Express Yourself

Overview

Grade: 7
Subject: Languages - English
Duration: 60 minutes
Curriculum Reference: California Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy, particularly focusing on the Speaking and Listening strand.

Learning Objectives

• Enhance conversational skills by practicing asking and responding to open-ended questions.
• Develop the ability to express opinions and ideas clearly in a group setting.
• Foster collaborative learning through pair and group discussions.
• Use appropriate language, tone, and body language in conversations.

Materials

• Whiteboard and markers
• Chart paper and markers
• Worksheet with conversation prompts
• Timer
• Index cards

Lesson Outline

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Greeting and Warm-Up Activity:

   • Begin with a quick icebreaker: "Two Truths and a Lie." Each student shares two true statements and one false statement about themselves. Classmates guess which is the lie.
   • Purpose: To get students comfortable speaking in front of the class.

2. Objective Introduction:

   • Explain today's focus on developing conversational skills by expressing thoughts and opinions more effectively.

Guided Practice (15 minutes)

1. Introduction to Open-Ended Questions:

   • Discuss the difference between open-ended and closed-ended questions. Provide examples:
     • Closed: "Do you like pizza?"
     • Open: "What is your favourite type of pizza and why?"
   • Highlight how open-ended questions encourage more detailed responses.

2. Modeling and Demonstration:

   • Teacher models a brief conversation with a student volunteer, using open-ended questions to guide the dialogue.

Group Activity (20 minutes)

1. Pair Conversation Practice:

   • Distribute conversation prompt worksheets with open-ended questions covering topics relevant to students' interests (e.g., music, sports, hobbies).
   • Students form pairs and alternate asking and answering each question for five minutes.

2. Group Collaboration:

   • Form groups of four, combining pairs, to share highlights from their conversations. Encourage students to build on their peers' answers by asking follow-up open-ended questions.

3. Listening and Responding:

   • Focus on active listening skills. Provide index cards with sentence starters for responses (e.g., "I agree because...," "Can you tell me more about...?").
   • Set a timer for ten minutes of group discussion.

Conclusion (10 minutes)

1. Class Discussion and Reflection:

   • Gather students and discuss as a class what they learned about facilitating a conversation through open-ended questions.
   • Encourage students to share an interesting fact or opinion they heard from a classmate.

2. Wrap-Up and Homework:

   • Assign students to write a short paragraph summarizing a conversation they had, focusing on how they used open-ended questions and responses.
   • Collect reflections on how they felt about expressing themselves in a conversation.

Assessment

• Observe student participation during paired and group activities, noting their use of open-ended questions and responses.
• Evaluate written reflections for understanding of conversation skills and use of open-ended questions.

Note: This lesson plan is designed to align with the California Common Core State Standards, particularly in developing speaking and listening proficiency among Grade 7 students.