Activity 01
The Talking Ball
Sit the class in a circle and use a soft ball as the 'talking ball'. Explain that only the person holding the ball is allowed to speak. The speaker then gently rolls or passes the ball to the next person who wants a turn.
Identify the ways we can show someone we are listening.
Facilitation TipUse a timer or a set number of passes to ensure the activity stays focused and everyone gets a chance.
What to look forTeacher observation during circle time and group work. Use an anecdotal record or a simple checklist to note pupils' ability to wait for their turn and listen to others.
RememberUnderstandSelf-AwarenessSocial AwarenessRelationship Skills
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Activity 02
Puppet Partners
In pairs, children use puppets to have a simple conversation about a given topic, like their favourite animal or what they did at the weekend. The puppets help children practise the back-and-forth rhythm of a chat in a playful, low-pressure way.
Explain why it is important to look at the person who is talking.
Facilitation TipModel a short puppet conversation first to show them how it works.
What to look forAfter a group discussion, ask children to give a 'thumbs up' if they felt they were a good listener, or a 'thumbs to the side' if they could try a bit harder next time.
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Activity 03
Listen and Build
In small groups, give each group a set of building blocks. Give a series of two or three-step verbal instructions, such as 'First, put a blue block on the table. Next, place a red block on top of it'. The group must listen carefully together to build the correct structure.
Compare listening to a story with listening to a friend.
Facilitation TipStart with simple one-step instructions and gradually increase the complexity as their listening skills develop.
What to look forDuring a 'Think-Pair-Share' activity, circulate and listen to the paired discussions to assess if children are taking turns and responding to their partner's ideas.
RememberUnderstandSelf-AwarenessSocial AwarenessRelationship Skills
Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Begin with a very concrete object like a 'talking ball' to make the abstract concept of a 'turn' visible and easy to understand. Be sure to model excellent listening yourself, making eye contact and nodding when children speak. Use plenty of specific, positive reinforcement to praise children for waiting patiently or listening well to a friend's story.
After these activities, your pupils will be better able to listen with their whole body and will understand the importance of waiting for their turn to speak in any group.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Listening just means being quiet.
Being quiet is part of it, but real listening is active! It means we use our ears to hear, our eyes to look at the person talking, and our brain to think about what they are saying so we can understand.
If my idea is the most important, I should interrupt to say it.
It's brilliant to have exciting ideas! We show kindness and respect to our friends by waiting for our turn. That way, everyone's important ideas get heard properly, including yours.
The person who talks the loudest or fastest gets to talk the most.
A good conversation is like a game of catch, not a race. We pass the turn gently from one person to the next so that everyone in the group gets to play and share their thoughts.
Methods used in this brief