Life Skills & Leadership: Unit 2, Session 2: Positive Communication | Page 25 of 127“I’d like you to make a plan to practice these communication skills on your own. Choose a partner and
go for a walk. When we are moving in a relaxed way, our brain works differently and we can come up
with ideas we would not have thought of otherwise. So while you are walking, talk to your partner
about some specific times or situations when you could use direct communication, indirect
communication, and I Statements. Also talk about why they might be difficult to use. Give your partner
equal time to talk and remember to use good listening skills! Please return in five minutes.Note: Consider whether this activity is appropriate in your particular setting. It may not be appropriate for younger
participants who do not have the maturity to take it seriously. It also may not be appropriate in some urban or camp
settings where safety for young people is an issue. Set some physical boundaries to insure safety.As an alternative activity, you can ask people to sit and talk quietly with their partner. Try to arrange the learning space so
each pair can have a relatively quiet and private space of their own.- Send participants out of the classroom space. When they return, ask pairs to meet up with another set
of partners to form a group of four (a group of six is fine if numbers are uneven). Say:
“In your group of four, please summarize what you and your partner talked about. Then I would like
each of you to complete Handout 5: Communication Plan. You can talk to each other to share ideas
while filling in your plan for using direct communication, indirect communication, and I Statements. You
may use both pictures and words if you wish.”- Give participants a chance to share their plans if they wish. Lead a short discussion:
What are some common themes among the plans that people have?
What new ideas did you get for your plan by listening to other people?
What might you do to remember to use I Statements or direct and indirect communication?
How do you think other people will react when you use I Statements with them?
What can you do to remember the three steps in making an I Statement?
How helpful was it to be walking around (or sitting quietly) as you talked to your partner?
What listening skills did your partner use as you walked (or sat quietly) and talked?B. Summary
Conclude the activity by saying:
“I hope you will try these communication techniques and tell everyone what happened the next time we
meet.”V. Assessment (15 minutes)
Materials:
Room Signs that say:
“All the time”
“Most of the time”
“Some of the time”
“Never”