Attentive Listening/Comfort with Others
Recommended for grades 4-8
Lead a discussion about attentive listening before beginning the activity. Help students define what “attentive listening” means and what it looks like: It is fully hearing what the other person is saying without interrupting and not thinking about your own thing or how you want to respond while being spoken to. It includes facing the person who is speaking, making eye contact, nodding or other physical responses to what is being said, etc.
Organize students into two groups; A and B. Student A silently listens to student B for one FULL minute (or shorter for younger groups). Student B finishes off the following sentence:
"If you really knew me, you would know that…”
What is being shared about themselves can range from:
1. Family information- “If you really knew me you would know that I am the youngest of 4 siblings.”
2. School information -“If you really knew me you would know that my favorite topic in school is Art.”
3. Favorite/ least favorite things- “If you really knew me you would know that I hate broccoli.”
Student B repeats this sentence over and over again completing it with a new piece of information each time. Student A has to repeat at least 3 things that student A has said. After a minute the roles are reversed and student B listens while student A shares.
Organize students into two groups; A and B. Student A silently listens to student B for one FULL minute (or shorter for younger groups). Student B finishes off the following sentence:
"If you really knew me, you would know that…”
What is being shared about themselves can range from:
1. Family information- “If you really knew me you would know that I am the youngest of 4 siblings.”
2. School information -“If you really knew me you would know that my favorite topic in school is Art.”
3. Favorite/ least favorite things- “If you really knew me you would know that I hate broccoli.”
Student B repeats this sentence over and over again completing it with a new piece of information each time. Student A has to repeat at least 3 things that student A has said. After a minute the roles are reversed and student B listens while student A shares.