Communication is a vital aspect of social-emotional learning, especially for kindergarten students. By teaching kids effective ways to express themselves, they can build strong relationships with their peers and navigate social situations with ease. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills that educators can use to help kindergarten students improve their communication skills.

No-Prep Activity: The Information Game

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator, making it an easy way to incorporate communication skills practice into your classroom. The Information Game helps students learn how to share information while considering the knowledge of the person they are speaking to.

1. Have students sit in a circle. Explain that they will take turns sharing a fact or story about themselves, their family, or their interests.
2. Encourage students to think about what information they need to include to make their fact or story clear to their classmates.
3. As each student shares, ask the other students if they understood the information provided. If not, discuss what details could be added to make the information clearer.
4. After each student has had a turn, have a brief discussion about the importance of providing enough information when communicating with others.

Discussion Questions

Use these discussion questions to stimulate further conversation about effective communication skills:

• Why is it important to think about what information we share with others when we communicate?
• How can providing too little or too much information affect our conversations?
• What are some ways we can make sure we are sharing enough information for others to understand us?
• Can you think of a time when you were confused because someone didn’t give you enough information? How did that make you feel?
• How can we practice being better communicators in our daily lives?

Related Skills

Effective communication is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that can help kindergarten students succeed in social situations include:

• Active listening: Encourage students to listen attentively to others and respond appropriately.
• Empathy: Teach students to put themselves in others’ shoes and understand their feelings and perspectives.
• Nonverbal communication: Help students recognize and interpret body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
• Conflict resolution: Provide tools for students to resolve disagreements and misunderstandings in a respectful and constructive manner.
• Collaboration: Foster teamwork and cooperation among students through group activities and projects.

Next Steps

Developing effective communication skills is an essential part of social-emotional learning for kindergarten students. By incorporating the no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills mentioned in this post, educators can help students become more confident and successful communicators.

To access more resources and sample materials to support social-emotional learning in your classroom, sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech.