Lesson 1 Grade Empathy and Communication ... - Second · PDF file© 2008 Committee for Children Page 121 Lesson 1 Grade Reflective Writing Assessment Name: Answer each

Lesson 1Empathy and Communication: Working in GroupsGrade

© 2008 Committee for Children www.secondstep.org Page 109

Lesson 1Handout 1A: My Hopes, Plans, and ChallengesGrade

Name:

Write down at least two hopes or plans and at least one challenge.

My hopes and plans:

1.

2.

My challenges:

http://www.secondstep.org


Lesson 1Mix-and-Match SituationsGrade

This person has just heard an untrue rumor that has been spread about him or her.

This person just saw a student bullying another student.

This person has just remembered that there is a test the next period, and he or she has forgottento study for it.

Another student just threatened to beat this person up after school.

This person’s mom has just lost her job.

This person has just realized that his or her clothing is torn.


Lesson 1Mix-and-Match Feelings CardsGrade

Embarrassed

Sad

Upset

Frustrated

Stressed Out

Confused

Angry

Frightened


Lesson 1Mix-and-Match PhotosGrade

A

C

B

D


Dear Family,

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to protect your middle school student from risky behaviors such as bullying, aggression, and substance abuse while improving his or her school success? Fortunately, research shows there is a way to do just that.

This week we begin the Stepping Up program. The program focuses on skills that will help your student succeed in school and in life. These skills include:

• Empathy• Communication• Perspective taking• Respectful disagreement• Assertiveness• Emotional management• Problem solving

You play a vital role in helping your student develop strong social skills. During these next few weeks, the focus of the lessons will be empathy and communication. Ask questions about the skills your student is learning, such as:

• “How do you show someone you’re actively listening to them?”• “What are some ways you can be an ally to someone?”• “Why should you try to understand other people’s perspectives?”

If you have any questions about the curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact me for more information. Thank you for supporting your student in learning the skills that lead to success in school and in life.

Sincerely,

P.S. Make sure to join www.secondstep.org with the activation key SSP6 FAMI LY12to watch videos about the Second Step program and get information about what your student is learning.

Grade


Lesson 1Homework: Inspecting Your SkillsGrade

Name:

You are a communication skills inspector. Just as a building inspector makes sure a building is in good working order, you will make sure your communication skills with another person are in good working order.

Today you’re going to inspect yourcommunication skills with an adultfamily member. Think of an activity or chore you can do together where you will need to use communication skills. Take a look at the list of communication skills “inspection items” here before you start. Then get going! When you’ve completed the activity, go through the checklist and mark all the skills that were in good working order.

Can’t think of an activity?Here are a few ideas: chores, homework, grocery shopping—just about anything you can do where you work cooperatively with another person!

The chore or activity I will be doing with an adult family member is

.

Communication Skills Inspection List

Active Listening Respecting

Look at the person. Give compliments.

Don’t interrupt. Listen to the adult’s ideas.

Show interest. Be polite.

Don’t be judgmental.

EmpathyDuring the activity, the adult was feeling .

My clues were , ,

and .

How would you rate your overall communication skills?

Great! Need some work

Okay

Now show this to the adult, and see if he or she agrees!

This homework assignment was completed on . (date)

[adult] signature



Lesson 1Reflective Writing AssessmentGrade

Name:

Answer each question to explain what you learned. Then write a reflection to show how what you learned connects to your life.

What I Learned

When working with other people, it’s important to

to each other and each other’s ideas.

Name two things you try to do when you use empathy skills:

1.

2.

Connecting to My Life

Name a situation in which you will be interacting with others. Describe how listening and respecting others’ ideas will be helpful in that situation.



Lesson 1Additional Practice: Sculpture ChallengeGrade

The Challenge

Build the tallest free-standing three-dimensional sculpture.

Materials for Each Group1 pair of scissors1 piece of paper6 inches of tapePaperclips

Instructions for Students1. Work in groups of four. Students in each group number off one through four. 2. Only one person can touch each material. Ones—Only touch scissors Twos—Only touch paper Threes—Only touch tape Fours—Only touch paperclips3. Build the tallest free-standing three-dimensional sculpture you can using just the above materials. 4. You must use all the materials.5. You have minutes to complete this challenge.6. Additional challenge: If anyone touches someone else’s material, you must start your sculpture over

with a new piece of paper.

Group Exchange Post-Activity Questions

What communication skills contributed to your group’s success?

What behaviors stood in the way of successful collaboration?


Grade


Lesson 1Academic Integration Activities

Language Arts and Social StudiesWhat are they feeling?

Have students work in groups to choose three photos of faces that show a range of expressions. They can use personal photos of faces or ones that they have found in newspapers, magazines, or other media. Have each group write a detailed description of each face and identify what the person might be feeling. Make sure your students include the elements of the expressions and clues that helped them identify what the people in the photos might be feeling.

Health and ScienceHow do animals communicate?

All animals—from amoebas to humans—communicate with each other. Preselect appropriate animal-science Web sites or search engines for your students (your school librarian can help). Then have students work in groups to research the ways different animals such as bees, birds, cats, dogs, chimpanzees, or whales communicate. For example, honey bees perform a “waggle dance” when they return to their hive to alert other bees of their arrival, and chimpanzees greet each other by touching hands. Have students investigate the different ways animals communicate. How are they similar and different from the ways humans communicate? Students can work in groups and report what they found back to the class.

Media LiteracyAre the characters actively listening to each other?

Record a clip from an age-appropriate TV sitcom. Before playing the clip, identify the main characters for your class. Divide the class into groups. Turn off the sound, then play the clip. Ask the groups: Are the characters actively listening to each other? Remind students that active listeners look at the person who is talking, don’t interrupt, and show interest. Have each group take notes on how well the characters in the clip are actively listening to each other based on what they see rather than what they hear.

Documents

Lesson 1 Grade Empathy and Communication ... - Second · PDF file© 2008 Committee for Children Page 121 Lesson 1 Grade Reflective Writing Assessment Name: Answer each