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lenny

Hear Here Adventure

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Felicia Falzone

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Session 1 Lesson Plan

Introduce 2nd grade ESL students to active listening by learning simple rules and applying them during a short story activity. Students will identify key listening behaviors and practice with visual supports.

Building active listening skills helps students better understand spoken English, follow directions, and engage in classroom tasks with confidence.

Audience

2nd Grade ESL Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Teach rules with visuals, model via story, then practice.

Materials

Session 1 Slide Deck, Active Listening Rules Poster, Story Visual Cards, Listening Activity Worksheet, and Action Check Cards

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Load Session 1 Slide Deck and test audio.
  • Print and display the Active Listening Rules Poster.
  • Cut out Story Visual Cards and Action Check Cards.
  • Make copies of the Listening Activity Worksheet.

Step 1

Hook into Listening

3 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle and show a funny sound effect on the Session 1 Slide Deck.
  • Ask: “What did you hear? How did it make you feel?”
  • Emphasize looking with your eyes and ears.

Step 2

Introduce Active Listening Rules

4 minutes

  • Reveal the Active Listening Rules Poster.
  • Read each rule aloud with students (e.g., eyes on speaker, stay quiet, ask questions).
  • Use simple gestures to model each rule.

Step 3

Story Listening Activity

5 minutes

  • Show a short picture story on the Session 1 Slide Deck.
  • Distribute Story Visual Cards to small groups.
  • As you read, students hold up the matching visual when they hear its part of the story.
  • Provide hints if needed.

Step 4

Reflection and Check

3 minutes

  • Hand out Action Check Cards showing rules pictures.
  • Ask students to choose the card that shows the best listening rule they used.
  • Quick share: “I used ___ rule because ___.”
  • Collect cards and remind students to practice tomorrow.
lenny

Slide Deck

Hear Here Adventure: Session 1

Active Listening Rules & Story Time

Welcome, friends! Today we begin our Hear Here Adventure. Tell students this session is about learning how to be great listeners.

Click play to play a funny bird sound. After it finishes, ask: “What did you hear? How did it make you feel?” Encourage responses and remind them to use their eyes and ears.

Our Listening Rules

  1. Eyes on the speaker 👀
  2. Mouth quiet 🤐
  3. Ask questions ❓

Show each rule one at a time. Read aloud slowly, model the gesture, and invite students to copy you.

Story Part 1

A cat is sleeping on a sunny mat.

Tell students: “I will tell a short story. Listen carefully. When you hear your picture, hold it up!” Show Story Visual Cards.

Story Part 2

A little mouse sneaks close to the cat.

Pause and let groups hold up their mouse cards if they have one. Offer hints: “Who sneaks near the cat?”

Story Part 3

The cat jumps! The mouse runs away fast.

Ask: “What happened to the mouse?” Wait for responses. Show excitement as you finish.

Reflection Time

Which listening rule did you practice today?
• Hold up your card and share!

Hand out Action Check Cards. Invite students to choose the card that shows the rule they used best. Ask volunteers to share: “I used ___ because ___.”

lenny

Activity

Session 1 Listening Match

Purpose: Reinforce active listening and story comprehension by matching spoken story parts to visuals and sentences.

Materials:

  • Story Visual Cards
  • Listening Activity Worksheet
  • Listening Match Board (a simple board with slots for cards)
  • Markers or crayons
  • Glue sticks (optional)

Instructions

  1. Partner Up (2 minutes)
  • Students find a partner and sit facing each other.
  • Explain: "When one partner reads a sentence, the other listens and finds the matching picture card."
  1. Round 1: Read & Match (5 minutes)
  • Partner A takes the worksheet, reads Sentence 1 aloud (e.g., “A cat is sleeping on a sunny mat.”).
  • Partner B listens, then chooses the correct Story Visual Card and places it on the Listening Match Board.
  • Partners check together: If correct, glue the card onto the board (or mark it). If not, try again.
  1. Switch Roles (5 minutes)
  • Partners switch: B reads, A listens and matches.
  • Continue until all sentences are read and matched.
  1. Class Share & Reflection (3 minutes)
  • Invite volunteers to show their board and say one sentence they matched.
  • Ask: “Which part was easy? Which part was tricky?”
  • Emphasize listening carefully for key words (cat, mouse, jumps, runs).

