Communication is something that affects every part of our life. Whether it is a discussion with a classmate or presenting in a class.
How students express and present themselves really matters. This blog is all about students’ communication skills.
Today we are diving into a bunch of interactive communication activities to help students in building confidence, improve listening skills and learn how to share ideas clearly.
Contents
- What are Communication Skills?
- Must-Try: 15 Interactive Communication Activities for Students
- 1. Two Truths and a Lie
- 2. Story Circle
- 3. Charades with a Twist
- 4. Blindfold Instructions
- 5. Debate Time
- 6. Picture Storytelling
- 7. Telephone Game
- 8. Interview Role Play
- 9. Empathy Mapping
- 10. Pass the Clap
- 11. Persuasion Challenge
- 12. Describe and Draw
- 13. One-Word Story
- 14. Group Decision Making
- 15. Non-Verbal Freeze Frame
- Conclusion: Encourage Students to do Communication Activities
What are Communication Skills?
Before getting into detail let’s take a look at what are communication skills?
Communication skills is a technique in which students share and receive day-to-day information accurately without any obstacles.
It is basically both verbal and non verbal communication in which students can exchange their ideas, express feelings and engage in a conversation.
Must-Try: 15 Interactive Communication Activities for Students
While the following activities are helpful for students to understand the importance of communication skills.
The following 15 interactive communication exercises aims to provide better environment:
1. Two Truths and a Lie
Two Truths and a Lie is a popular communication activity where one person shares three statements in which two are truth and one lie.
The aim of this exercise is to find the one who is telling lies. The exercise helps in students’ mental health development.
- Objectives: It builds listening and storytelling skills.
- Materials: Nil
- How to Play: one by one each student shares two truths and one lies sentences and other guesses.
- Tips: Encourage students to openly take part.
2. Story Circle
A story circle refers to a group of students who give together and narrate a story in a particular theme.
It helps us to connect in a safe place and understand each other’s company.
- Objectives: It improves communication between students and creativity.
- Materials: Nil
- How to Play: One student starts with a story and others continue to add one sentence at a time.
- Tips: Great communication activity for beginners.
3. Charades with a Twist
Charades with a twist also known as reverse charades. This activity is popular among kids and adults.
It is a variation of classic charades game in which a group of people act on one word or phrase and one individual guesses.
- Objectives: It helps in non verbal communication of students.
- Materials: Word card.
- How to Play: a student chooses a word card and acts on the one word given. Others guess the word.
- Tips: students can use different kinds of theme cards to make the activity interesting.
4. Blindfold Instructions
Blindfold instruction is one of the powerful team building communication activities. Here one person is blindfolded and others guidance through verbal communication.
- Objectives: Helps in fear verbal exercise, coordination, teamwork and builds trust among students.
- Materials: blindfold, simple obstacles or tasks.
- How to Play: A group of people give instructions to an individual who is blindfolded.
- Tips: Give a chance to each individual in the group to enhance communication skills.
5. Debate Time
Communication activity includes debate time which means discussion on a particular topic on both ends.
Here students take opposite viewpoints which leads to questioning discussion arguments and responses to each other.
- Objectives: This activity develops persuasiveness and helps in understanding what critical thinking is.
- Materials: Debate topics
- How to Play: divide the group of students or class into two parts and give topic one in favour and other in opposition.
- Tips: Choose fun and engaging topics which can be discussed longer.
To improve critical thinking skills read blogs on critical thinking activities for kids.
6. Picture Storytelling
Pictures storytelling is a communication activity, students use images to convey narratives which helps in better coordination.
This activity enhances language skills, promotes creative thinking skills, and fosters collaborative storytelling.
- Objectives: Encourage interpretation and storytelling.
- Materials: Random picture or images.
- How to Play: students let an image and create a story around it.
- Tips: can we play in pairs or groups.
Ensure your kid has active communication skills. Understand the benefits of learning second language from a young age.
7. Telephone Game
Telephone game or Chinese Whisper refers to a message slowly whispered from one person to another in a row.
- Objectives: the game show keys how listening in communication is important and
- Materials: none
- How to Play: Each student whispers the message to the next person and the last one speaks it loudly to match.
- Tips: Discuss why and how the message changed.
8. Interview Role Play
In interview roleplay students practice in a hypothetical scenario where students take each other’s interview to prepare for a real one.
- Objectives: Conversation and practice questions.
- Materials: interview questions.
- How to Play: One student plays as an interviewer and the other gives an interview.
- Tips: Dress up properly to make the conversation real.
9. Empathy Mapping
Empathy mapping refers to a visual tool that helps teachers to students behavior, prospective and needs.
These communication activities help students and teachers to coordinate and create a supportive environment.
- Objectives: Enhance emotional intelligence in students.
- Materials: Empathy map templates
- How to Play: Students map what a character sees, thinks, feels, and does.
- Tips: Connect with literature and real life scenarios.
Are you looking for empathy building strategies for students? Read how to develop empathy in children.
10. Pass the Clap
Pass the clap is a teamwork and communication activity popular for passing a clap repeatedly with the neighbour and maintaining rhythm via circle.
- Objectives: It promotes attention and synchronisation between students in a circle.
- Materials: none
- How to Play: While standing in a circle, students pass claps in a rhythm and make eye contact to communicate.
- Tips: Start slow and continue speed up to make it fun and challenging.
11. Persuasion Challenge
In the persuasion challenge, students practice persuading others to agree with their viewpoint or take a specific action.
This involves role play, debate, presentation and many more.
- Objectives: it aims to develop communication skills such as better listening, clear thinking, logical arguments and appeal to emotion.
- Materials: common objects
- How to Play: Students tell to “sell” common useful objects to the group.
- Tips: encourage humor and created
12. Describe and Draw
Describe and draw is a company creation activity popular in students where one individual describes an image at the same time others identify by drawing.
It is a fun game played in pairs or in a group to enhance communication skills in students.
- Objectives: kit and hands description and active listening ability.
- Materials: image card
- How to Play: one student describes an image and another one describes by drawing the same.
- Tips: compare the deserves and play as a challenge.
Read on to know more about, Creative Drawing Ideas for Kids to Boost Imagination.
13. One-Word Story
One-Word Story is an interesting activity in which each student adds a word to create a story or sentence.
It is simply yet challenging for students.
- Objectives: promote collaboration and quick thinking skills
- Materials: none
- How to Play: students sit in a circle and add each word one by one to create a story.
- Tips: To make it challenging students can speed up the activity.
14. Group Decision Making
Group decision making activity helps students to make the right decision by making groups and discussing solutions to overcome any problem.
Students can do this by debate, discussion and argument which improve listening and empathy.
- Objectives: Negotiation and communication ability improvement.
- Materials: difficult scenario
- How to Play: present challenge where students come up with solutions and agree together.
- Tips: create pressure to make the right decision.
15. Non-Verbal Freeze Frame
Non-verbal freeze frame is a communication activity in which students express ideas, emotions, or situations. It is ensured with the help of facial expression and body language.
- Objectives: Understanding of non verbal communication.
- Materials: Scenario cards
- How to Play: Students create a silent scene; others guess what’s happening.
- Tips: Discuss non-verbal cues afterward.
Conclusion: Encourage Students to do Communication Activities
Communication activity is a crucial tool for students. Using these activities in daily life helps them to express their feelings better and prepare for the future.
Try out the given list of 15 communication activities for students and watch your classroom vibe transformation.
Which one is your favourite communication activity for students? Do share your thoughts!