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Soft Skills Superstars

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Lesson Plan

Soft Skills Superstars Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify and define three essential soft skills (communication, empathy, problem-solving) that are crucial for trainers and leaders, and explain their importance.

Understanding and developing soft skills like effective communication, empathy, and problem-solving are vital for success in teamwork, leadership, and personal relationships, preparing students for future academic and professional challenges.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and real-world examples.

Materials

Soft Skills Superstars Slide Deck, and Soft Skills Discussion Guide Discussion

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

3 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the topic: "Today, we're going to talk about some amazing skills that help us work with others and even lead! These are called soft skills."
    - Display Slide 1: Soft Skills Superstars.
    - Pose questions from the "Warm-Up: What Comes to Mind?" section of the Soft Skills Discussion Guide to spark initial thoughts.
    - Briefly explain that soft skills are about how we interact with others, not just what we know.

Step 2

Explore Soft Skills

8 minutes

  • Transition to Slide 2: Communication Champs! Discuss what good communication looks like (clear speaking, active listening). Use prompts from the Soft Skills Discussion Guide under "Communication Champs!" to encourage student sharing.
    - Move to Slide 3: Empathy Explorers! Define empathy and provide real-life examples. Engage students with questions from the Soft Skills Discussion Guide under "Empathy Explorers!".
    - Proceed to Slide 4: Problem-Solving Pros! Explain problem-solving as finding creative solutions. Facilitate discussion using prompts from the Soft Skills Discussion Guide under "Problem-Solving Pros!".
    - For each skill, ask students to give quick examples of how a trainer or leader might use it.

Step 3

Wrap-Up & Reflection

4 minutes

  • Display Slide 5: Your Trainer Toolkit! Summarize the three soft skills covered.
    - Ask students to reflect on the skills individually or in pairs using questions from the "Wrap-Up: Your Superpowers!" section of the Soft Skills Discussion Guide.
    - Encourage students to think about how they can apply these skills in their daily lives, both in and out of school.
    - Thank students for their participation and answer any final questions.
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Slide Deck

Soft Skills Superstars

What are 'soft skills' and why do they matter?

Welcome students and introduce the concept of 'soft skills' as important for working with others, especially as a leader or trainer. Ask them to share what they think a 'skill' is.

1. Communication Champs!

Communicating clearly and listening actively helps you share ideas and understand others. It's like being a super clear speaker and an awesome listener rolled into one!

Why it's important:

  • Sharing your thoughts effectively
  • Understanding what others need
  • Working well in a team

Introduce the first key skill: Communication. Emphasize that it's not just talking, but also listening and understanding. Provide examples of good communication.

2. Empathy Explorers!

Empathy is understanding and sharing the feelings of others. It means trying to see things from their point of view.

Why it's important:

  • Building trust and connection
  • Helping others feel understood
  • Resolving conflicts kindly

Introduce empathy. Explain it as putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Ask students for examples of when empathy might be important for a trainer.

3. Problem-Solving Pros!

Problem-solving is finding solutions when challenges come up. It's about thinking creatively and logically to overcome obstacles.

Why it's important:

  • Overcoming difficulties
  • Making good decisions
  • Helping everyone succeed

Introduce problem-solving. Explain that problems are opportunities to find solutions. Give a simple scenario where a trainer might need to solve a problem (e.g., a student is stuck on a task).

Your Trainer Toolkit!

Communication, Empathy, and Problem-Solving are your superpowers! They help you be a fantastic trainer, a great friend, and a successful student.

How will YOU use these skills today?

Summarize the three skills and briefly explain how they connect. Encourage students to think about how they can practice these skills. Lead into the discussion.

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Discussion

Soft Skills Discussion Guide

Warm-Up: What Comes to Mind?

  • Think about a time someone taught you something really well. What did they do that made it easy to learn?
  • What do you think a "skill" is? What about a "soft skill"?

Communication Champs!

  • Can you give an example of good communication? What about poor communication?
  • Why is listening just as important as talking when you are trying to teach or lead?
  • How can you make sure someone understands what you are saying?

Empathy Explorers!

  • Imagine a friend is having trouble with a task. How would showing empathy help you understand and assist them?
  • Why is it important for a teacher or trainer to understand how their students are feeling?
  • How can you show someone you understand their feelings, even if you don't feel the same way?

Problem-Solving Pros!

  • What's a small problem you've had recently, and how did you try to solve it?
  • If a student is confused during a lesson, what are some different ways a trainer could help them?
  • Why is it helpful to think of a few different solutions before picking one?

Wrap-Up: Your Superpowers!

  • Which of these soft skills do you think is your strongest? Which one would you like to improve?
  • How do you think these skills will help you in school or with your friends and family?
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