Activity 01
Listen and Paraphrase Pairs
In pairs, one student speaks for one minute on a simple topic (e.g., their favourite season). The other student listens without interrupting and then paraphrases the main points back to the speaker to check for understanding.
Explain the difference between hearing and active listening.
Facilitation TipProvide sentence starters like 'What I heard you say was...' to help students begin their paraphrase.
What to look forUse an observation checklist during a class discussion or pair activity to track students' use of specific listening strategies, such as paraphrasing, asking questions, and using non-verbal cues.
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Activity 02
Story Circle with a Talking Object
The class sits in a circle and passes a 'talking object'. Only the person holding the object can speak, while all others practise active listening. This activity, inspired by some Indigenous traditions, encourages respectful turn-taking and focused attention.
Identify three strategies you can use to improve your listening comprehension during a class discussion.
Facilitation TipCo-create norms for the circle beforehand, emphasizing respect for the speaker and the importance of listening to understand.
What to look forStudents participate in a structured role-playing scenario (e.g., planning an event, solving a problem) where they are assessed with a rubric on their ability to apply active listening skills to achieve a shared goal.
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Activity 03
Barrier Game
Students work in pairs with a barrier between them. One student (the 'director') describes a simple drawing or block structure, and the other (the 'builder') must recreate it based only on the verbal instructions, asking clarifying questions as needed.
Evaluate how paraphrasing what a speaker says can improve communication and prevent misunderstandings.
Facilitation TipEncourage the director to pause and ask the builder if the instructions are clear.
What to look forStudents complete a reflection log after a group activity, identifying one thing they did well as a listener and one goal for improvement in their next conversation.
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Activity 04
Podcast Detectives
In small groups, students listen to a short, age-appropriate podcast clip. Their mission is to identify the main idea, the speaker's tone, and two interesting details, then prepare one clarifying question they would ask the speaker.
Explain the difference between hearing and active listening.
Facilitation TipChoose a high-interest podcast clip with a clear narrative or point of view to keep students engaged.
What to look forUse an observation checklist during a class discussion or pair activity to track students' use of specific listening strategies, such as paraphrasing, asking questions, and using non-verbal cues.
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Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Start by modelling the clear difference between distracted hearing and focused listening. Introduce and practise one strategy at a time, using sentence starters (e.g., 'So, you are saying that...') to scaffold paraphrasing. Use think-pair-share activities to provide low-stakes practice before moving to larger group discussions.
Students will be able to use specific strategies like paraphrasing and asking clarifying questions to better understand others and respond thoughtfully in conversations.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Listening just means being quiet while someone else is talking.
Being quiet is only the first step. Active listening is a mental process that involves focusing, understanding the message, thinking about it, and often responding to show you've understood.
Hearing and listening are the same thing.
Hearing is a physical sense, the ability for your ears to detect sound. Listening is a skill you learn; it's the ability to pay attention to and make sense of what you hear.
If I am a good listener, I have to agree with everything the speaker says.
Active listening is about understanding the speaker's perspective, not necessarily agreeing with it. You can fully understand someone's point of view while still having a different opinion.
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