1. Westport Middle School Advisory Lessons
Communication
Westport Middle School
Advisory Lessons

2. Icebreaker- Giants, Wizards, Elves
The group agrees on a pose for a Giant, Wizard, and Elf.
Two teams are formed.
Each team huddles and decides which creature it will be in the first round.
Teams meet across the centerline, count to three, and make the chosen pose.
Wizards fool Giants, Giants beat Elves, and Elves trick Wizards (functions like rock, paper, scissors).
Do five rounds and see who wins.

3. Learning Target and Agenda
Learning Target: I can understand how to be an effective communicator.
Agenda:
Discuss: Why is it important to be a good communicator? What is an effective communicator?
Activity- Character Dilemmas- Create a comic strip for a situation in which you need to use effective communication.
Exit Slip- Think of a time when you could have communicated better.

4. Do you believe this old childhood saying?
“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
Why or why not?

5. Why is it important to be a good communicator?
Discuss
Why is it important to be a good communicator?
Words are powerful.
What you say may “come back to you.”
What do you think that means?
Can you think of an example from your life?

6. What is an effective communicator?
Discuss
What is an effective communicator?
Someone who speaks clearly.
Someone who really listens.
Someone who maintains eye contact.

7. Ways to Be a Good Communicator
Really listen.
Maintain eye contact.
Make sure you understand what the other person is saying.
Pay attention to body language.
Give examples to support what you are saying.
Take turns speaking.

8. Activity: Communication Comic Strip
Character Dilemmas- Create a comic strip for a situation in which you need to use effective communication.
Show that good communication involves:
Listening,
Maintaining eye contact,
Making sure you understand what the other person is saying. “Do you mean…?” “Are you saying…?”, and
Taking turns speaking.

9. Exit Slip Think of a time when you could have communicated better.
What happened?
What went wrong?
What could have happened if you have communicated effectively?

10. Icebreaker- Gone Missing
Two students are sent out of the room.
A third student hides out of sight in the classroom.
When the two sent out return, they have three guesses to name the missing player.
They may work together or compete against each other.

11. Learning Target and Agenda
Learning Target: I can learn public speaking strategies.
Agenda
Discuss: Have you ever had to make a speech or speak to a group of people?
Video and Questions
Activity- Prepare three-minute speech
Exit Slip- List three important things when it comes to public speaking.

12. Discuss
Have you ever had to make a speech or speak to a group of people?
Were you nervous?
Do you enjoy speaking in front of people?

13. Video: Public Speaking
Fill in the blanks and answer the questions as you listen.
Public Speaking

14. Activity
Prepare a three-minute speech on a topic of your choice.
Create a bubble map and an outline.
Practice with a partner.

15. Exit Slip
List three important things when it comes to public speaking.

16. Icebreaker- Green Door
Leader chooses a topic/category but only reveals an example of the topic/category by saying, “You can bring a topic example through the green door.”
Students deduce the topic by guessing what other things—objects, numbers, or ideas—they can bring through the green door.
“Can I bring a ________ through the green door?”
Leader replies yes or no.
Example:
Leader says, “You can bring a pencil through the green door.”
The topic could be school supplies.

17. Learning Target and Agenda
Learning Target: I can learn about different alphabets that people use to communicate.
Agenda:
Discuss- What do you know about Morse Code, The Braille Alphabet, and the Manuel Alphabet?
Activity- With a partner, choose one of the alphabets and create a mini-poster with your names and favorite activities using that alphabet.
Exit Slip- Which alphabet did you choose? What characteristics did it have?

18. Discuss
What do you know about Morse Code, The Braille Alphabet, and the Manual Alphabet?

19. Guided Notes
Fill in the blanks on your guided notes as we learn about three alphabets.

20. Morse Code
Morse code is a method of transmitting text information as a series of tones, lights, or clicks.
It is named for Samuel F. B. Morse.
Morse code was used for communication during World War II.
Today, Morse code remains popular with amateur radio operators around the world.

21. The Braille Alphabet
Braille is a form of written language for blind people, in which characters are represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with the fingertips.
Louis Braille was a blind man who developed and refined the system of raised dots that has come to be known by his name, Braille.

22. The Manual Alphabet
The history of sign language in Western societies starts in the 17th century.
Sign language is composed of a system of gestures and hand signs, plus the use of hand positions to represent the letters of the alphabet.

23. Activity
With a partner, choose one of the alphabets and create a mini-poster with your name and your favorite activity.
If you choose the Manual Alphabet, you can practice spelling your name and your favorite activity.
If there is time, you will present your mini-poster to the class.

24. Exit Slip
Which alphabet did you choose?
What characteristics did it have? Describe it.

25. Icebreaker- Guess the Number
Leader writes a number on a piece of paper.
He hides the number and tells students a range of numbers to guess between.
Students take turns around the circle asking yes-or-no questions to determine the number.
Questions can include,
“Is it odd or even?”
“Is it a two-digit number?”
“Is it larger than ___?”

26. Learning Target and Agenda
Learning Target: I can learn about different languages.
Agenda:
Discuss- How many languages are spoken in the United States? In the world? What percentage of the world’s population speaks each language?
Activity- Create a pie chart showing the percentages of the world’s population that speak each language.
Exit Slip- What language is spoken by the largest percentage of people?

27. Discuss
How many languages do you think are spoken in the United States? Top Ten Languages in the US
In the world? Top Ten Languages in the World

28. Activity Look at the bar graph of the world’s top ten languages.
On a separate piece of paper, create a pie chart.
In each “piece” of the pie, put the language and number of people who speak the language.
On the back of the bar graph, there is a guide to help you draw your pieces.

29. Exit Slip
What language is spoken by the largest percentage of people?