• lenny-learning-logoLenny Learning
  • Home
    Home
    • Lessons
    Lessons
  • Curriculum
    Curriculum
  • Surveys
    Surveys
  • Videos
    Videos
  • Support
    Support
  • Log In
lenny

Chat Smarter, Not Harder

user image

Erin Hernando

Tier 3
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Chat Smarter, Not Harder Lesson Plan

The student will be able to identify and practice effective communication skills, including active listening and clear expression.

Effective communication is crucial for understanding others, expressing your own thoughts and feelings, and building strong relationships. This lesson will help you navigate daily interactions with more confidence and clarity.

Audience

6th Grade Individual Student

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, guided practice, and interactive activities.

Materials

  • Slide Deck: Chat Smarter, Not Harder, - Worksheet: Communication Challenge, - Discussion Prompts: My Communication Style, and - Game: What Do You Mean?

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

  • Review the Slide Deck: Chat Smarter, Not Harder to familiarize yourself with the content.
    - Print the Worksheet: Communication Challenge for the student.
    - Prepare the Discussion Prompts: My Communication Style and instructions for the Game: What Do You Mean?.

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Greet the student and introduce the lesson topic using the Slide Deck: Chat Smarter, Not Harder (Slide 1-2).
    - Ask the student: 'What does 'communication' mean to you?' Allow for a brief discussion. (Use prompts from Discussion Prompts: My Communication Style)

Step 2

Understanding Communication (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Present Slides 3-6 from the Slide Deck: Chat Smarter, Not Harder covering active listening, clear speaking, and body language.
    - Facilitate a brief discussion on each point, asking the student for examples or personal experiences. (Use prompts from Discussion Prompts: My Communication Style)

Step 3

Communication Challenge Worksheet (7 minutes)

7 minutes

  • Distribute the Worksheet: Communication Challenge.
    - Guide the student through the scenarios, prompting them to think about how they would apply the communication skills discussed.
    - Review their answers and provide feedback.

Step 4

Game: What Do You Mean? (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Introduce and play the Game: What Do You Mean? with the student.
    - This game will reinforce understanding of clear vs. unclear communication and active listening.

Step 5

Wrap-Up & Reflection (3 minutes)

3 minutes

  • Review key takeaways using Slide 7 of the Slide Deck: Chat Smarter, Not Harder.
    - Ask the student to share one new communication strategy they want to try. (Use prompts from Discussion Prompts: My Communication Style)
lenny

Slide Deck

Chat Smarter, Not Harder

Understanding Communication Skills for 6th Graders!

Welcome the student. Ask them what they think the lesson will be about based on the title. Build excitement for learning about communication.

Why Does Communication Matter?

  • Helps you express your thoughts and feelings
  • Lets you understand others better
  • Builds stronger friendships and family connections
  • Solves problems more easily

Engage the student with this question. Encourage them to think about how they communicate daily and why it's important to do it well. Connect it to school, friends, and family.

Listen Up! (Active Listening)

When you listen actively, you:

  • Focus: Give the speaker your full attention.
  • Show You're Listening: Make eye contact, nod, and use facial expressions.
  • Ask Questions: If something is unclear, politely ask for more information.
  • Summarize: Repeat back what you heard to check your understanding.

Explain what active listening means (paying attention, showing you're listening, not interrupting). Give examples: nodding, making eye contact, asking clarifying questions. Ask the student for their own examples.

Say What You Mean (Clear Speaking)

When you speak clearly, you:

  • Use 'I' Statements: "I feel [emotion] when [situation] because [reason]."
  • Be Specific: Avoid vague words; say exactly what you mean.
  • Think Before You Speak: Organize your thoughts.
  • Speak Calmly: Even when you're upset, try to keep your voice steady.

Discuss how to speak clearly. Emphasize using 'I' statements to express feelings without blaming. Give examples of vague vs. clear statements. Have the student practice rephrasing a vague statement.

More Than Words (Body Language)

Your body talks, too!

