Introduction

As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our students not only academic skills but also social-emotional skills that help them navigate their daily lives. One such skill is whole body listening, which involves using our entire body to show that we are actively engaged and interested in what others have to say. This goes beyond simply hearing the words spoken; it involves making eye contact, facing the speaker, and displaying appropriate body language. In this blog post, we’ll explore a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help you teach whole body listening to your elementary students.

No-Prep Activity: The Listening Game

This simple, no-prep activity can be easily incorporated into your classroom routine to help students practice whole body listening. Here’s how it works:

1. Have your students gather in a circle, either seated or standing.
2. Choose one student to be the speaker and another to be the listener.
3. The speaker will share a short story or experience with the listener.
4. As the speaker talks, the listener should practice whole body listening by facing the speaker, making eye contact, and displaying appropriate body language.
5. After the speaker finishes, have the listener summarize what they heard to demonstrate their understanding.
6. Rotate roles and repeat the activity with different pairs of students.

This activity not only helps students practice their listening skills but also encourages them to be mindful of their body language when engaging with others.

Discussion Questions

1. How does it feel when someone is using whole body listening while you’re talking? How does it feel when they’re not?
2. What are some examples of body language that show you’re listening and interested in what someone is saying? What are some examples that might suggest you’re not listening?
3. Why is it important to use whole body listening when we’re interacting with others? How can it affect our relationships and communication?
4. Can you think of a time when you didn’t use whole body listening, and it led to a misunderstanding or miscommunication? What could you have done differently?
5. How can we practice whole body listening in our everyday lives, both inside and outside of the classroom?

Related Skills

Teaching whole body listening is just one aspect of fostering social-emotional learning in the classroom. There are several other related skills that students can benefit from, including:

• Active listening: This involves not only using whole body listening but also asking questions, paraphrasing, and summarizing to ensure understanding and engagement.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others is an essential component of effective communication and relationship-building.
• Nonverbal communication: Recognizing and interpreting body language, facial expressions, and other nonverbal cues can help students better understand the emotions and intentions of others.
• Conflict resolution: Practicing whole body listening is a key element in resolving conflicts, as it demonstrates respect and promotes understanding between the involved parties.

Next Steps

Now that you understand the importance of teaching whole body listening and have some tools to help you incorporate it into your classroom, why not explore more social-emotional learning resources? Sign up for free samples of skill-building activities and materials at Everyday Speech, and continue to foster a supportive, inclusive learning environment for your students.