ACTIVE LISTENING EXERCISES

SEL SKILL(S): RECOMMENDED GRADES:

Communication Elementary and Middle

MATERIALS NEEDED: LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Active Listening Cards These simple active listening exercises help
students focus on what is being said and to
share their feelings about being truly heard.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Small Group Active Listening Exercises

Gather students in a common area and ask one student to come forward. Tell students that when
we listen with our ears, eyes and bodies it’s called active listening.
Ask the student to tell you what their favorite meal is. As they speak, demonstrate good active
listening behaviors including body language and acknowledgement (“Mmhmm” or nodding).
When the student stops speaking, restate what they said (“I heard you say your favorite meal
includes…”) and then ask a follow-up question (“What you would have to drink with that,” or
“What would you have for dessert?”, etc.).
Allow the student to answer your question, then restate the details (“First you told me your
favorite meal is a hamburger and fries, then you also said you like it with a lemonade and ice
cream, is that right?”).
After the student clarifies, ask the group whether they thought you were being a good listener
and how they could tell.

Next tell the group you will show what it looks like when someone is not being a good listener.
Ask the same student again to describe their favorite dinner, but this time turn away, show poor
eye contact, and interrupt the student mid-sentence.
Have the group describe the differences in your listening behavior.

Partner Active Listening Exercise

Split students into pairs and give each student an age-appropriate question card.
Remind the group how you listened when the student described their favorite meal.
Set a 2 minute timer and allow the one partner to ask the second partner the question on their
card. The first partner should practice the active listening process of listen, retell, ask, retell.
After the 2 minutes, have partners switch roles, allowing the second partner to ask and listen
as the first partner speaks.
Call on students to restate what they learned about their partner and to share what it feels like
to be truly heard.