Lesson Plan
Message Clarity Quest
Students will be able to identify components of clear communication and practice crafting concise, impactful verbal and non-verbal messages to minimize misinterpretations.
Effective communication is crucial for building strong relationships, resolving conflicts, and ensuring your message is truly heard. This lesson provides practical tools to enhance students' ability to convey their thoughts and feelings clearly.
Audience
9th Grade Group
Time
40 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, guided practice, and an engaging game.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Say What You Mean Slide Deck, and Broken Telephone Remixed Game Cards
Prep
Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Say What You Mean Slide Deck and practice delivery.
- Print and cut out the cards for the Broken Telephone Remixed Game.
- Arrange the classroom for small group work if desired for the game portion.
- Ensure whiteboard or projector is ready.
Step 1
Introduction: The Communication Conundrum
5 minutes
- Begin with a brief discussion: "Have you ever said something and someone completely misunderstood you? What happened?"
- Introduce the concept of message clarity and its importance in daily life.
- Present the objective of the lesson using Say What You Mean Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).
Step 2
Decoding Clear Messages
10 minutes
- Use Say What You Mean Slide Deck (Slides 3-6) to introduce key elements of clear communication: conciseness, specific language, active listening, and non-verbal cues.
- Provide examples of unclear versus clear messages.
- Facilitate a short Q&A session to check for understanding.
Step 3
Practice Makes Progress
10 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (2-3 students).
- Present scenarios (e.g., asking for help, expressing disagreement, giving instructions).
- Have each group craft a clear verbal and non-verbal message for one scenario, as outlined on Say What You Mean Slide Deck (Slide 7).
- Have a few groups share their messages and provide constructive feedback.
Step 4
Broken Telephone Remixed Game
10 minutes
- Introduce the Broken Telephone Remixed Game. Explain the rules: students will pass a written message, but with a twist focusing on clarity and conciseness.
- Distribute game cards and guide students through a few rounds.
- Discuss the outcomes: what made messages clear or unclear during the game?
Step 5
Wrap-Up: Your Clarity Toolkit
5 minutes
- Review the main takeaways from the lesson using Say What You Mean Slide Deck (Slide 8).
- Encourage students to apply these clarity skills in their daily interactions.
- Ask students to reflect on one thing they will try to do differently to improve their communication.
Slide Deck
Message Clarity Quest: Say What You Mean!
Why is clear communication so important in our daily lives?
Welcome students and introduce the topic of communication. Ask a hook question to get them thinking about miscommunication.
The Communication Conundrum
Have you ever said something and it was completely misunderstood?
Today, we'll learn how to craft clear, concise, and impactful messages – both with your words and your actions – to avoid mix-ups and ensure your message is always heard clearly.
Explain the common problem of misunderstandings and how this lesson will help them. Introduce the lesson's objective.
Element 1: Be Concise
Get to the Point!
- Less is more: Avoid unnecessary words or rambling.
- Focus on the core message: What's the most important thing you want to say?
Example:
- Unclear: "I was wondering if maybe we could possibly talk about, like, what's happening with the project soon, if you have a moment?"
- Clear: "Can we discuss the project updates for 5 minutes after class?"
Introduce the first key element: conciseness. Explain why getting to the point is important and provide an example.
Element 2: Use Specific Language
Choose Your Words Carefully!
- Avoid vague terms: Words like "stuff," "things," "later," or "soon" can be confusing.
- Be precise: Use exact words to describe what you mean.
Example:
- Unclear: "Can you help me with that thing over there?"
- Clear: "Can you help me carry the blue box from the shelf to the art table?"
Introduce the second element: specific language. Emphasize avoiding vague terms and using precise words. Provide an example.
Element 3: Non-Verbal Cues & Active Listening
Your Body Talks Too!
Non-Verbal Cues (Body Language):
- Eye contact, facial expressions, posture, gestures, tone of voice.
- Make sure your actions match your words!
Active Listening:
- Give the speaker your full attention.
- Nod, make eye contact, and ask clarifying questions.
- Show that you are truly hearing and understanding them.