Extension / Early Finishers

  • Draw your own picture for one sentence and swap with a friend to match.
lenny
lenny

Lesson Plan

Session 2 Lesson Plan

Students will review active listening rules, learn how to ask questions to clarify, and practice listening to a short dialogue to identify key details using simple visuals.

Teaching question-asking empowers ESL learners to check understanding, engage with peers, and deepen comprehension of spoken English in a supportive environment.

Audience

2nd Grade ESL Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Review rules, model questions, then practice dialogue.

Materials

Session 2 Slide Deck, Question Prompt Cards, Dialogue Visual Cards, Detail Identification Worksheet, and Action Check Cards

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Load Session 2 Slide Deck and test audio.
  • Print and cut out Question Prompt Cards and Dialogue Visual Cards.
  • Make copies of the Detail Identification Worksheet.
  • Gather Action Check Cards for reflection.

Step 1

Review Active Listening Rules

3 minutes

  • Display the first slide of the Session 2 Slide Deck showing the three listening rules.
  • Invite volunteers to name each rule and model the gesture.
  • Ask: "Which rule helps you listen best?" and reinforce with thumbs-up.

Step 2

Introduce Question-Asking Rule

4 minutes

  • Reveal a new slide explaining: “Good listeners ask questions to understand.”
  • Show Question Prompt Cards with simple stems (e.g., “What happened when…?”).
  • Model one example: read a line, then pick a card and ask the question.
  • Invite students to try asking a question from a prompt.

Step 3

Dialogue Listening Activity

5 minutes

  • Present a short dialogue audio on the Session 2 Slide Deck.
  • Distribute Dialogue Visual Cards showing scenes from the dialogue.
  • Play the dialogue twice. Students listen and hold up the picture that matches each part.
  • Hand out the Detail Identification Worksheet.
  • In pairs, students listen again and circle the correct detail on the worksheet.

Step 4

Reflection and Check

3 minutes

  • Give each student an Action Check Card.
  • Ask: “Which rule did you use today? Did you ask any questions?”
  • Students hold up their card and share one sentence: “I used ___ rule and asked ___.”
  • Collect cards and praise students for great listening and questions.
lenny

Slide Deck

Hear Here Adventure: Session 2

Review Listening Rules & Ask Questions

Welcome back! Today we build on our listening skills by reviewing our rules and learning how to ask questions to understand better.

Our Listening Rules

  1. Eyes on the speaker 👀
  2. Mouth quiet 🤐
  3. Ask questions ❓

Point to each rule, read aloud, model the gesture, and have students copy. Reinforce with thumbs-up for correct gestures.

Good Listeners Ask Questions

Use Question Prompt Cards:
• “What happened when…?”
• “Why did…?”
• “How can…?”

Explain that good listeners ask questions to understand when they’re unsure. Show the prompt cards.

Example Question

Sentence: “The dog barked at the cat.”
Question: “What did the dog do?”

Model with this sentence. Hold up a prompt card and ask the question to the class. Invite a volunteer to answer.

Listen to the dialogue and hold up your picture when you hear it.

Tell students they will listen to a short dialogue. Play the audio twice. Ask them to listen carefully and hold up their picture card.

Which Picture?

  1. Who said “Hi”?
  2. What toy did they share?

After listening, ask students to look at Dialogue Visual Cards and hold up the picture that matches each question.

Reflection Time

Which rule did you practice? Did you ask a question?

Distribute Action Check Cards. Ask students: “Which listening rule did you use? Did you ask a question today?” Have them hold up their card and share one sentence.

lenny

Activity

Session 2 Question Relay

Purpose: Help students practice asking and answering questions about a short dialogue, reinforcing active listening and detail comprehension in small teams.

Materials:

  • Question Prompt Cards
  • Dialogue Visual Cards
  • Detail Identification Worksheet
  • A timer or watch

Instructions

  1. Group Up (2 minutes)

    • Divide students into groups of 3–4.
    • Give each group one copy of the Detail Identification Worksheet.

