • What challenges did you face?
  • How can you use these skills in your daily life?

Facilitate a group discussion. Ask open-ended questions to encourage reflection on their experiences. Connect their observations back to the benefits of active listening.

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Script

Active Listening Scenarios

Instructions: For each scenario, one partner will be the Speaker and share their thoughts or feelings about the situation. The other partner will be the Listener and practice active listening skills (showing engagement, giving feedback, asking clarifying questions, reflecting what they hear). After 3-4 minutes, switch roles and move to the next scenario.

Scenario 1

Speaker: "I'm really stressed about this big history project due next week. I feel like I have so much to do, and I don't even know where to start. It's making it hard to focus on anything else."

Listener: (Practice active listening: eye contact, nodding, verbal affirmations, asking

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Worksheet

Listening Self-Assessment

Instructions: After practicing active listening with your partner, reflect on your experience by answering the questions below.

As the Listener:

  1. What specific active listening techniques did you use (e.g., eye contact, nodding, asking clarifying questions, reflective statements)?











  2. How did using these techniques help you understand your partner better?











  3. What was one challenge you faced while trying to actively listen? How did you try to overcome it?











  4. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = not at all, 5 = very well), how well do you think you demonstrated active listening skills? Explain your rating.











As the Speaker:

  1. How did it feel when your partner was actively listening to you?











  2. Did you feel understood? Why or why not?











  3. What was one thing your partner did that made you feel heard?











Overall Reflection:

  1. How might practicing active listening improve your communication in other areas of your life (e.g., with family, friends, teachers)?











  2. What is one goal you have for improving your listening skills in the future?











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