Lesson Plan
Speak Up, Speak Kind!
Students will be able to identify the difference between aggressive and assertive language and practice using assertive communication in various scenarios.
Learning to communicate assertively helps students express their needs and feelings respectfully, preventing misunderstandings and fostering positive relationships with peers and adults. This skill is vital for both academic success and social-emotional development.
Audience
3rd Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through discussion, examples, and role-playing, students will learn and practice assertive communication.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Speak Up, Speak Kind! Slide Deck, Warm-Up: How Would You React?, Assertive Actions Activity, and Cool-Down: My Assertive Voice
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Speak Up, Speak Kind! Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Speak Up, Speak Kind! Slide Deck, Warm-Up: How Would You React?, Assertive Actions Activity, and Cool-Down: My Assertive Voice.
- Ensure projector/whiteboard is set up for the Speak Up, Speak Kind! Slide Deck.
Step 1
Warm-Up: How Would You React?
5 minutes
- Begin by distributing the Warm-Up: How Would You React? worksheet.
- Ask students to quickly jot down their initial reactions to the provided scenarios.
- Briefly discuss a few responses, emphasizing that people react differently to situations. (See Teacher Script for guidance).
Step 2
Introduction to Aggressive vs. Assertive
10 minutes
- Use the Speak Up, Speak Kind! Slide Deck to introduce the concepts of aggressive and assertive language.
- Define each term with clear examples relevant to 3rd graders. (See Teacher Script for guidance).
- Engage students in a discussion using the prompts on the slides, asking them to identify aggressive vs. assertive statements.
Step 3
Assertive Actions Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute the Assertive Actions Activity worksheet.
- Have students work individually or in pairs to rewrite aggressive statements into assertive ones.
- Circulate to provide support and clarification. (See Teacher Script for guidance).
- Bring the class back together to share a few examples and discuss why the assertive statements are more effective.
Step 4
Cool-Down: My Assertive Voice
5 minutes
- Distribute the Cool-Down: My Assertive Voice exit ticket.
- Ask students to write down one thing they learned about assertive communication and one situation where they can use it.
- Collect the cool-downs to gauge understanding. (See Teacher Script for guidance).
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Slide Deck
Speak Up, Speak Kind!
How do you use your voice?
Welcome students and introduce the topic. Explain that today they will learn about different ways to talk and express themselves.
What is Aggressive Language?
Using your voice in a way that is:
- Mean or disrespectful
- Yelling or shouting
- Blaming others
- Trying to get your way by being bossy or angry
Example: "Give me that! It's mine! You always take my stuff!"
Explain that sometimes when we are upset, we might say things that are aggressive. Give examples and ask students if they can think of times when they or someone else might have used aggressive words (without naming names).
What is Assertive Language?
Using your voice in a way that is:
- Respectful to yourself and others
- Calm and clear
- Stating your feelings and needs
- Finding a fair solution
Example: "I feel frustrated when my things are taken without asking. Please ask me first."
Introduce assertive language as a better way to communicate. Emphasize being respectful while still expressing needs. Provide clear examples and ask for student input on how these examples are different from aggressive ones.
Let's Practice! Scenario 1
Scenario: Someone cuts in front of you in line.
Response: "Hey! No cutting! Get to the back of the line!"
Is this Aggressive or Assertive? Why?
Present a scenario and have students discuss whether the response is aggressive or assertive. Encourage them to explain why.
Let's Practice! Scenario 2
Scenario: A friend keeps interrupting you while you're talking.
Response: "You always interrupt me! You're so rude! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Is this Aggressive or Assertive? How could you say it assertively?
Present another scenario. Guide students to identify the aggressive part and then brainstorm how to make it assertive.
Remember Your Voice!
Aggressive is demanding and disrespectful.
Assertive is respectful and clear.
Use your assertive voice to share your feelings and needs!
Summarize the key takeaways and encourage students to try using assertive language in their daily lives.
Worksheet
Warm-Up: How Would You React?
Instructions: Read each scenario below. In the space provided, quickly write down how you think you would react or what you would say. Don't worry about being perfect, just write your honest first thought!
Scenario 1
Your friend accidentally knocks over your carefully built block tower. They don't say anything.
What would you say or do?
