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Listen Up!

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Jocelyn Babilon

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Listen Up Lesson Plan

Students will learn and practice active listening skills—making eye contact, restating directions, and asking clarifying questions—by following multi‐step instructions collaboratively and reflecting on their listening strengths and goals.

Effective listening helps students accurately follow directions, reduces misunderstandings, supports teamwork, and builds communication skills essential for academic success and real‐world interactions.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Model, practice, and reflect through interactive activities.

Materials

Slide Deck: Active Listening Techniques, Active Listening Scenario Cards, and Listening Reflection Worksheet

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review Slide Deck: Active Listening Techniques
  • Print and cut Active Listening Scenario Cards
  • Make copies of the Listening Reflection Worksheet for each student
  • Arrange desks into small groups of 3–4
  • Alignment: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1 – Engage effectively in collaborative discussions and follow multi‐step directions
  • Differentiate supports:
    • Provide sentence starters on the reflection worksheet for students needing extra guidance
    • Challenge advanced listeners to draft and lead an additional scenario for peers

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Display the title slide from Slide Deck: Active Listening Techniques
  • Ask: “Why is listening to directions important?” Record responses on the board
  • Introduce three key active listening skills: eye contact, nodding, and not interrupting

Step 2

Modeling and Discussion

8 minutes

  • Show slides modeling a teacher–student dialogue demonstrating active listening behaviors
  • Follow a 2–3 step set of directions aloud; invite a volunteer to restate the steps
  • Class discussion: Which listening behaviors helped? Which made following directions harder?

Step 3

Practice Activity in Pairs

10 minutes

  • Distribute Active Listening Scenario Cards to each pair
  • Student A reads the scenario and gives directions; Student B listens and executes the steps
  • After each scenario, listeners share what they heard, note challenges, and ask clarifying questions

Step 4

Reflection and Debrief

7 minutes

  • Hand out Listening Reflection Worksheet
  • Students complete prompts: a time they followed directions well and one area to improve
  • Invite volunteers to share reflections and set a personal listening goal
  • Assessment: Collect and review worksheets; observe goal setting to gauge mastery
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Slide Deck

Active Listening Techniques

Listen Up! Learn how to focus, follow directions, and work together by practicing active listening skills.

Welcome students and set expectations for active participation. Introduce the topic and explain why listening is our focus today.

Why Listening Matters

• Objective: Learn three key listening skills and practice them.
• Effective listening helps you:
– Follow directions accurately
– Reduce misunderstandings
– Collaborate successfully
– Reach your goals in school and beyond.

Read the objectives aloud, ask students to nod if they understand each point. Emphasize the “why” behind listening.

Three Key Active Listening Skills

  1. Eye Contact: Look at the speaker’s eyes to show you’re focused.
  2. Nodding & Non-Verbal Cues: Use nods and facial expressions to signal you’re engaged.
  3. No Interrupting: Wait until the speaker finishes before you talk or ask questions.

Point to each skill on the slide. For each, ask for a quick example or demonstration from a volunteer.

Modeling Active Listening

Teacher: “Please take out your notebook, open to page 10, and write today’s date at the top.”

Student (listening): “Open notebook, page 10, write the date at the top.”

Discuss: Which listening cues did the student use?

Read through the dialogue, modeling tone and body language. Then invite a volunteer to play the listener role and restate the steps.

Practice in Pairs

  1. Pair up and pick a Scenario Card.
  2. Student A gives the directions out loud.
  3. Student B listens, follows the steps, then restates what they heard.
  4. Switch roles for a new scenario.

Tip: Ask clarifying questions if you’re unsure!

Explain the pair activity clearly. Show the scenario cards and circulate to support groups.

Reflect & Set a Goal

On your Reflection Worksheet, answer:
• Describe a time you followed directions well. What skills did you use?
• Identify one area where you can improve your listening.
• Write a personal goal for your next class discussion.

Distribute the reflection worksheet now or project the prompts. Encourage honest, specific goals.

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Activity

Active Listening Scenario Cards

Use these cards to practice giving and following multi-step directions. In pairs, Student A reads the steps aloud while Student B listens and completes each step. Then switch roles.

Scenario 1: Make a Snack

  1. Pick up a clean bowl and place it in front of you.
  2. Grab three crackers and put them in the bowl.
  3. Take one piece of fruit (apple slice or banana slice) and add it on top of the crackers.
  4. Stir gently with a spoon.
  5. Place the spoon to the right of the bowl.

Scenario 2: Organize Your Desk

  1. Clear everything off your desk and set it aside.
  2. Put your pencil case in the top-left corner.
  3. Place your notebook directly in the center.
  4. Move your water bottle to the top-right corner.
  5. Hand your highlighter to your partner.

Scenario 3: Simple Origami Fold

  1. Take a square piece of paper and place it flat on the desk.
  2. Fold it diagonally corner to corner, then unfold to show the crease.
  3. Fold the left edge into the center crease.
  4. Fold the right edge into the center crease.
  5. Flip the paper over and fold the bottom edge up two inches.

Scenario 4: Classroom Setup for Group Work

  1. Move two chairs to form a small circle.
  2. Place the group’s worksheet in the center of the circle.
  3. Hand a pencil to each chair.
  4. Put a blank sticky note next to each pencil.
  5. Whisper “Ready” to your partner when you’re done.




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Worksheet

Listening Reflection Worksheet

Name: ______________________ Date: _____________

1. Reflect on a Strength

Describe a time when you followed directions well. What active listening skills did you use?
(For a detailed response, write as much as you can.)










2. Identify an Area to Improve

Think of one listening skill you’d like to work on (eye contact, nodding, or asking clarifying questions). Which skill will you focus on and why?





3. Set a Personal Listening Goal

Write a specific goal for your next class discussion. Begin your sentence with “I will...” or “Next time, I will...”.


Sentence Starters

  • I listened carefully when...
  • I showed I was engaged by...
  • One thing I want to improve is...
  • I will practice my goal by...
  • My goal is to...
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