Communications Worksheet

Part 1: Identifying Your Needs

Think about a time when you felt you really needed something—whether it was in school, at home, or with friends.

• What was the situation?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What did you need?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Why was it important to get that need met?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Part 2: Communicating Your Needs

Imagine you need help with something important. Answer the following:

• Who is the best person to talk to about your need?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How do you think you should start the conversation? Write a sentence or two.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What words or phrases could you use to explain your situation clearly?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Part 3: Reflection

After thinking about your responses, answer these questions:

• What strategy do you think will help you communicate your needs most effectively?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How will you practice this strategy in your daily life?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Take your time to write down your thoughts. There is no right or wrong answer—only your own experiences and ideas are important!

Interactive Communication Activity

Overview

In this role-playing activity, students will practice communicating their needs in a safe and supportive environment. Each student will take turns playing the role of someone who needs help and someone who is offering help. This interactive scenario encourages empathy, active listening, and clear communication.

Objectives

• Provide a practical, hands-on experience in expressing personal needs.
  
• Enhance students' confidence in initiating and participating in important conversations.
  
• Foster peer collaboration and mutual support through role-playing.
  
  

Instructions

1. Pair Up: Divide students into pairs or small groups. If using groups of three, rotate roles with one observer per round.
   
   
2. Scenario Assignment: Give each pair a simple scenario (e.g., "You need help with a school project," or "You’re feeling overwhelmed with homework.")
   
   
3. Role Assignment: Within each pair, assign one student to communicate their need and the other to respond empathetically. Provide guidance on switching roles after each round.
   
   
4. Role-Playing: Allow students 3-4 minutes per round to engage in role-play, practicing how to clearly express their need and how to listen actively to the other person’s response.
   
   
5. Group Discussion: After each round, invite students to share what felt effective and any challenges they encountered. Discuss ways to improve clarity and empathy in communication.
   
   

Follow-Up Questions

• How did it feel to express your need? Do you think you communicated effectively?
  
  
• What strategies helped you understand your partner’s response?
  
  
• What changes could you make to improve your communication in real-life situations?
  
  

Reflection

After the activity, have students write a short reflection on what they learned and how they might apply these skills outside of class.

Enjoy the activity and remember: effective communication is a skill that grows with practice, empathy, and understanding!

Guided Discussion Outline

Introduction

• Begin the discussion by revisiting the objectives of the lesson: understanding and communicating personal needs effectively.
  
  
• Remind students that their unique experiences are valuable and that this is a safe space to share thoughts.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Discussion Prompts

1. Reflect on the Activity:
   
   • What did you feel when you were expressing your need?
     
   • How comfortable were you with the person you chose to speak with?
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
2. Strategy Sharing:
   
   • What phrases or words did you find worked best when explaining your situation?
     
   • Was there a particular strategy that made you feel more understood? Why do you think that was effective?
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
3. Overcoming Challenges:
   
   • Did you face any challenges while communicating your need?
     
   • How did you overcome these challenges, or what might you do differently next time?
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
4. Real-Life Application:
   
   • How can you use what you learned today in your daily interactions at home or school?
     
   • Can you think of a situation coming up where you might need to apply these strategies?
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Closing Questions

• What is one takeaway from today’s lesson that you will remember?
  
• What do you think you can do to keep improving your communication skills?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Final Reflection

End the session by inviting any final thoughts. Encourage students to note down their ideas on how they might practice their communication skills in everyday situations.