Communication Charades

Instructions:

1. Students will be divided into small groups (3-4 students).
2. Each group will receive a card with a common emotion or a simple action/idea (e.g., 'feeling confused,' 'asking for help,' 'explaining a complex idea without words').
3. One student from each group will silently act out the emotion or idea using only non-verbal communication.
4. Their group members will try to guess what they are communicating.
5. After a minute or two, we'll discuss as a class: What made it easy or hard to understand? What non-verbal cues did you notice?

Reflection Questions:

• What did you learn about communicating without words?
• How important are facial expressions and body language?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Communication Reflection: What Did You Learn?

Instructions: As a class, let's discuss the following questions. Remember to practice active listening and clear verbal communication during our discussion.

1. What was one new thing you learned about communication today, or something you realized you hadn't thought about before?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Can you think of a situation in your daily life (at school, home, or with friends) where better communication could have changed the outcome?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Why is active listening so challenging sometimes, and what strategies can you use to improve your own active listening skills?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. How does good written communication (like in emails or essays) prevent misunderstandings, and what's one tip you'll use to improve your writing clarity?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. How do non-verbal cues (like body language or facial expressions) impact how your message is received, even if your words are clear?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. What's one communication skill you commit to practicing more intentionally this week?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Group Communication Challenge: The Desert Island Dilemma

Scenario: You and your group are stranded on a desert island after a shipwreck. You managed to salvage 5 items from the wreckage. However, your group members each have different ideas about which items are most important. Your task is to collectively agree on the top 5 most essential items for survival and explain why you chose them, using effective communication skills.

Available Items (Choose 5):

• A box of matches
• A fishing net
• A first-aid kit
• A gallon of fresh water
• A detailed map of the area
• A solar-powered satellite phone
• A large tarp
• A pocket knife
• A bag of trail mix
• A signal mirror

Instructions:

1. Individual Reflection (2 minutes): Silently, each person should choose their top 5 items and briefly jot down why they chose them.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Group Discussion (8 minutes): As a group, discuss your choices. During this discussion, remember to:
   • Actively listen to each other's reasoning.
   • Clearly express your own ideas and justifications.
   • Pay attention to non-verbal cues—are people engaged? Do they understand?
   • Work towards consensus on the final 5 items. It's okay to compromise!
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
3. Presentation (Optional, if time): Each group will briefly share their final list of 5 items and explain the reasoning behind their choices to the class. Be prepared to explain how your group used effective communication to reach your decision.

Communication Skills Bingo

Instructions:

1. Each student will receive a Bingo card (draw your own 5x5 grid or use a provided template).
2. Write a different communication-related term or scenario in each square of your card from the list below (or choose 25 from a larger list provided by the teacher).
3. As the teacher calls out a definition or acts out a scenario, mark off the corresponding square on your card.
4. The first student to get five in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) shouts "BINGO!" and wins.

Bingo Card Terms/Scenarios:

• Active Listening
• Eye Contact
• Body Language
• Verbal Communication
• Non-Verbal Communication
• Facial Expression
• Tone of Voice
• Clarity
• Conciseness
• Empathy
• Paraphrasing
• Asking Open-Ended Questions
• Interrupting
• Distracted Listening
• Crossed Arms
• Nodding in agreement
• Slouching Posture
• Smiling
• Frowning
• Confused Look
• Aggressive Tone
• Assertive Communication
• Passive Communication
• Feedback
• Misunderstanding

Teacher Call-Out Examples (Teacher reads these aloud, students match to their terms):

1. "Paying full attention to what someone is saying, not just hearing the words." (Answer: Active Listening)
2. "Looking at the speaker to show you are engaged." (Answer: Eye Contact)
3. "Communicating using your physical posture, gestures, and expressions." (Answer: Body Language)
4. "Speaking clearly and directly, avoiding jargon." (Answer: Clarity)
5. "Getting straight to the point without unnecessary details." (Answer: Conciseness)
6. "Repeating what someone said in your own words to check understanding." (Answer: Paraphrasing)
7. "Asking questions that require more than a 'yes' or 'no' answer." (Answer: Asking Open-Ended Questions)
8. "When you break into someone's speech before they are finished." (Answer: Interrupting)
9. "When you are thinking about something else while someone is talking." (Answer: Distracted Listening)
10. "A physical sign of disagreement or defensiveness." (Answer: Crossed Arms)
11. "A sign of understanding or encouragement." (Answer: Nodding in agreement)
12. "A relaxed and attentive physical stance." (Answer: Body Language or Engaged Posture - allow for flexibility)
13. "The way your voice sounds, which can convey emotion." (Answer: Tone of Voice)
14. "Feeling or understanding what another person is experiencing." (Answer: Empathy)
15. "Communication that is direct, respectful, and expresses your needs." (Answer: Assertive Communication)

(Continue with more call-outs until a student gets Bingo!)

Teacher Script: Speak Up, Stand Out!

1. Warm-Up: Communication Charades (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to dive into something incredibly important for all of us: communication. To kick things off, we're going to play a game called Communication Charades."

"I'm going to divide you into small groups. Each group will get a card with an emotion or a simple idea. One person will act it out silently using only non-verbal cues, and your group will guess what it is. Ready? Let's get into our groups!"

(Allow students to play for about 5-7 minutes. Circulate and observe.)

Teacher: "Alright, bring it back together! That was fun. What did you notice during that game? Was it easy or hard to understand each other without words? What kinds of actions or facial expressions really helped (or hindered) your group's understanding?"

(Facilitate a brief discussion, drawing connections to the importance of non-verbal cues.)

2. Introduction & Slide Deck Presentation (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Excellent observations! Today, we're going to explore how we communicate—not just with words, but with our actions, our expressions, our writing, and even how well we listen. Our goal is to understand how essential communication skills can help you 'Speak Up, Stand Out!' in school, with friends, and in your future careers."

"Take a look at our Essential Communication Skills Slide Deck. On this first slide, you see our lesson title. Why do you think communication is so important for you as 9th graders?"

(Allow a few student responses.)

Teacher: "Exactly! It's how we share ideas, build relationships, and get things done. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to define and identify key components of effective communication, and you'll get to practice applying these skills. Let's look at the next slide."

(Advance to Slide 2: "What's the Big Idea?")

Teacher: "So, what are these essential skills? We'll focus on four main areas: active listening, clear verbal expression, effective written communication, and understanding non-verbal cues. Let's start with arguably the most important one: listening."

3. Deep Dive: Active Listening, Verbal, Written, and Non-Verbal Skills (10 minutes)

(Advance to Slide 3: "Active Listening: More Than Just Hearing")

Teacher: "Active listening is about more than just hearing the words. It's about truly understanding the message and showing the speaker you're engaged. Can someone explain in their own words what 'paying full attention' means when someone is talking to you?"

(Allow responses. Emphasize making eye contact, nodding, and not interrupting.)

Teacher: "Why do you think it's so important to actively listen? What happens if we don't?"

(Advance to Slide 4: "Verbal Virtuosity: What You Say and How You Say It")

Teacher: "Now, let's talk about what we say. Verbal communication is about choosing your words carefully and delivering them effectively. 'Clarity' means being easy to understand. 'Conciseness' means getting to the point without rambling. And your 'tone of voice' can completely change the meaning of your words."

"Can you give me an example of how saying the exact same words, but with a different tone, could mean something totally different?"

(Allow examples, e.g., 'Okay.')

(Advance to Slide 5: "Written Wonders: Crafting Your Message")

Teacher: "Just as important as what we say, is what we write. Written communication, like emails, essays, or even text messages, needs to be clear and effective. What do you think are some key things to remember when you're writing something important? Why is proofreading so crucial?"

(Allow student responses, discussing audience, clarity, and grammar.)

(Advance to Slide 6: "Non-Verbal Cues: Actions Speak Louder Than Words")

Teacher: "This brings us back to our charades game! Your body language, facial expressions, and even eye contact send powerful messages. If someone says, 'I'm fine,' but they're slumped over with a frown, what message are they really sending?"

(Discuss the power of non-verbal congruence and incongruence.)

4. Activity: Group Communication Challenge (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Great job so far! Now, it's time to put these skills into practice with our Group Communication Challenge Activity. I'm going to give your groups a scenario: you're stranded on a desert island and need to choose 5 essential items for survival. The catch is, you each have different ideas. You'll need to use active listening, clear verbal communication, and be aware of your non-verbal cues to reach a group consensus."

"Take a few minutes to individually choose your top 5, then discuss as a group to decide on a final list. We'll quickly share your decisions with the class."

(Circulate and observe, offering gentle reminders about active listening and respectful dialogue.)

5. Game: Communication Skills Bingo (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Fantastic effort in those discussions! To wrap up our practice, let's play a quick game of Communication Skills Bingo. I'll provide you with a list of communication terms and scenarios. Create your own Bingo card by writing a different term in each square. I'll then call out definitions or act out scenarios, and you'll mark off the corresponding square. First to Bingo wins!"

(Explain rules, distribute/guide creation of cards, and begin calling out terms/scenarios.)

6. Wrap-Up and Discussion (5 minutes)

(Advance to Slide 7: "Putting It All Together!")

Teacher: "Great energy, everyone! As we finish up, let's reflect on what we've learned and how we can apply it. We have some reflection questions on our Communication Reflection Discussion Guide."

"What was one new thing you learned about communication today, or something you realized you hadn't thought about before?"

(Facilitate a brief class discussion, encouraging participation and active listening. Call on a few students for each question as time allows.)

Teacher: "Excellent insights! Remember, communication is a skill, and like any skill, it improves with practice. Keep practicing active listening, clear verbal expression, effective written communication, and being mindful of your non-verbal cues. These skills will serve you well in all areas of your life."

"Thank you for a great discussion!"