  • Eye Contact: Shows you're engaged.
  • Posture: Standing or sitting tall shows confidence.
  • Gestures: Use hand movements to emphasize points (but not too much!).
  • Facial Expressions: Your face can show happiness, confusion, or concern. Make sure it matches your words!

Explain how non-verbal cues communicate a lot. Discuss examples of open vs. closed body language. Ask the student to identify body language signals they've seen or used.

Putting It Into Practice

Imagine your friend borrowed your favorite book and hasn't returned it. You feel annoyed because you want to read it. How would you talk to your friend about this using the skills we just learned?

Introduce a scenario and have the student think through how they'd communicate effectively using the skills learned. This is a mini-practice session before the worksheet and game.

Practice Makes Perfect!

Remember, good communication is a skill you can always improve!

  • Listen Actively
  • Speak Clearly
  • Mind Your Body Language

What's one thing you'll try to do differently today?

Summarize the key points and encourage the student to think about how they can apply these skills in their daily life. Reiterate the importance of practice.

lenny

Worksheet

Communication Challenge: Let's Talk It Out!

Instructions: Read each situation below. Then, use the communication skills we discussed (Active Listening, Clear Speaking, Body Language) to write or describe how you would respond effectively. Think about what you would say and what your body language would communicate.

Scenario 1: The Group Project Mix-Up

You are working on a group project with two other classmates. One classmate, Alex, isn't doing their part, and the deadline is getting close. You feel frustrated because you're worried about your grade.

How would you communicate with Alex?

  • What would you say to Alex, using an "I" statement?






  • What kind of body language would you use (e.g., eye contact, posture, tone of voice)?



  • What would you listen for when Alex responds?



Scenario 2: Unfair Turn-Taking

You and your sibling are playing a video game, and your sibling keeps hogging the controller, even though you agreed to take turns. You feel annoyed and left out.

How would you communicate your feelings?

  • What would you say to your sibling, using an "I" statement?






  • How would you ensure your body language helps, rather than hurts, the conversation?



  • What questions might you ask to understand their perspective?



Scenario 3: Misunderstanding Instructions

Your teacher gave instructions for a homework assignment, but you didn't quite understand one part. You feel confused and a little embarrassed to ask again.

How would you get clarification from your teacher?

  • What would you say to your teacher to ask for clarification?






  • What body language would show you are serious about understanding?



  • What could you do to actively listen to their explanation?



lenny
lenny

Discussion

My Communication Style: Let's Chat!

These prompts are designed to help us talk about and explore communication throughout our lesson. Be ready to share your thoughts!

Introduction & Warm-Up

  • What does the word "communication" mean to you?
  • Why do you think it's important to communicate well with others?
  • Can you think of a time when good communication helped you, or when bad communication caused a problem?

Understanding Communication Skills

  • Active Listening: What does it look like when someone is actively listening to you? What does it feel like?
  • Clear Speaking: Why is it sometimes hard to say exactly what we mean? What are some things that make our message unclear?
  • Body Language: How can your body communicate something different from your words? Can you give an example?

Practice & Reflection

  • After practicing, what part of communicating effectively feels easiest for you? What feels more challenging?
  • How might practicing these skills help you in situations with friends, family, or teachers?
  • What is one new communication strategy you learned today that you want to try out in real life?
lenny
lenny

Game

What Do You Mean? A Communication Game!

Objective: To practice giving clear, specific instructions and actively listening to reproduce an image as accurately as possible.

Materials:

  • Two identical blank pieces of paper
  • Two identical sets of colored pencils or markers
  • One pre-drawn simple geometric image (e.g., a house made of squares and triangles, a simple stick figure, a sun with rays) - Teacher will draw this beforehand.
  • A barrier (e.g., a folder, a book) to place between the teacher and student so you cannot see each other's papers.

How to Play:

  1. Setup: The teacher will have the pre-drawn image and one blank paper/pencil set. The student will have one blank paper/pencil set. A barrier is placed between the teacher and student.

  2. Teacher's Role (Speaker): The teacher will look at their pre-drawn image and describe it to the student without showing it. The teacher needs to use clear, precise language, describing shapes, sizes, colors, and their positions on the paper (e.g.,

lenny
lenny