Listening Ears — Active Listening Activity Kit (K–1)
Most classroom listening is quiet waiting for a turn to talk.
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About this resource
Most classroom listening is quiet waiting for a turn to talk. Listening Ears is an active listening SEL activity kit for kindergarten and Grades K–1 that makes listening something children do on purpose, starting with paper headbands they make and wear. Along with a conversation-skills practice, it supports Relationship Skills in early elementary.
What students practice
- Looking at the speaker
- Waiting for their turn
- Asking a question about what a partner said
- Noticing how it feels to be listened to
What’s inside
- A teacher script with timed steps, plus a flexible outline for teachers who prefer their own words
- A Listening Ears Headband Template: strips and ear shapes to cut out and decorate
- Role-Play Conversation Starters: six prompt cards, each with five follow-up questions
- A Listening Skills Checklist with four habits to check, plus “how did I do today” and “what can I improve”
- An Active Listening Reflection Worksheet (five questions, two versions) and a Listening Games Instruction Sheet with eight circle games; 40 pages in all
A look inside
- Teacher script prompt: “What’s your favorite book?”
- Active Listening Reflection Worksheet: “How did it feel when your partner listened to you?”
- Listening games: Simon Says, Telephone Game, Clap and Repeat and Sound Detective
How to use this listening ears active listening kit
- Ask whether anyone has talked to someone who wasn’t really listening, and how it felt
- Children make and decorate headbands from a paper strip and two cut-out ears
- With ears on, partners answer a starter like “Tell me about your favorite animal,” then switch and answer questions about what their friend shared
- Coach eye contact and turn-taking, then close with how it felt to be the listener
- Return to the games as quick warm-ups through the year
Grade fit
Cutting and decorating a headband, short starters and circle games suit kindergarten and first grade. These communication skills activities fit in morning meeting, and the games turn the lesson into SEL activities you can repeat all year.
Pairs well with
Older students can move on to Active Listening and Clear Expression, or pair this with Express Yourself.
Questions teachers ask
How long does the main lesson take?
The script runs about 30 minutes.
Are there activities beyond the main lesson?
Yes. The Listening Games Instruction Sheet has eight circle games, including Story Chain, Freeze Dance and Musical Chairs.
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