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Lesson Life-Skills

LESSONS

Are we more alike?

With our range of world views, we can always find things we agree on. As we learn more about ourselves, we'll see how much we're alike, and also how our differences make us unique.

What can I do when things get tough?

We'll practice starting tricky or awkward chats and learn tactics to fix and strengthen friendships. Talking things out helps us build trust, have better conversations, and feel like we and feel like we are connected.

Expressing yourself: Learning to express yourself is important for building connections with others. We will focus on developing communication skills, initiating conversations, and finding ways to express ourselves thoughtfully even in challenging situations.

Compassion

Social Awareness

Communication

Positive Relationships

How can I read the room?

Let's learn to pick up on clues that aren't words to better understand where a conversation might be heading. We'll practice paying attention to body language and small changes in chats to get better at understanding how conversations evolve.

11-13 �year olds

Conflict Resolution

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Lesson support:

Click on the lesson plan for a detailed guide to each activity.

There are supporting notes beneath each slide

Note: Most CfL activities work best when the teacher does them with the students.

Equipment needed:

Pencil, paper, computer, projector.

Lesson Plan: How can I read the room?

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Lesson Video Guide: How can I read the room?

Lesson support

Click on the video for a short introduction on how to approach this lesson.

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The Curriculum for Life Classroom

Collaborative

Caring

Creative

Communication

Critical

The 5 C’s

The CfL Classroom

Share the 5C’s of the CfL classroom to create a respectful, safe atmosphere and to build trust with each other.
Remind learners how a classroom that explores CfL topics needs to look, feel and sound.
Together we are growing a creative, critical, caring, collaborative environment where positive, supportive communication is developed through listening, sharing and building on ideas.

Quick summary:

Creative: We are open to try new approaches and connect ideas by developing a classroom where all suggestions are welcome
Critical: By questioning and reasoning our ideas we grow our ability to think critically and look at problems in new ways.
Caring: In Listening and valuing each others ideas without judgement, we build a caring environment.
Collaborative: Working together to support goals. We can build on each others ideas to support and develop our thinking
Communication: Open sharing of ideas and thoughts. We can try different methods to support listening and allow everyone to speak.

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Check-in

Rose-Bud-Thorn

Reading Faces

Reading Body Language

Debrief

Warm-up

Main Task

Reflection

Activity guide: How can I read the room?

Let's learn to pick up on clues that aren't words to better understand where a conversation might be heading. We'll practice paying attention to body language and small changes in chats to get better at understanding how conversations evolve.

“

“Anybody can become angry, that is easy. But to be angry with the right person and the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose and in the right way…is not easy.” - Aristotle

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Check-in: Rose - Bud - Thorn?

Individually

Rose

A highlight, something really positive.

What was a highlight this week?

What are you most proud of?

Thorn

A challenge you need help with.

What was most stressful?

What caused you difficulty?

Bud

Something you are looking forward to learning

What are you looking forward to?

What do you want to learn that excites you?

Adapted from Mindful Schools

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Warm-up: How comfortable are you with feedback?

Warm-up: Reading faces

Pairs

While watching the video:

List non-verbal cues you can identify: body language, facial expressions and gestures. �
Discuss the non-verbal cues and what they suggest.�
Share what non-verbal cues can tell us about what someone else is thinking or feeling.

Adapted from CHADD

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Reading body language

Groups of 3

One student is observer, two students have a conversation:

Choose a topic for conversation�
Assign 1 observer �
2 other students have a conversation (5 mins)�
Observer watches. Noting expressions, tone of voice and body language

Observer shares back what they noticed�
Switch roles and topic until everyone has been an observer

“You seemed interested because your expression was….”

“Your body language Saïd you didn’t agree because…”

Adapted from Everyday Speech

Main Activity: Groups of 3

Encourage students to choose a topic that is engaging or emotive. For example, a favourite hobby, a news article, something on social media.
“Reading the room is a key social skill that helps individuals understand the dynamics of a situation and adjust their behavior to fit in. It involves observing the people present, their body language, the ongoing conversations, and the general atmosphere. By teaching students to read the room, we empower them to make better decisions in social situations and improve their relationships with others.” - Everyday Speech
Extension - someone from another group enters the conversation. Note the body language and tone changes.
https://everydayspeech.com/blog-posts/no-prep-social-skills-sel-activity/helping-students-read-the-room-a-social-emotional-learning-activity/
https://chadd.org/attention-article/teach-your-child-to-read-the-room/
https://everydayspeech.com/blog-posts/no-prep-social-skills-sel-activity/teaching-students-to-read-the-room-an-essential-social-skill-2/#:~:text=Reading%20the%20room%20is%20a,conversations%2C%20and%20the%20general%20atmosphere.

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Reflections: Observing our communication

In Pairs

Let’s Reflect: Draw your window

Reflections: Debrief - Reading the Room

Pairs/

Whole group

Discuss:

Are there patterns in our body language during the conversation?�
How was the body language �

During agreement?�
During disagreement?�

How might reading the room help in social situations?�
Share a time you read (or did not read) the room - How did it affect the situation?

Adapted from Everyday Speech

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Let’s Reflect: Draw your window

Check-out: What next?

Whole Class

Reflected on whether we can find patterns in body language

We identified body language

We practiced observing body language

Is there something you’ve learnt today that you will practice?

Think about where you may practice it and what it impact it may have on you and others.

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Together, we:

Discussed what, why and how we’d like to learn�
Curated resources

Created experiential learning activities

Weaved in evidence-informed approaches

Built-in opportunities for reflection and contextualisation

How was this lesson produced?

Co-creation Journey: Positive Relationships

This lesson was co-created with youth, educators and topic experts from around the world.

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