Developing Listening Skills in Kids: A Fun Lesson Plan for Following Directions

Boost your child's listening skills with this complete lesson plan for preschoolers! Discover fun, engaging activities like 'Simon Says,' creative building, and directed drawing designed to help children master following one- and two-step directions. This guide is perfect for parents and early childhood educators, featuring clear objectives, a materials list, and differentiation tips to improve attention and comprehension in young learners.

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Lesson Plan: Super Listener Adventure!

Materials Needed:

  • A few favorite toys (e.g., a stuffed animal, a toy car, a ball)
  • Building blocks (like LEGO Duplos or wooden blocks) in various colors
  • Paper and crayons
  • A fun hat or scarf (optional, for "Simon Says")
  • A small box or basket for cleanup

1. Learning Objectives

  • The student will demonstrate listening skills by following simple one-step verbal directions.
  • The student will begin to follow two-step verbal directions in sequence.
  • The student will engage in activities that require focused attention on a speaker.

2. Warm-Up: The "Listen Up!" Song (5 minutes)

Goal: To get energized and focus attention on listening.

Instructions:

  1. Sing a classic action song like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" or "If You're Happy and You Know It."
  2. Start by singing it at a normal speed.
  3. Repeat the song, but this time, go very fast!
  4. Sing it one last time, but go very, very slowly. This encourages the child to listen carefully to the pace of your words and match their actions.
  5. Praise their great listening: "Wow, you listened so well to how fast and slow we were singing!"

3. Main Activity 1: "Simon Says" with a Silly Twist (10 minutes)

Goal: To practice following one-step directions and discriminating between when to act and when not to.

Instructions:

  1. Explain the rules of "Simon Says": "We're going to play a game. You only do the action if I say 'Simon Says' first. Are you ready?"
  2. Put on the silly hat or scarf to become "Simon." This adds a fun, visual cue.
  3. Start with simple, one-step commands.
    • "Simon says touch your nose."
    • "Simon says hop on one foot."
    • "Jump up and down." (Try to catch them!)
    • "Simon says roar like a lion."
  4. After a few rounds, let the student be "Simon" and give you directions. This empowers them and shows they understand the concept.

4. Main Activity 2: Creative Constructor (10 minutes)

Goal: To build on listening skills by following two-step directions in a hands-on, creative way.

Instructions:

  1. Sit on the floor with the building blocks spread out between you.
  2. Start with simple, one-step directions: "Please hand me a red block." or "Find a blue block."
  3. Once they are successful, move to two-step directions. Say the full direction first, then let them complete it.
    • "First, find a green block, and then put it on top of a yellow block."
    • "Pick up a big block, and then pick up a small block."
    • "Find two blue blocks, and then connect them together."
  4. Keep the tone playful. If they miss a step, gently guide them: "That was a great first step! Do you remember what came next? We needed to put it on the yellow block."

5. Main Activity 3: Directional Drawing (5-10 minutes)

Goal: To follow multi-step instructions that result in a creative product, providing a clear visual reward for good listening.

Instructions:

  1. Get out the paper and crayons.
  2. Give a series of simple drawing instructions, waiting for the child to complete each one before giving the next.
    • "Let's use the blue crayon to draw a big circle."
    • "Now, let's use the black crayon to draw two small dots inside the circle for eyes."
    • "Next, let's use the red crayon to draw a smile under the eyes."
    • "Finally, use the yellow crayon to draw some hair on top of the circle."
  3. Celebrate the final creation! "Look at this amazing face you drew just by listening to my words! You are a fantastic listener!"

6. Wrap-Up & Assessment: The Tidy-Up Challenge (5 minutes)

Goal: To apply listening skills in a practical, helpful context and assess understanding of sequential directions.

Instructions:

  1. Bring out the small box or basket for cleanup.
  2. Turn cleanup into the final listening game. Give two-step directions for tidying the materials.
  3. "Let's get ready for our next activity. First, put all the crayons in the box, and then put the paper on the table."
  4. "Great! Now, please put the red block in the basket, and then put the blue block in the basket."
  5. Continue until all the materials from the lesson are put away. This serves as a great, informal assessment of their ability to follow two-step directions.
  6. End with specific praise: "You did an amazing job cleaning up. You listened carefully and put the crayons away first, just like I asked. You're a Super Listener!"

7. Differentiation and Inclusivity

  • For Extra Support:
    • Use Visuals: Point to the objects you are talking about (e.g., "Get the red block" while pointing to it).
    • Break It Down: For a two-step direction, give the first step, wait for completion, and then give the second step.
    • Keep it Physical: Focus more on big body movements in "Simon Says" if fine-motor tasks are frustrating.
  • For an Extra Challenge:
    • Introduce Three-Step Directions: "First, find a yellow block, then find a green block, and finally, put the green one on top of the yellow one."
    • Add "Before" and "After": "Before you pick up the red block, touch your head." or "Pick up the blue block after you clap your hands."
    • Reverse Roles: Encourage the child to give you a series of two- or three-step directions to follow.
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