Lesson Plan
Learning About Mindful Listening
Kids often need to bew taught that listening isn't just hearing someone -- it's thinking about what they have to say, too. In this lesson students will become introduced to the circle process and help put together guidelines for community building, and learn how to listen to their classmatesnot just quietly, but respectfully.
Grades:
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Learning Objectives
Students will be able to listen mindfully to their classmates. Student will be able to co-construct guidelines for when they are in circle time.
Introduction
(5 minutes)- Gather students into a circle either seated in chairs or on the floor. Share with students that they will be gathering in a circle once a week or more and that this is a time where they will build community.
- Raised attention signal: Once your students are in a circle introduce or remind students of the raised hand attention signal and explain to students that when they see you raise your hand it’s a signal to stop whatever they are doing, raise their hand in the air and quietly look and listen to you.
- Introduce the talking piece: Explain that when they gather in a circle to learn and discuss important things, they will use a talking piece (choose an object that has meaning as the talking piece). Whoever has the talking piece can speak. Remind them that they do this to make sure they don’t talk over anyone and listen to the person who is sharing. Every week each student rotates and brings in a talking piece that means something to them.