Scenario 2
Someone takes your favorite crayon from your desk without asking.
What would you say or do?
Scenario 3
Your teacher asks you to clean up, but you're not done with your drawing.
What would you say or do?
Worksheet
Assertive Actions Activity
Instructions: Read each aggressive statement below. In the space provided, rewrite the statement to be assertive. Remember to be respectful, clear, and state your feelings or needs!
Aggressive Statement 1
"You always take my ball! I hate playing with you!"
Assertive Rewrite:
Aggressive Statement 2
"Why do I have to do this worksheet? It's stupid! You always give us boring stuff!"
Assertive Rewrite:
Aggressive Statement 3
"No! I'm not cleaning up now! I'm still busy!"
Assertive Rewrite:
Aggressive Statement 4
"Give me that! It's mine!"
Assertive Rewrite:
Aggressive Statement 5
"I don't want to do that! That's boring!"
Assertive Rewrite:
Cool Down
Cool-Down: My Assertive Voice
Instructions: Please answer the questions below to show what you learned today.
- What is one important difference between aggressive and assertive language that you learned today?
- Think about one situation where you can try to use your assertive voice this week. What is it?
Script
Teacher Script: Speak Up, Speak Kind!
Warm-Up: How Would You React? (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important: how we use our voices. To start, I've given you a worksheet called Warm-Up: How Would You React?. Please take a few minutes to read the scenarios and write down how you would honestly react or what you would say. Don't worry about being 'right' or 'wrong' right now, just write your first thought."
(Allow students 2-3 minutes to complete the warm-up.)
Teacher: "Alright, let's hear a few responses. Who would like to share their reaction to Scenario 1: 'Your friend accidentally knocks over your carefully built block tower. They don't say anything.'?" (Call on a few students. Acknowledge their responses without judgment.)
Teacher: "Thank you for sharing! It's interesting how we all might react a little differently, isn't it? Sometimes, when things happen that make us upset, we might say or do things without really thinking. Today, we're going to learn about two different ways to use our voices and how one way can help us a lot more than the other."
Introduction to Aggressive vs. Assertive (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Let's look at our Speak Up, Speak Kind! Slide Deck." (Display Slide 1: 'Speak Up, Speak Kind!')
Teacher: "Our voices are powerful tools! We can use them to share ideas, ask questions, and tell people how we feel. But just like any tool, we need to learn how to use them well. Today, we're going to learn how to use our voices to be assertive."
(Display Slide 2: 'What is Aggressive Language?')
Teacher: "First, let's talk about something called aggressive language. When someone uses aggressive language, they are being mean or disrespectful. They might yell, shout, blame others, or try to get their way by being bossy or angry. Look at the example on the slide: 'Give me that! It's mine! You always take my stuff!' How does that sound? How would you feel if someone spoke to you like that?" (Allow a few student responses. Emphasize the negative feelings aggressive language creates.)
Teacher: "Aggressive language often makes problems worse because it can hurt feelings and make others defensive."
(Display Slide 3: 'What is Assertive Language?')
Teacher: "Now, let's talk about assertive language. This is a much more helpful way to use our voices! When you are assertive, you are respectful to yourself and others. You speak calmly and clearly. You state your feelings and your needs, and you try to find a fair solution. Look at this example: 'I feel frustrated when my things are taken without asking. Please ask me first.' How does that sound different?" (Allow a few student responses. Highlight the calm, clear, and respectful tone.)
Teacher: "Assertive language helps us solve problems and get what we need without hurting anyone's feelings or starting a fight. It shows you respect yourself and the other person."
(Display Slide 4: 'Let's Practice! Scenario 1')
Teacher: "Let's practice! Read Scenario 1 on the slide: 'Someone cuts in front of you in line. Your response is: 'Hey! No cutting! Get to the back of the line!'' Is this aggressive or assertive? Why?" (Guide students to identify it as aggressive and explain why it's demanding and not respectful.)
(Display Slide 5: 'Let's Practice! Scenario 2')
Teacher: "Here's another one: 'A friend keeps interrupting you while you're talking. Your response is: 'You always interrupt me! You're so rude! I'm not talking to you anymore!' Is this aggressive or assertive? How could you say it assertively instead?" *(Help students rewrite the aggressive statement into an assertive one, focusing on