  2. Assign Roles & Preview (1 minute)

    • Within each group, assign:
      • Reader: reads one line from the worksheet aloud
      • Asker: selects a prompt from the Question Prompt Cards to form a question about that line
      • Matcher: finds the matching image on the Dialogue Visual Cards that answers the question
    • (If you have a 4th student, they can act as Checker, helping confirm answers.)

  3. Round 1: Ask & Match (4 minutes)

    • Reader reads the first sentence (e.g., “They shared a red toy car.”)
    • Asker chooses a prompt (e.g., “What did they share?”) and asks it aloud to the Matcher.
    • Matcher looks at the Dialogue Visual Cards and holds up the picture that shows the answer.
    • Group checks the worksheet key or teacher confirmation.

  4. Rotate Roles (2 minutes)

    • Move each role one seat clockwise.
    • New Reader reads the next sentence.

  5. Round 2: Continue Relay (4 minutes)

    • Repeat steps in Round 1 until all sentences on the worksheet are used or time is up.

  6. Whole-Class Reflection (2 minutes)

    • Invite 2–3 groups to share one question they asked and show the matching picture.
    • Highlight how asking questions helped everyone understand the dialogue better.

Extension / Early Finishers

  • Create & Swap: Students write their own simple question for one worksheet sentence, then swap questions with another group to answer.
  • Draw It: Ask a student to draw a new scene from the dialogue and challenge others to form questions about the drawing.

Great listening rule in action!

lenny
lenny

Lesson Plan

Session 3 Lesson Plan

Students will learn to recognize emotions and tone in spoken English by listening to voice clips and matching to emotion visuals, then practice identifying feelings in pairs.

Understanding tone and emotion enhances ESL learners’ listening comprehension, empathy, and confidence when engaging with spoken language.

Audience

2nd Grade ESL Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Model tones, listen to clips, match with visuals.

Materials

Session 3 Slide Deck, Emotion Listening Audio Clips, Emotion Cards, Emotion Identification Worksheet, and Action Check Cards

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Load Session 3 Slide Deck and test each audio clip from Emotion Listening Audio Clips.
  • Print and cut out Emotion Cards.
  • Make copies of the Emotion Identification Worksheet.
  • Gather Action Check Cards for reflection.

Step 1

Review & Hook

2 minutes

  • Display the first slide of Session 3 Slide Deck and briefly review active listening rules.
  • Ask: “How can we tell how someone feels just by listening?”
  • Show 2–3 Emotion Cards and name the emotions (happy, sad).

Step 2

Introduce Tone & Emotion

4 minutes

  • Reveal slide explaining tone: happy, sad, angry, surprised.
  • Model each emotion with voice changes and hold up the matching Emotion Card.
  • Invite volunteers to say a phrase in a chosen tone and show that card.

Step 3

Emotion Audio Activity

5 minutes

  • Play 3–4 different clips from Emotion Listening Audio Clips.
  • After each clip, students listen and hold up the Emotion Card that matches the voice tone.
  • Confirm correct answers and briefly discuss how tone gave clues.

Step 4

Pair Practice

4 minutes

  • Students pair up and share one device or teacher plays a new clip.
  • Partner A listens and holds up an Emotion Card; Partner B names the emotion and checks with worksheet.
  • Swap roles and repeat for 2–3 more clips.

Step 5

Reflection and Check

3 minutes

  • Hand each student an Action Check Card.
  • Ask: “Which listening rule helped you today? Did you notice any emotions?”
  • Students hold up their card and share: “I used ___ and felt ___.”
lenny

Slide Deck

Hear Here Adventure: Session 3

Listen for Feelings & Tone

Welcome back, friends! Today we will listen for feelings in voices. Tell students: “We will use our listening rules and look for emotions!”

Review & Hook

• Eyes on speaker 👀
• Mouth quiet 🤐
• Ask questions ❓

How can we hear feelings?

Review our three listening rules: eyes on speaker, mouth quiet, ask questions. Ask: “How can we tell how someone feels just by listening?” Show 2–3 Emotion Cards and name the emotions.

Recognizing Tone & Emotion

Happy 😊
Sad 😢
Angry 😠
Surprised 😲

Introduce four basic tones: happy, sad, angry, surprised. Show each Emotion Card as you say the word and change your voice.

