Lesson Plan: Listening and Talking - Making Relevant Contributions and Encouraging Others’ Points of View

Grade Level: Fourth Level (Scottish Curriculum)

Desired Outcome: When I engage with others, I can make a relevant contribution, ensure that everyone has an opportunity to contribute, and encourage them to take account of others’ points of view or alternative solutions. Students will understand situations and think critically when problems arise.

Time: 60 minutes

Resources: - Whiteboard or flipchart - Markers - Handout with a short dialogue or scenario (e.g., a conversation between two friends discussing a problem) - Sticky notes or index cards - Timer or stopwatch

Introduction (10 minutes): 1. Begin the lesson by asking students to think about a time when they had to solve a problem or make a decision with others. 2. Discuss their experiences briefly, highlighting the importance of listening, talking, and considering different perspectives in such situations. 3. Explain that today’s lesson will focus on developing their skills in making relevant contributions, ensuring everyone has a chance to contribute, and encouraging others to consider alternative viewpoints.

Activity 1: Understanding Different Perspectives (15 minutes): 1. Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students. 2. Distribute the handout with a short dialogue or scenario to each group. 3. Instruct the groups to read the dialogue or scenario and discuss the problem presented. 4. Encourage students to think critically about the situation and consider different perspectives. 5. After 5 minutes, ask each group to share their understanding of the problem and the different viewpoints they discussed.

Activity 2: Making Relevant Contributions (20 minutes): 1. Explain that effective communication involves making relevant contributions to the discussion. 2. Write the following sentence starters on the whiteboard or flipchart: - “In my opinion…” - “I think…” - “From my perspective…” - “One possible solution could be…” 3. Model how to use these sentence starters to make relevant contributions by discussing the scenario from Activity 1. 4. Divide the class into pairs and provide each pair with sticky notes or index cards. 5. Instruct the pairs to take turns sharing their thoughts on the scenario using the sentence starters provided. 6. Encourage students to listen actively and respond to each other’s contributions. 7. After 10 minutes, ask a few pairs to share their ideas with the whole class.

Activity 3: Ensuring Equal Opportunities to Contribute (10 minutes): 1. Explain that it is important to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to contribute to the discussion. 2. Divide the class into new pairs. 3. Assign one student in each pair as the “speaker” and the other as the “listener.” 4. Set a timer for 2 minutes and instruct the “speaker” to share their thoughts on a given topic while the “listener” actively listens without interrupting. 5. After 2 minutes, switch roles and repeat the activity. 6. Emphasize the importance of active listening and giving each other equal opportunities to contribute.

Conclusion (5 minutes): 1. Recap the main points discussed during the lesson, emphasizing the importance of making relevant contributions, considering different perspectives, and ensuring equal opportunities to contribute. 2. Encourage students to apply these skills in their future conversations and problem-solving situations. 3. Provide feedback and praise for their active participation and critical thinking skills.

Note: This lesson plan can be adapted and modified to suit the specific needs and abilities of your students.