Lesson Plan
Active Listening Masterclass Plan
Students will define active listening, identify its key components, practice active listening skills through an interactive activity, and reflect on its importance in daily communication.
Effective communication is fundamental to strong relationships and minimizing misunderstandings. This lesson provides students with practical strategies to become better listeners, enhancing their personal and academic interactions.
Audience
7th Grade Class
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, guided practice, and personal reflection.
Materials
- The Art of Deep Listening Slide Deck, - Listen Up! Partner Challenge Activity, - Reflection on Active Listening Worksheet, - One-Word Takeaway on Listening Cool Down, - Whiteboard or projector, and - Markers or pens
Prep
Review Materials and Set Up
15 minutes
- Review the Active Listening Masterclass Plan and all linked materials: The Art of Deep Listening Slide Deck, Listen Up! Partner Challenge Activity, Reflection on Active Listening Worksheet, and One-Word Takeaway on Listening Cool Down.
- Ensure projector or whiteboard is ready for the slide deck.
- Print or prepare for digital distribution the Reflection on Active Listening Worksheet.
- Prepare any necessary writing materials for students.
Step 1
Introduction & Hook
10 minutes
- Begin with a brief discussion or question to gauge students' current understanding of listening. Use The Art of Deep Listening Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).
- Introduce the concept of active listening and why it's important using The Art of Deep Listening Slide Deck (Slide 3-4).
- Explain the lesson's objective.
Step 2
Understanding Active Listening
15 minutes
- Go through the key components of active listening using The Art of Deep Listening Slide Deck (Slide 5-7).
- Facilitate a short class discussion on examples of active listening in real-life situations.
- Address any initial questions students may have.
Step 3
Practice Activity: Listen Up! Partner Challenge
15 minutes
- Introduce the Listen Up! Partner Challenge Activity.
- Divide students into pairs.
- Guide them through the activity, emphasizing the active listening techniques discussed.
- Circulate to provide support and observe student interactions.
Step 4
Reflection & Wrap-up
10 minutes
- Distribute the Reflection on Active Listening Worksheet.
- Have students complete the worksheet individually.
- Conclude the lesson with the One-Word Takeaway on Listening Cool Down to summarize learning and gather immediate feedback.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Are You Really Listening or Just Waiting to Talk?
Understanding Active Listening
- How often do you truly listen?
- What's the difference between hearing and listening?
Welcome students and introduce the engaging title. Ask students what they think the title means. Encourage initial thoughts on listening vs. waiting to talk.
Why Active Listening Matters
It's more than just hearing words!
- Better Relationships: Understand friends, family, and teachers.
- Fewer Misunderstandings: Avoid confusion and conflict.
- Learning & Growth: Absorb information better in class.
- Showing Respect: Make others feel valued.
Briefly review what active listening is and why it's a vital skill for school, friendships, and future careers. Emphasize improved relationships and fewer misunderstandings.
Component 1: Pay Attention
Focus on the Speaker
- Eye Contact: Look at the person speaking.
- Body Language: Turn your body towards them, nod, show you're engaged.
- Put Away Distractions: Phones, fidgets, other thoughts.
- Clear Your Mind: Don't plan your response while they're talking.
Introduce the first key component: Pay Attention. Discuss what 'paying attention' physically looks like and mentally involves. Ask for examples of how they show they are paying attention.
Component 2: Show You're Listening
Give Cues You're Engaged
- Nodding & Facial Expressions: Show understanding and empathy.
- Brief Verbal Affirmations: "Uh-huh," "I see," "Okay."
- Mirroring: Subtly matching their energy or posture.
- Don't Interrupt: Let them finish their thoughts.
Introduce the second key component: Show You're Listening. Discuss non-verbal cues and brief verbal affirmations. Ask what happens if someone doesn't show they are listening.
Component 3: Provide Feedback
Confirm Understanding
- Paraphrase: "So, what I hear you saying is..."
- Summarize: Briefly restate the main points.
- Ask Clarifying Questions: "Could you explain what you mean by...?"
- Reflect Feelings: "It sounds like you're feeling..."
Introduce the third component: Provide Feedback. Explain paraphrasing and asking clarifying questions. Emphasize understanding, not just repeating. Give an example.
Time to Practice! Listen Up!
Put Your Skills to the Test!
- You'll work in pairs.
- One person shares, the other actively listens.
- Focus on all three components: Pay Attention, Show You're Listening, Provide Feedback.
- Get ready for the Listen Up! Partner Challenge Activity!
Introduce the Listen Up! Partner Challenge Activity. Explain that they will practice these skills. Briefly go over the rules of the activity and what to focus on.
Reflect and Share
How did it go?
- After the activity, you'll complete a Reflection on Active Listening Worksheet.
- Think about what was easy and what was challenging.
- We'll finish with a quick One-Word Takeaway on Listening Cool Down.
Explain that after the activity, they will reflect on their experience with the worksheet. Encourage honest self-assessment. Introduce the cool-down for a quick share.
Activity
Listen Up! Partner Challenge
Objective: To practice active listening skills with a partner.
Time: 15 minutes (7 minutes per speaker, 1 minute transition)
Materials: None needed, just your listening ears!
Instructions:
-
Pair Up! Find a partner and decide who will be "Speaker A" and who will be "Listener B" first.
-
Round 1: Speaker A Shares (3 minutes)
- Speaker A: Share about a favorite hobby, a recent exciting event, or something you are looking forward to. Try to include details and feelings.
- Listener B: Practice active listening! This means:
- Pay Attention: Make eye contact, turn your body towards Speaker A, put away distractions.
- Show You're Listening: Nod, use encouraging facial expressions, say brief affirmations like "Mm-hmm" or "I see."
- Provide Feedback (at the end): When Speaker A finishes, try to paraphrase or summarize what they said. You can also ask one clarifying question.
-
Switch Roles (1 minute transition)
- Now, Speaker A becomes Listener B, and Listener B becomes Speaker A.
-
Round 2: New Speaker A Shares (3 minutes)
- New Speaker A: Share about a challenge you recently faced, a goal you have, or something you learned recently.
- New Listener B: Practice all active listening components as you did in Round 1.
-
Group Debrief (5 minutes)
- As a class, we will discuss:
- What was easy about being an active listener?
- What was challenging?
- How did it feel to be actively listened to?
- How did it feel when you were trying to listen actively?
- As a class, we will discuss:
Worksheet
Reflection on Active Listening
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________
Reflecting on Your Listening Skills
-
During the "Listen Up! Partner Challenge," what was one thing you noticed about your own listening habits?
-
Describe a moment when you felt truly listened to by your partner. What did they do that made you feel that way?
-
Describe a moment when it was challenging to actively listen. What distraction or internal thought made it difficult?
-
Recall the three main components of active listening: Pay Attention, Show You're Listening, and Provide Feedback. Which component do you think you did best, and why?
-
Which component of active listening do you want to improve most? What's one specific thing you can try to do better next time?
-
Think about your daily life outside of this classroom. In what situations do you think practicing active listening could make the biggest positive difference? Explain why.
Cool Down
One-Word Takeaway on Listening
Instructions: Think about today's lesson on active listening. On the line below, write one word that best summarizes your biggest takeaway or what you learned.
Then, be prepared to share your word and a very brief explanation with the class.
My one word is: ________________________________
Optional: My brief explanation: