lenny

Words: Impact vs. Intent

Lesson Plan

Words: Impact vs. Intent

Students will be able to distinguish between the intent of spoken or written words and their actual impact on others, and identify strategies for more impactful and empathetic communication.

Understanding the difference between intent and impact is crucial for effective and responsible communication. This lesson helps students develop empathy, navigate social situations, and resolve conflicts by considering how their words are received, not just how they are meant.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through guided discussion and a thought-provoking activity, students will explore real-world scenarios to grasp the nuances of verbal and written communication.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Slide Deck: Impact vs. Intent, Warm Up: What Did You Mean?, Discussion Guide: Ripple Effect, and Cool Down: One Word Wisdom

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm Up: What Did You Mean?

5 minutes

Step 2

Introduction to Impact vs. Intent

7 minutes

  • Introduce the concept of 'intent' (what you mean to say) versus 'impact' (how your words are received) using Slide 3 of the Slide Deck: Impact vs. Intent.
  • Provide clear examples where intent and impact differ (e.g., a teasing comment meant playfully but taken offensively).
  • Emphasize that while intent is important, we are responsible for the impact of our words. Use Slide 4 and Slide 5.

Step 3

Discussion & Activity: The Ripple Effect

12 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups or pairs.
  • Present scenarios from the Discussion Guide: Ripple Effect using Slide 6 of the Slide Deck: Impact vs. Intent.
  • Have groups discuss the potential intent and various possible impacts for each scenario.
  • Bring the class back together for a whole-group discussion. Guide them to share insights, focusing on how different perspectives lead to different impacts, and strategies for positive communication. Use Slide 7 and Slide 8.

Step 4

Wrap-Up and Reflection

6 minutes

  • Summarize key takeaways: intent doesn't always equal impact, and we can choose our words more carefully. Use Slide 9 of the Slide Deck: Impact vs. Intent.
  • Distribute or display the Cool Down: One Word Wisdom prompt.
  • Ask students to write down one word that captures their main learning or feeling about today's lesson, and briefly explain why. Use Slide 10.
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Words: Impact vs. Intent

Understanding the Power of Your Voice

How do your words land on others?

Welcome students and introduce the day's topic: understanding how our words affect others. Explain that today, we'll explore the difference between what we mean to say and what actually happens when we say it.

Warm Up: What Did You Mean?

Think about a time when you said something, and it was understood differently than you intended.

  • What did you mean?
  • How was it received?
  • What was the difference?

Display this slide. Give students a moment to read and reflect. Ask them to think about a specific time, without sharing details yet, when their words were misunderstood or caused an unexpected reaction. This warm-up helps activate prior knowledge and personal connections.

Intent vs. Impact

Intent: What you mean to say or do.

Impact: How your words or actions are received by others.

Introduce the core concepts. Explain 'intent' as the speaker's purpose, and 'impact' as the listener's experience. Use simple, relatable language to define each term clearly. Ask students for initial thoughts or quick definitions.

When They Don't Match Up

Sometimes, our good intentions don't lead to good outcomes.

Example: You intend to give a quick critique to help a friend's project, but the impact is that your friend feels discouraged and gives up.

Provide a concrete, anonymous example. For instance: 'You might playfully tease a friend, intending to be funny, but if they are having a bad day, the impact might be that they feel hurt or embarrassed.' Emphasize that the same words can have different impacts depending on the context and person.

Who's Responsible?

Even if your intent was pure, you are still responsible for the impact of your words.

It's like throwing a ball – you intend to throw it gently, but if it hits someone hard, it still hurts.

This is a key takeaway. Explain that while our intentions matter, we ultimately have a responsibility for the impact of our words. It's about empathy and considering the other person's perspective. Ask: 'Why is it important to think about impact, even if our intent was good?'

The Ripple Effect: Discussion

Every word creates a ripple.

Let's analyze some scenarios and see the different ways words can spread.

Introduce the discussion activity. Explain that they will be given scenarios to analyze in groups. Instruct them to think about both the possible intent and the potential varied impacts. Guide them to the Discussion Guide: Ripple Effect.

Discuss in Your Groups:

  • What do you think the speaker's intent was?
  • What could be the possible impacts on different listeners?
  • How might the situation change if the speaker considered the impact beforehand?

Display these questions as groups discuss their scenarios. Encourage them to dig deeper than just one impact, considering different individuals' reactions. Circulate and listen to group discussions, prompting deeper thought.

Class Share-Out & Reflection

Let's hear what you discovered!

  • What surprised you?
  • How can we be more mindful of impact in our daily conversations?

Facilitate a whole-class share-out. Ask groups to present one scenario and their findings. Guide the discussion toward common themes and the variety of impacts observed. Reinforce that understanding impact is a skill that can be developed.

Key Takeaways

  • Your intentions are important, but the impact of your words is what truly matters.
  • Words have power; use them wisely.
  • Empathy helps you predict and understand impact.

Summarize the main points of the lesson. Reiterate that mindful communication involves considering both intent and impact, and that choosing words carefully leads to better connections. Ask if anyone has a quick final thought.

Cool Down: One Word Wisdom

What one word captures your biggest takeaway or feeling from today's lesson?




Explain why:

Present the cool-down activity. Explain that this is a quick reflection to solidify their learning. Collect responses or have students share briefly if time allows.

lenny

Warm Up

Warm Up: What Did You Mean?

Instructions: Think about a time when you said or wrote something, and it was understood differently than you intended. It could be with a friend, family member, or even online.

  1. Briefly describe the situation:






  2. What did you intend to communicate?



  3. What was the actual impact or how was it received?



  4. How did you feel about the misunderstanding?



lenny
lenny

Discussion

Discussion Guide: The Ripple Effect

Instructions: In your groups, read each scenario. For each one, discuss the speaker's likely intent and the various possible impacts their words could have. Be ready to share your thoughts with the class.

Scenario 1: The Group Project

During a group project, Alex says to their teammate, "Your idea for the presentation is really basic. We need something more creative if we want a good grade."

  • What was Alex's likely intent?



  • What could be the possible impacts on the teammate?






  • How might this situation affect the group's dynamic?



Scenario 2: Social Media Comment

Someone posts a picture of their new haircut online. A classmate comments, "LOL, you actually went with that?"

  • What was the classmate's likely intent?



  • What could be the possible impacts on the person who posted the picture?






  • How might this comment affect their willingness to share things online in the future?



Scenario 3: Lunchroom Banter

You see a friend struggling to open a stubborn juice box. You jokingly say, "Wow, are you really that weak? Need help with a juice box?"

  • What was your likely intent?



  • What could be the possible impacts on your friend, especially if others are around?






  • How might your friend react if they were already feeling sensitive or embarrassed?



lenny
lenny

Cool Down

Cool Down: One Word Wisdom

Instructions: What one word captures your biggest takeaway or feeling from today's lesson about the impact of words?




Explain your choice: Why did you choose that word? What does it mean to you in the context of intent vs. impact?






lenny
lenny