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Can You Hear Me Now?

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Lesson Plan

Can You Hear Me Now?

Students will be able to define effective communication, identify key components of active listening, and practice clear verbal expression in a peer activity.

Effective communication is a foundational skill that impacts every aspect of a student's life, from academic success in group projects to building strong friendships and navigating future challenges. Mastering these skills now will empower them for years to come.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through interactive discussion and a structured partner activity.

Materials

Can You Hear Me Now? Slide Deck, and Active Listening Activity Handout

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Communication Check-in

5 minutes

Begin with the Communication Check-in Warm-Up. Ask students to think about a time they felt misunderstood. Discuss briefly, emphasizing that good communication can prevent this.

Step 2

Introduction to Communication

7 minutes

Use the Can You Hear Me Now? Slide Deck to introduce the concept of effective communication. Focus on the two main parts: sending a clear message and active listening. Discuss examples and non-examples of each.

Step 3

Active Listening Activity

12 minutes

Distribute the Active Listening Activity Handout. Pair students up and explain the activity: one student describes an object without naming it, and the other draws based on the description, practicing active listening. Emphasize asking clarifying questions.
Circulate and provide feedback.

Step 4

Wrap-Up and Reflection

6 minutes

Bring the class back together. Discuss observations from the activity. Use the Communication Reflection Cool-Down to have students reflect on what they learned about communication and active listening.

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Slide Deck

Can You Hear Me Now?

Understanding Effective Communication

  • Why is it important?
  • How does it help us every day?

Welcome students and introduce the topic of communication. Ask a few students to share their quick thoughts on what 'good communication' means to them. Connect it to the warm-up activity.

What is Communication?

More Than Just Talking

  • Sending: Getting your message out clearly.
  • Receiving: Understanding what others are trying to say.

Good communication means both of these things happen successfully!

Explain that communication isn't just talking. It's about sending a message AND making sure it's understood. Introduce the two main parts: sending a clear message and active listening. You can use an analogy like a game of 'telephone' to illustrate miscommunication.

Sending Clear Messages

Be Heard, Be Understood

  • Be Specific: Say exactly what you mean.
  • Be Concise: Get to the point.
  • Use "I" Statements: Express your feelings clearly (e.g., "I feel... when...").
  • Check for Understanding: Ask, "Does that make sense?" or "What did you hear?"

Go over the tips for sending clear messages. Emphasize being specific, using 'I' statements, and checking for understanding. Ask students for examples of when these tips would be helpful.

Active Listening: The Key to Understanding

Hearing Beyond the Words

  • Focus: Give the speaker your full attention.
  • Show You're Listening: Nod, make eye contact, use encouraging sounds (like "Mmm-hmm").
  • Don't Interrupt: Let them finish their thoughts.
  • Ask Clarifying Questions: "Could you explain that more?" or "So, what I hear you saying is...?"
  • Summarize: Briefly repeat what you heard to confirm understanding.

Introduce active listening as the other crucial part. Emphasize truly listening, not just waiting to speak. Discuss body language and asking clarifying questions. Ask for volunteers to demonstrate 'good' and 'bad' listening body language.

Your Turn: Active Listening Challenge!

Let's Put It Into Practice

  • Partner Up!
  • One Speaker, One Listener/Artist: The speaker describes an object without naming it. The listener draws it based on the description.
  • Rules for the Listener: You can ask clarifying questions, but don't guess the object!
  • Rules for the Speaker: Describe carefully and clearly!

(You'll get a handout with more details.)

Set up the activity. Remind them of the goal: one person describes an object clearly, the other listens actively and draws. Explain that they'll be practicing both sending clear messages and active listening. Encourage asking questions.

Communication: A Skill for Life

What did we learn today?

  • Communication needs a clear sender and an active receiver.
  • Being specific helps your message get across.
  • Active listening builds understanding.

Practice these skills every day!

Conclude the lesson by emphasizing the practical application of these skills in their daily lives. Assign the cool-down. Reinforce that communication is a skill they can always improve.

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Warm Up

Communication Check-in

Think about a time recently when you tried to tell someone something, but they completely misunderstood you. It could be a friend, a family member, or even a teacher.

  1. Briefly describe what happened.


  2. How did it make you feel?


  3. What do you think could have made the communication clearer?


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Activity

Active Listening Activity: Describe & Draw

Goal: To practice sending clear messages and actively listening to understand instructions.

Instructions:

  1. Partner Up! One person will be the Speaker and the other will be the Artist/Listener.
  2. Speaker: Secretly choose one everyday object from the list below (or think of your own, get teacher approval). DO NOT TELL YOUR PARTNER WHAT IT IS. Your job is to describe the object without naming it.
  3. Artist/Listener: Your job is to draw the object exactly as your partner describes it. You CAN ask clarifying questions (e.g., "Is it round or square?" "What color should I use?" "Can you describe the top part again?"), but you CANNOT guess what the object is.
  4. No Peeking! The Artist/Listener should not look at the Speaker's object or notes until the activity is complete.
  5. You will have 5-6 minutes for the description and drawing part. Then, you'll reveal the object and your drawing!

Speaker's Checklist:

  • Choose an object:
    • A pencil
    • A coffee mug
    • A house key
    • A pair of scissors
    • A smartphone
    • A stapler
  • Start describing its basic shape and size.
  • Move to details: parts, textures, colors, specific features.
  • Ask your partner: "Does that make sense?" or "What are you drawing right now?"
  • Give clear, specific instructions. Avoid vague words.

Artist/Listener's Checklist:

  • Listen carefully to every word.
  • Draw exactly what you hear.
  • If something isn't clear, ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION! (e.g., "So, you want me to draw a small circle on top of the large rectangle?")
  • Don't be afraid to ask for more details.
  • Don't try to guess the object until the end.

Drawing Space













Reflection (after revealing the object):

  1. As the Speaker, what was challenging about describing your object clearly?


  2. As the Artist/Listener, what was challenging about listening and drawing? What questions did you find most helpful to ask?


  3. What did this activity teach you about the importance of both giving clear instructions and actively listening?


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Cool Down

Communication Reflection: 3-2-1

Take a few minutes to reflect on today's lesson and the active listening activity.

3 things you learned about communication or active listening today:










2 ways you can apply what you learned about communication in your daily life (at school, home, or with friends):







1 question you still have about communication:




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