Title: Reciprocal Communication

Grade Level: 6-8

Objective: Students will learn how to effectively communicate with others by practicing active listening and responding with empathy.

Materials: - Whiteboard and markers - Handout with communication prompts - Timer

Procedure:

1. Introduction (5 minutes) - Begin by asking students what they think effective communication means. - Write their responses on the whiteboard. - Explain that effective communication involves not only speaking clearly, but also listening actively and responding with empathy.

2. Active Listening (10 minutes) - Explain that active listening means paying attention to what the other person is saying and responding appropriately. - Ask students to pair up and take turns speaking for one minute about a topic of their choice while their partner listens actively. - After one minute, the listener should summarize what the speaker said and ask follow-up questions. - Switch roles and repeat the exercise.

3. Empathetic Responses (10 minutes) - Explain that empathetic responses involve acknowledging the other person’s feelings and responding in a supportive way. - Distribute the handout with communication prompts. - Ask students to pair up again and take turns sharing a personal experience while their partner responds with empathy using the prompts. - Switch roles and repeat the exercise.

4. Group Discussion (10 minutes) - Ask students to share their experiences with active listening and empathetic responses. - Discuss any challenges they faced and how they overcame them. - Emphasize the importance of practicing these skills in all areas of life.

5. Conclusion (5 minutes) - Summarize the key points of the lesson. - Encourage students to continue practicing active listening and empathetic responses in their daily interactions with others.

Assessment: - Observe students during the active listening and empathetic response exercises to ensure they are following the instructions. - Ask students to write a reflection on what they learned about effective communication and how they plan to apply it in their lives.