Connect & Chat Crew

Christina C

Tier 2

Lesson Plan

Connect & Chat Crew

Students will learn and practice active listening and clear communication strategies to strengthen social connections within a group setting.

Effective communication and strong social connections are vital for personal well-being and academic success. This lesson provides practical skills to help students navigate social interactions with confidence and empathy.

Audience

7th and 8th Grade Girls

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive activities and a group game to foster communication and connection.

Materials

Connect & Chat Crew Slide Deck, Listen Up! Activity, and Communication Charades Game

Prep

Gather Materials & Review

5 minutes

Review the Connect & Chat Crew Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
Prepare a space for group discussion and activity.
Ensure slides are ready for presentation.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Share One Word

2 minutes

Teacher:

Step 2

Introduction: Why Connect & Chat?

2 minutes

Teacher:

Step 3

Activity: Listen Up!

6 minutes

Teacher:

Step 4

Game: Communication Charades

3 minutes

Teacher:

Step 5

Cool-Down: Takeaway

2 minutes

Teacher:

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Slide Deck

Welcome, Connect & Chat Crew!

How do you feel about connecting with others today?

Share one word that comes to mind!

Welcome the students and start with a quick icebreaker to get them comfortable. Ask them to think of one word that describes how they feel about connecting with others.

Why Connect & Chat?

It's all about:

Understanding Each Other: Truly listening and expressing yourself.
Stronger Friendships: Building bonds that last.
Being Heard: Making sure your voice matters.
Empathy: Stepping into someone else's shoes.

Explain why strong connections and good communication are important, especially for their age group. Emphasize that these skills help them understand others and be understood.

Activity: Listen Up!

Let's practice active listening!

Partner Up!
Speaker: Share something you're excited about or a challenge you're facing (1 minute).
Listener: Focus completely, no interrupting, show you're engaged.
After 1 minute: Listener, summarize what you heard. Speaker, confirm if you felt understood.
Switch roles!

Introduce the "Listen Up!" activity. Explain that active listening isn't just about hearing words, but understanding feelings and meaning. Go over the rules for partners.

Game: Communication Charades

Time to express without words!

Divide into two teams.
One person acts out a feeling, an action, or a situation.
Their team guesses what it is.
No talking, just acting!
How well can we understand each other without words?

Introduce the "Communication Charades" game. Explain that non-verbal cues are a big part of communication. Briefly explain the rules.

Quick Takeaway!

What's one thing you learned or will try to do differently to connect and chat better with others?

Remember, strong connections start with you!

Bring the group back together for a quick reflection. Ask them what they learned or what they'll try to do differently.

Activity

Listen Up! Active Listening Practice

Objective: To practice active listening skills and understand the importance of making others feel heard.

Instructions:

Find a Partner: Pair up with a classmate.
Decide Roles: One person will be the Speaker and the other will be the Listener.
Speaker's Turn (1 minute): The Speaker will share something they are excited about, a fun weekend plan, or a small challenge they are currently facing. The goal is to talk for a full minute, sharing details.
Listener's Role: Your job is to listen actively.
- Show you're engaged: Make eye contact, nod, and use encouraging facial expressions.
- No interrupting: Let your partner finish their thoughts completely.
- Don't plan your response: Just focus on understanding what they are saying and how they are feeling.
Summarize & Confirm (1 minute): After the Speaker finishes, the Listener will summarize what they heard in their own words. For example:

Game

Communication Charades

Objective: To practice non-verbal communication and understanding emotions and situations through body language.

Instructions:

Divide into Teams: Split into two even teams (e.g., Team A and Team B).
Charade Ideas: The teacher will have a list of emotions, actions, or social situations written on slips of paper (e.g., feeling shy, offering help, listening intently, resolving a conflict, celebrating a win).
Player's Turn: A player from Team A will choose a slip of paper and silently act out the word or phrase for their team.
Acting Rules:
- No talking or sounds: Only use body language and facial expressions.
- No pointing to objects or mouthing words.
- You can use gestures to indicate categories (e.g.,