Speaking and Listening: Following and Giving Clear Directions
Speaking and Listening: Following and Giving Clear Directions Objective: Students will develop active listening skills and practice speaking clearly by following and giving step-by-step instructions in a group activity.
Learning Objectives
- Students will listen carefully to spoken instructions without interrupting.
- Students will follow multi-step directions accurately.
- Students will practice speaking clearly and in an organized way.
Materials Needed
- Paper and pencil
- Simple object or drawing (e.g., a basic shape or a small craft item)
- Timer or clock
Key Vocabulary
- Active Listening
- Paying full attention to the speaker, understanding their message, and responding thoughtfully.
- Directions
- Instructions that tell someone how to do or make something step by step.
- Clear Communication
- Speaking in a way that is easy to understand.
Detailed Activities
Follow the Leader: Direction Game
- Explain to your child that they will practice listening carefully and giving directions.
- Show a simple drawing or object and describe how to draw or build it step-by-step, speaking clearly.
- Have your child listen and follow each step exactly as you say it without asking questions.
- Switch roles: your child gives you directions to create or draw something simple while you listen and follow.
- Discuss what made the directions easy or hard to follow and how clear communication helps.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Encourage patience and remind your child that it’s okay to ask for clarification after the activity but not during.
- Model clear speaking by using simple words and pausing between steps.
- Praise your child’s efforts to listen and speak clearly to build confidence.
Assessment Questions
- Can you tell me what active listening means?
- What should you do if you don’t understand a direction after the activity?
- Why is it important to speak clearly when giving instructions?
Extension Ideas
- Try giving directions to a family member who is not in the same room using only your voice or phone call.
- Create a short story together where one person describes the setting and the other draws it based on the description.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gently remind them to wait until the speaker finishes and explain why listening fully helps us understand better.
Encourage slow, calm speaking and practicing small parts of instructions one at a time to build confidence.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may think listening means just hearing words, not understanding them.
- Children sometimes rush speaking and skip important details.
- Some may confuse asking questions during an instruction with not listening.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use fewer steps in instructions to avoid overload.
- Repeat directions slowly and allow for short breaks.
- Use visual aids to support verbal instructions.
For Advanced Students:
- Challenge them to give directions for more complex tasks.
- Encourage using descriptive words to make instructions clearer.
- Have them evaluate and improve their own or a peer’s instructions.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 10 minutes explaining and modeling active listening and clear speaking.
- Use 25 minutes for the direction giving and following activities.
- Reserve 10 minutes for discussion, assessment questions, and review.
Standards
- 8.SL.6 — Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.
Printable Worksheet
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