Overview
In this module, students begin developing key relationship skills that support collaboration, empathy, and positive communication. Through music, poetry, drama, and visual art, students learn how to listen actively, work as a team, celebrate their communities, and navigate relationships with care and respect. Lessons encourage students to recognize the value of empathy, explore what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves, and consider how everyday choices, (like how we speak, share, and show up for one another) shape healthy relationships.
Lesson Plans
Lesson 1:
Learn to Listen: Developing Active Listening Skills
In this lesson, students will explore active listening and develop essential communication skills. They will recognize the importance of listening and identify the consequences of poor listening. Students will define active listening and examine internal and external barriers. Students will then learn specific active listening techniques and practice these strategies through a theater activity. Finally, students will create visual artwork by actively listening to a partner’s story.
Lesson 2:
Come Together: Learning About Teamwork with The Beatles
In this lesson, students will explore teamwork through the history and music of the Beatles. They will define teamwork, identify essential collaboration skills, and recognize components of strong team relationships including trust, respect, and cooperation. Through video clips and discussions, students will examine the role of leadership in a team and explore methods for group decision-making and conflict resolution. Students will participate in two theater games that require collaboration and problem-solving. Finally, students will create a team name and poster for the class, practicing the communication and teamwork skills explored throughout the week.
Lesson 3:
Here for You: Empathy and Understanding
Students will build an understanding of what empathy is and discuss some ways empathy presents in human interactions. They will identify strategies for building empathy and recognize opportunities for broadening their circles of concern. Furthermore, students will be able to analyze barriers to empathy and illustrate ways to overcome those barriers. They will also practice strategies for putting empathy into action. Finally, students will write a dramatic monologue in which one character demonstrates empathy for another.
Lesson 4:
Take It Easy: Getting Along with Others
In this lesson, students will recognize the advantages of and potential challenges to getting along with others. They will explore ways to show appreciation and respect to each other, such as using kind words and recognizing people’s needs. Students will consider how sharing and taking turns factor into getting along with others. Finally, students will write a chorus to a song about getting along with others.
Lesson 5:
Good Company: Building & Celebrating Community Through the Arts
In this lesson, students will explore how place-based communities create belonging and examine their own role in building community. Students will identify the difference between chosen and assigned communities, recognizing that they can create meaning and connection even in communities they didn’t choose. Through a case study of Chicago’s artistic community, students will analyze how musicians and spoken word poets express appreciation for the people and places that shaped them. Students will learn about the history of slam poetry and examine specific techniques spoken word artists use to communicate emotion and meaning. Working collaboratively, students will then create and perform their own spoken word poems reflecting on their school community.