Grades K-5, School Setting, Listening Lesson Plan (Bender-Fayette)

• Listen to the Chime – Ring a chime and ask students to put their thumbs up when they hear the silence at the very end of the sound.
• Belly Breathing – One student leading with Hoberman sphere and another counting off a selected number of breaths. Ask for 2-3 compliments for the leader. Have the leader compliment the counter.

• Listening Discussion – “Today, we are going to talk about what it means to be good listener. Let me show you what good listening looks like.” Ask the classroom teacher to share a story, while you model “poor” listening. Ask the students, “What are some things you could do to be a good listener? Why do people like good listeners?”
• Pair Sharing – Put the students in pairs. Ask them to listen to their partner’s story for one minute and then switch. Encourage them to use their good listening strategies (eye contact, nodding, not interrupting, etc.)
• Centering Routine – Sitting at your desk, I am going to share with you a few things you can do to help yourself listen.
  • Head on desk/table. Take three deep breaths and say, “I stop and listen.”
  • Seated Upward Mountain – “I wake up my body.”
  • Head on desk/table. “I breathe in and I breathe out.”
  • Seated Upward Mountain – “I wake up my mind.”
  • Seated Forward Fold – “I breathe in and I breathe out.” 6) Seated Upward Mountain – “I refocus.”
  • Seated Twist – Left “I breathe in and I breathe out.”
  • Seated Twist – Right “I breathe in and I breathe out.” 9) Belly Breathing – “I am centered and ready to learn.”

Calm