Modeling Emotions

Phrase: “I can’t wait!”
• Say it happily 😊
• Say it sadly 😢

Model each tone with a simple phrase. For example, say “Good morning!” in a happy tone, then a sad tone, then invite 1–2 volunteers to try.

Listen to each clip and hold up the card that shows the emotion.

Tell students: “Listen carefully to each clip. When you hear a tone, hold up the matching emotion card!” Play the combined audio of 4 short emotion clips.

Pair Practice

With a partner:

  1. Talk about each clip.
  2. Say: “I heard ___ tone.”

In pairs, students discuss: Which tone was easy? Which was tricky? Encourage them to use simple sentences: “Clip 3 was angry.”

Reflection Time

Which rule did you use? Which emotion did you notice?

Hand out Action Check Cards. Ask: “Which listening rule did you use today? Which emotion did you hear?” Students hold up their card and share one sentence.

lenny

Activity

Session 3 Emotion Charades

Purpose: Let students practice recognizing and expressing emotions by acting out phrases with tone, reinforcing listening for feelings in a fun, active game.

Materials:

  • Charades Prompt Cards (cards with simple phrases and emotion labels)
  • Emotion Cards (happy, sad, angry, surprised)
  • Action Check Cards
  • A container or bag for prompt cards

Instructions

  1. Explain the Game (2 minutes)

    • Tell students: “We will play Emotion Charades. One friend will act out a phrase in a feeling voice, and the rest of us will listen and show the emotion card we hear.”
    • Show how: Teacher draws a prompt, reads quietly, then says the phrase in a tone without showing the emotion card.
    • Class practices holding up the matching Emotion Card.

  2. Model Round (2 minutes)

    • Teacher draws a Charades Prompt Card, then acts and speaks the phrase (e.g., “I can’t believe it!” in a surprised tone).
    • Students listen and hold up the emotion card they think matches.
    • Confirm: Ask one volunteer to share why they chose that emotion.

  3. Student Turns (6 minutes)

    • Students sit in a circle. One at a time, each student:
      1. Draws a Charades Prompt Card from the container.
      2. Reads the phrase silently and then says it aloud in the emotion tone.
      3. The class listens quietly and holds up their Emotion Card.
      4. The actor reveals the emotion and gives a thumbs-up to peers who guessed correctly.
    • Continue until time is up or each student has had a turn (as time allows).

  4. Reflection & Check (5 minutes)

    • Distribute Action Check Cards.
    • Ask students: “Which listening rule helped you today when playing charades? Which emotion did you enjoy acting or guessing most?”
    • Students hold up their action card and share one sentence:
      • “I used ___ rule.”

      • “I liked guessing ___.”
    • Collect cards and praise great listening and acting skills!

Extension / Early Finishers

  • Create Your Own Prompt: Students write or draw a new phrase and emotion on a blank card, then swap and charade in pairs.
  • Emotion Storytelling: In small groups, students take turns adding a sentence to a story, each using a different emotion tone.

Great listening rule in action!

lenny
lenny

Lesson Plan

Session 4 Lesson Plan

Students will integrate and apply their active listening skills—listening rules, question-asking, and emotion recognition—by following a final story, then identifying key details and emotions.

This capstone session helps ESL learners consolidate listening strategies in an authentic context, boosting confidence and reinforcing all skills learned.

Audience

2nd Grade ESL Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Review, listen to story, identify details & emotions.

Materials

Session 4 Slide Deck, Integrated Skills Review Poster, Final Story Visual Cards, Integrated Practice Worksheet, and Action Check Cards

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Load Session 4 Slide Deck and test audio.
  • Print and display the Integrated Skills Review Poster.
  • Cut out Final Story Visual Cards.
  • Make copies of the Integrated Practice Worksheet.
  • Gather Action Check Cards.

Step 1

Review Our Journey

3 minutes

  • Display the Integrated Skills Review Poster.
  • Quickly name the three listening rules, a question prompt, and an emotion tone.
  • Ask volunteers to model one rule, ask a question, and show an emotion card.

