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Solving Problems with Communication

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Lesson Plan

Solving Problems with Communication

Students will learn and practice using verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to resolve minor social conflicts with peers.

Effective communication skills are essential for building positive relationships, reducing frustration, and increasing independence in social situations. This lesson provides practical tools for students to navigate social interactions.

Audience

K-2nd Grade Students with Autism

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, visual aids, and guided practice.

Materials

Whiteboard or Projector, Slide Deck: Solving Problems with Communication, Markers/Pens, Warm Up: How Do You Feel?, Worksheet: My Problem-Solving Steps, and Cool Down: One Thing I Learned

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm Up: How Do You Feel?

5 minutes

  • Begin by displaying the Warm Up: How Do You Feel? activity.
    * Ask students to identify different emotions and share a time they felt that way.
    * Connect emotions to situations where problems might arise.
    * Transition by saying, “Sometimes when we feel big emotions, it’s because we have a problem. Today, we’re going to learn how to solve those problems using our words!”

Step 2

Introduction to Communication

5 minutes

  • Use slides 1-3 of the Slide Deck: Solving Problems with Communication to introduce what communication is (using words, body language, facial expressions) and define a problem.
    * Discuss why communication is important for solving problems. Use simple, concrete examples relevant to students' experiences (e.g., sharing toys, wanting a turn).

Step 3

Learning Problem-Solving Steps

10 minutes

  • Present slides 4-7 of the Slide Deck: Solving Problems with Communication, guiding students through each problem-solving step:
    1. Say How You Feel: Emphasize "I feel..." statements.
    2. Say What You Need: Focus on clear, simple requests.
    3. Listen!: Explain the importance of hearing the other person.
    * Provide opportunities for students to practice saying these phrases aloud and demonstrate appropriate body language/facial expressions.

Step 4

Guided Practice: Worksheet

8 minutes

  • Distribute the Worksheet: My Problem-Solving Steps.
    * Read the scenario aloud and guide students through completing the worksheet, applying the three problem-solving steps.
    * Encourage discussion and share different ways to respond to the scenario. Provide support as needed, helping students articulate feelings and needs.

Step 5

Wrap Up and Cool Down

2 minutes

  • Gather students' attention and transition to the Cool Down: One Thing I Learned activity.
    * Ask students to share one thing they learned about solving problems with communication or one way they can use these skills this week.
    * Praise students for their participation and effort.
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Slide Deck

Solving Problems with Communication

Let's use our words to make things better!

Greet students and introduce the topic in an engaging way. Emphasize that we'll be learning about using our voices and bodies to solve little problems.

What is Communication?

Communication is how we share our thoughts and feelings.

  • Words
  • Body Language (how our body looks)
  • Facial Expressions (how our face looks)

Why is it important to communicate?

Explain that communication is how we share what we think and feel. Give simple examples like talking, pointing, or showing a happy face. Ask students for their own examples.

What is a Problem?

Sometimes, things happen that make us feel confused or upset.

  • A problem is when two people want different things.
  • A problem is when someone feels sad or mad because of something someone else did.

Example: Two friends both want to play with the same red ball.

Introduce the idea of a 'social problem' as a small disagreement or something that makes us feel upset with someone else. Provide a concrete example (e.g., two friends want the same toy).

Step 1: Say How You Feel

Use your words to tell others how you feel.

  • "I feel sad when you take my toy."
  • "I feel frustrated when I can't have a turn."

Practice saying: "I feel..."

Introduce the first step: 'Say how you feel.' Emphasize using 'I feel...' statements. Give examples. Practice having students say 'I feel...' with different emotions.

Step 2: Say What You Need

Tell others what you need or want.

  • "I need a turn with the red ball."
  • "Please don't touch my artwork."
  • "I want to play with you."

Introduce the second step: 'Say what you need.' Focus on clearly stating what they want to happen or change. Provide simple requests.

Step 3: Listen!

It's important to listen to what the other person says.

They might have feelings and needs too!

Introduce the third step: 'Listen to the other person.' Explain that communication is a two-way street. We need to hear what the other person says too.

Problem-Solving Steps

  1. Say How You Feel
  2. Say What You Need
  3. Listen!

Practicing these steps helps us solve problems!

Summarize the steps. Ask students to repeat them. Emphasize that practicing makes it easier.

Practice Time!

Let's use our new problem-solving steps!

We will work on our Worksheet: My Problem-Solving Steps.

Introduce the worksheet and explain that they will use the steps to think about how to solve a problem. Circulate and assist students as they work.

You're a Communication Superhero!

You have the power to solve problems with your words and listening ears!

Conclude by reminding students that using their communication superpowers helps everyone. Prepare for the cool down activity.

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Warm Up

Warm Up: How Do You Feel?

* Look at the faces below. What emotion do you see?

* When have you felt this way?

* What do you do when you feel this way?

(Display images of different facial expressions representing happy, sad, angry, surprised, etc. - teacher to provide)









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Worksheet

Worksheet: My Problem-Solving Steps

Name: _________________________

Date: _________________________

Scenario:

Imagine you are playing with blocks, and your friend comes and knocks down your tower without asking. You feel upset!

Let's use our communication steps to solve this problem!

Step 1: How do you feel?

What words can you use to tell your friend how you feel? (Circle one or write your own!)

  • Happy
  • Sad
  • Angry
  • Frustrated

I feel ________________________________________________.




Step 2: What do you need?

What do you want your friend to do or understand? What can you say to them?

I need/want ____________________________________________________________________________.







Step 3: What might your friend say or feel?

Think about how your friend might feel or what they might say when you communicate with them.

My friend might feel/say ____________________________________________________________________.







Bonus: What can you do together to make it better?







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Cool Down

Cool Down: One Thing I Learned

* What is one new thing you learned today about solving problems with communication?






* What is one way you can use your communication skills this week?






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