Introduction

In a world where communication is key, it’s essential for students to develop effective conversation skills. One aspect of successful communication is ensuring that our voice volume is appropriate for the situation. This blog post will explore a no-prep activity that educators can use to help students practice maintaining an appropriate voice volume during conversations. In addition, we’ll provide discussion questions to further explore the topic and mention related skills for students to develop.

No-Prep Activity

This activity, called “Volume Control,” helps students become more aware of their voice volume during conversations. It requires no preparation or materials, making it an ideal option for busy educators. Here’s how it works:

1. Divide the students into pairs.
2. Ask the pairs to have a conversation on a given topic, such as their favorite hobbies or vacation destinations.
3. As the students converse, the educator should walk around the room, listening to the volume of each student’s voice.
4. If the educator notices a student’s voice is too loud or too quiet, they can gently tap the student’s shoulder and provide a non-verbal cue to adjust their volume (e.g., raising or lowering their hand).
5. After the activity, have a class discussion about the importance of appropriate voice volume, and ask students to share their experiences and thoughts.

Discussion Questions

After completing the “Volume Control” activity, use these discussion questions to stimulate further conversation and reflection:

1. Why is it important to maintain an appropriate voice volume during conversations?
2. How does the environment or setting influence the appropriate voice volume? Can you provide examples?
3. What challenges did you face when trying to maintain the right volume during the activity? How did you overcome them?
4. How does being aware of our voice volume contribute to effective communication and positive relationships with others?
5. What strategies can you use to help you remember to maintain an appropriate voice volume in different situations?

Related Skills

In addition to maintaining appropriate voice volume, there are several other communication skills students should develop to enhance their social-emotional learning. These include:

• Active listening: Paying attention to the speaker, making eye contact, and providing non-verbal feedback.
• Body language: Becoming aware of our posture, facial expressions, and gestures during conversations.
• Tone of voice: Ensuring that our tone matches the message we’re trying to convey, and adjusting it based on the context of the conversation.
• Verbal communication: Choosing our words carefully, speaking clearly, and using appropriate language for the audience.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about the importance of appropriate voice volume and have a no-prep activity to practice with your students, it’s time to explore more social-emotional learning skills. To help you get started, sign up for free samples of our skill-based materials at Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with additional tools and activities to support your students’ social-emotional development.