Step 2

Final Story Listening

5 minutes

  • Introduce a short story audio on the Session 4 Slide Deck.
  • Distribute Final Story Visual Cards to small groups.
  • Play the audio twice. Students listen and hold up the card that matches each story part.

Step 3

Identify Questions & Emotions

4 minutes

  • Hand out the Integrated Practice Worksheet.
  • In pairs, students listen again and:
    • Circle one key detail and write a simple question about it.
    • Underline a sentence in the worksheet and note the emotion it conveys.
  • Teacher circulates to support language as needed.

Step 4

Reflection & Celebration

3 minutes

  • Give each student an Action Check Card.
  • Ask: “Which listening rule helped you most? What question did you ask? Which emotion did you find?”
  • Students hold up their card and share one short sentence.
  • Celebrate with a class cheer for completing the Hear Here Adventure!
lenny

Slide Deck

Hear Here Adventure: Session 4

Review & Apply Listening Skills

Welcome to our final session of the Hear Here Adventure! Today we will review everything we’ve learned and use our listening skills together.

Review Our Journey

• Eyes on speaker 👀
• Mouth quiet 🤐
• Ask questions ❓

• Recognize feelings 😊😢😠😲

Display the Integrated Skills Review Poster. Quickly name our three listening rules, a question prompt, and an emotion tone. Ask volunteers to model one rule, ask a question, and show an emotion card.

Listen carefully and hold up your picture when you hear it.

Introduce the final story audio. Distribute Final Story Visual Cards to groups. Play the audio twice. Students listen and hold up the card that matches each part of the story.

Identify Details & Emotions

• Circle a detail
• Write a question
• Underline & note emotion

Hand out the Integrated Practice Worksheet. In pairs, listen again and:

  1. Circle one key detail
  2. Write a simple question about that detail
  3. Underline a sentence and note the emotion it conveys

Reflection & Celebration

Which rule helped you?
What question did you ask?
Which emotion did you notice?

Give each student an Action Check Card. Ask: “Which listening rule helped you most? What question did you ask? Which emotion did you find?” Students hold up their card and share one short sentence. End with a class cheer!

lenny

Activity

Session 4 Integrated Listener

Purpose:
Help students bring together all their listening skills—looking with eyes, asking questions, and noticing emotions—by listening to a final story, matching visuals, and completing integrated worksheet tasks.

Materials:

  • Session 4 Slide Deck
  • Integrated Skills Review Poster
  • Final Story Visual Cards
  • Integrated Practice Worksheet
  • Action Check Cards
  • Pencils or crayons

Instructions

  1. Group Setup & Quick Review (2 minutes)

    • Divide students into groups of 3–4.
    • Display the Integrated Skills Review Poster and invite volunteers to name:
      • One listening rule
      • A question prompt
      • An emotion tone

  2. Listen & Match Visuals (4 minutes)

    • Distribute Final Story Visual Cards to each group.
    • Play the final story audio from the Session 4 Slide Deck twice.
    • As they listen, students hold up the card that matches each part of the story.
    • Confirm correct matches before moving on.

  3. Partner Worksheet Work (6 minutes)

    • Hand out the Integrated Practice Worksheet.
    • In pairs, students listen a third time and complete:
      1. Circle one key detail on the worksheet.










      2. Write a simple question about that detail.










      3. Underline one sentence that shows an emotion and note which emotion it is.










    • Teacher circulates to support language and encourage complete sentences.

  4. Whole-Class Share (2 minutes)

    • Invite 2–3 pairs to share:
      • Their circled detail and question
      • The sentence they underlined and the emotion they heard
    • Praise clear listening and thoughtful questions.

  5. Reflection & Celebration (1 minute)

    • Give each student an Action Check Card.
    • Ask: “Which listening rule helped you most? What question did you ask? Which emotion did you notice?”
    • Students hold up their card and share one short sentence.
    • End with a class cheer: “Great listening, everyone!”

Extension / Early Finishers

  • Illustrate & Interview: Students draw an extra scene from the story, then ask a partner a question about it.
  • Emotion Interview: In pairs, take turns reading a new sentence in a chosen emotion tone; partner guesses the feeling.

Congratulations on completing the Hear Here Adventure!

lenny
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