Explorers of Positive Communication

Description of the activity:

Lesson 1: "Exploring Positive Words"

Opening Activity (15 min): Divide the class into peer learning pairs. Each pair discusses the importance of positive words and how they can influence emotional well-being. Students sit together in pairs and discuss the importance of positive words in their daily lives. For example, they can reflect on situations where positive words were used and how they affected their and others' emotional states. They may share personal experiences or inspirational stories.

Peer Learning: Brainstorming Positive Words (20 min): Pairs collaborate to create a list of positive and encouraging words. Each pair shares their words with the rest of the class. Pairs begin brainstorming, jotting down on slips of paper words they consider positive and encouraging. Words like "love," "gratitude," "kindness," "courage," "hope," and others may be included. After creating a list, each pair shares their words with the class, explaining why they chose those specific words.

Cooperative Learning: Creating Posters (25 min): Pairs work together to create decorated posters with the identified positive words. They can use artistic materials and colors to make the posters more eye-catching. This promotes collaboration and a sense of group belonging. Each pair receives a large sheet of paper or a poster and begins decorating it with the positive words identified during brainstorming. They can draw, write, and add illustrations or symbols representing the meaning of each word. For instance, if they choose the word "hope," they might draw a rainbow or a flower. This process encourages collaboration and creativity among students. Ultimately, the posters can be hung in classrooms as a constant reminder of the power of positive words.

Lesson 2: "Communicating Empathy"

Warm-Up Activity (10 min): Conduct brief emotional awareness exercises to prepare students for learning. Lead an emotional awareness exercise by asking students to close their eyes and focus on their physical and emotional sensations at that moment. Then, have them reflect on a time when they felt empathy for someone or received empathy from someone else. This prepares them to approach the topic with an open and sensitive mindset.

Peer Learning: Analysis of Scenarios (25 min): Pairs read short scenarios and discuss how to communicate empathetically in those situations. They can put themselves in the shoes of the people involved and share their perspectives. Distribute printed scenarios on slips, such as "A classmate cannot complete an assignment due to family issues." Pairs read the slips together and discuss how they could communicate empathetically with the classmate in that situation. They can suggest supportive phrases and acts of kindness that could help the classmate feel understood and supported.

Cooperative Learning: Empathetic Role-Playing (25 min): Students engage in role-playing to practice empathetic and positive communication. They can take turns in different roles and provide feedback to each other to improve their empathetic skills. Organize role-plays where students portray different everyday life situations that require empathy, such as a conflict between friends or a moment of sadness.

For example, one student may pretend to be upset about something, and the other must demonstrate empathy and try to resolve the situation positively. After each role-play, students can exchange feedback on their performances, recognizing what was effective in expressing empathy and identifying areas for improvement.

Lesson 3: "Building Positive Relationships"

Warm-Up Activity (15 min): Students gather in groups and share positive personal experiences or moments when they experienced positive communication. Divide the class into groups of four or five students. Each group gathers and shares positive personal experiences related to positive communication. They can tell stories of times when they felt listened to, supported, or experienced genuine connection with others.

This exercise helps students tune into the lesson theme and creates an atmosphere of trust and sharing.

Peer Learning: Creating Positive Stories (30 min): Groups collaborate to create stories that emphasize positive communication in relationships. Each group can focus on a different aspect of positive communication, such as conflict resolution or mutual support. Each group works together to create a story highlighting the importance of positive communication in relationships.

For example, they might create a story about two friends facing conflict but overcoming their differences and strengthening their bond through open communication and active listening. Students can be encouraged to include realistic dialogue and situations reflecting their everyday life experiences.

Cooperative Learning: Story Presentation (15 min): Groups present their stories to the class, highlighting the importance of positive communication in relationships. They can also receive feedback from other groups to improve their stories and share their learning experiences. Each group presents their story to the class, using posters or digital presentations to make the narrative engaging. During presentations, students can emphasize key moments where positive communication played a crucial role in improving relationships between the story's characters.

After each presentation, other groups can ask questions and share their reactions. This encourages discussion and allows students to learn from other groups, expanding their understanding of positive communication in relationships.

This approach combines peer and cooperative learning, allowing students to learn from each other and actively collaborate to develop language and well-being skills through positive and empathetic communication.

Assessment: Assessment will be based on active participation, creativity in activities, understanding of positive and empathetic communication, and collaboration during group activities.

Final Notes:

This activity aims to integrate language with the "Well-being" competency through peer and cooperative learning, encouraging students to explore the power of positive words and practice empathetic communication to build healthier and more positive relationships.

The examples provided are suitable for middle school students, providing them with practical tools to enhance their own well-being and that of others through positive communication.