Discuss non-verbal cues and active listening. Explain how body language, tone, and truly listening contribute to clarity.
Practice: Craft Your Clear Message
In small groups, choose ONE scenario and discuss how you would communicate clearly, considering both verbal and non-verbal cues.
Scenarios:
- You need help from a classmate on a homework problem.
- You want to suggest a new idea for a group project.
- You feel frustrated with a friend and want to calmly express it.
Present scenarios for students to practice crafting clear messages in groups. Encourage them to think about both verbal and non-verbal aspects.
Game Time: Broken Telephone Remixed!
Get ready to see how well we can keep our messages clear and concise!
We'll be passing messages, but with a focus on maintaining the original meaning as accurately as possible. Listen carefully and choose your words wisely!
Introduce the game. Explain that it's a twist on the classic game, focusing on maintaining clarity.
Your Clarity Toolkit: Key Takeaways
- Be Concise: Get to the point.
- Be Specific: Use clear, precise language.
- Align Non-Verbals: Make your body language match your words.
- Listen Actively: Truly hear and understand others.
How will you use these skills to improve your communication today?
Summarize the key takeaways and encourage students to apply these skills in their daily lives. Ask for one personal reflection.
Game
Broken Telephone Remixed: The Clarity Challenge
Objective
To demonstrate the importance of clear, concise, and specific communication by observing how messages change when passed through multiple individuals without explicit clarity checks.
Materials
- Small slips of paper or index cards (one per student)
- Pens/pencils
- Scenarios/Starting Messages (provided below)
Instructions
Part 1: Initial Message Creation (5 minutes)
- Teacher Preparation: Prepare several unique and slightly complex messages (3-5 sentences long) that require careful attention to detail. These should be written on separate slips of paper. Examples are provided in the Broken Telephone Remixed Game Cards.
- Student Grouping: Divide the class into groups of 5-7 students. Have each group sit in a line or circle, ensuring students cannot easily see each other's papers.
- Starting the Game: The first student in each group receives a starting message from the teacher. Crucially, they are told to read it once, then put it away, and try to remember it as accurately as possible.
Part 2: The Remix Process (10 minutes)
- Pass the Message: The first student, based on their memory, must whisper the message once to the second student in their group. They cannot repeat it or clarify.
- Write It Down: The second student then immediately writes down what they heard on their own slip of paper. They cannot ask for clarification.
- Continue the Chain: The second student then whispers what they wrote down (not the original message they heard) once to the third student, who then writes it down. This continues until the last student in the line.
Part 3: Reveal and Reflect (10 minutes)
- The Reveal: The last student in each group reads their final written message aloud to the class.
- Original Message: The teacher then reads the original starting message for that group aloud.
- Group Comparison: Each group compares their final message to the original. What changed? What details were lost? What was added?
Discussion Questions
- What specific words or phrases were difficult to remember or transmit accurately?
- How did the message change from the beginning to the end of your group's chain?
- Were there any non-verbal cues (like confusion on a face) that might have helped, but weren't allowed?
- What does this game teach us about the importance of being clear and specific when communicating?
- What strategies could have been used to prevent the message from changing so much?
Reading
Broken Telephone Remixed: Game Cards
Instructions for Teacher: Cut out each scenario below to create individual game cards. Distribute one card to the first student in each group for the Broken Telephone Remixed Game.
Scenario 1
"Please tell Sarah that the art club meeting on Tuesday has been moved from the library to the science lab, and remember to bring your sketchbooks because we'll be starting a new watercolor project."
Scenario 2
"I need you to remind Mr. Harrison that the field trip permission slips are due by Friday at 3:00 PM, and students must have their parent's signature to participate."
Scenario 3
"The school bake sale will be held next Wednesday during lunch in the main cafeteria. We are asking for volunteers to help set up at 11:30 AM and to clean up after 1:00 PM."
Scenario 4
"Don't forget to inform Coach Miller that the basketball practice schedule has changed to Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, starting next week, due to gym availability."
Scenario 5
"Could you let the drama club know that the auditions for the spring play will be held in the auditorium this Saturday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM? Everyone should prepare a one-minute monologue."