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Active Listening

Fifth graders build relationship skills by learning active listening — looking at the speaker, focusing on their words, not interrupting, and responding thoughtfully — the foundation of strong friendships and teamwork.

Grade 5CASEL: Relationship Skills35 minutes1 class periodCASEL SELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain active listening.
  • ✓Use good listening habits.
  • ✓Avoid interrupting.
  • ✓Make others feel heard.
Essential Question

Hearing someone and truly listening are different things. Active listening makes people feel understood. What does good listening look like?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The Active Listening Explorer

Project this and tap each habit. Have students learn what active listening looks like.

👂 Explore active listening — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

35 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Check-In — Hearing vs. Listening

5 min

Hearing and truly listening differ — what makes listening “active”?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Do a check-in.
  • Pose a listening moment.
  • Be caring.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Check in.
  • Reflect.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Listening Habits

9 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Active Listening Explorer.
  • Note each habit.
  • Note not interrupting.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Note them.
  • Reflect.
3

Practice — Practice

10 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pair up and listen.
  • Repeat back what you heard.
  • Ask a question.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Repeat.
  • Ask.
4

Apply — Apply

6 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Practice active listening.
  • Make a partner feel heard.
  • Explain how.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Practice.
  • Do it.
  • Explain.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a listening habit.
  • Say why it helps.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say why.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL 5 Social & Emotional Learning Competencies.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Communicate and listen effectively.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Show understanding of others.

CASEL
Social Awareness

Take others’ perspectives.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Build positive relationships.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Listening-habit cards.
  • Sentence frame: “I heard you say ___.”
  • Practice in pairs.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with “look and listen.”
  • Practice one habit.
  • Use a partner.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Practice reflective listening.
  • Explain body language.
  • Lead a discussion.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 👂Listening-habit cards
  • 💻The Active Listening Explorer
  • 🗣️Talking prompts
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

active listeninglistening with full attentioneye contactlooking at the speakerfocuspaying full attentioninterruptto cut someone offrespondto reply thoughtfullyunderstandto truly get what someone meansempathysharing another’s feelingscommunicationsharing ideas and feelings
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Name one habit of active listening.
Look at the speaker, focus on their words, don’t interrupt, ask questions, or respond thoughtfully.
QUESTION 2
Why is it important not to interrupt?
It shows you’re truly listening and lets the person finish their thought.
QUESTION 3
How can you show you understood someone?
Repeat back what you heard or ask a thoughtful question.

Reflect: truly listen.

Have students practice active listening in one conversation and repeat back what they heard. A printable listening sheet is in the SEL library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Relationship Skills: Active ListeningFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Relationship Skills: Active ListeningQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Relationship Skills: Active ListeningPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: active listening, communication, empathy, eye contact, focus, interrupt, respond, understand
  1. to truly get what someone means
  2. paying full attention
  3. sharing ideas and feelings
  4. listening with full attention
  5. to cut someone off
  6. sharing another’s feelings
  7. looking at the speaker
  8. to reply thoughtfully

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Name one habit of active listening.
  2. Why is it important not to interrupt?
  3. How can you show you understood someone?
Answer key — Part A: 1) understand · 2) focus · 3) communication · 4) active listening · 5) interrupt · 6) empathy · 7) eye contact · 8) respond
Part B: 1) Look at the speaker, focus on their words, don’t interrupt, ask questions, or respond thoughtfully. 2) It shows you’re truly listening and lets the person finish their thought. 3) Repeat back what you heard or ask a thoughtful question.