Active Listening Games
Teachers know that communication and listening skills are key for students to gain knowledge, grow socially and build relationships. But how do you ensure that your classroom is an environment where active listening happens? Active listening games can be a great way to practice this important skill in a fun and engaging manner. Using them will help your students become better listeners while having an enjoyable time along the way.
WHAT ARE ACTIVE LISTENING GAMES?
Active listening games are games that help students sharpen their listening skills. They give kids opportunities to practice listening and responding, building on their communication proficiency. They will encourage good listening skills. Easily adapt these games for different ages and groups of learners. They’ll allow you to create the perfect exercises for your classroom.
Listen and Draw
WHY ARE ACTIVE LISTENING GAMES IMPORTANT?
Active listening games are important because they help students build their self-confidence and better understand the communication process in fun ways. By participating in these activities, students can learn how to listen attentively, think critically, and react appropriately to input from others. Furthermore, active listening games can promote collaboration between peers as well as develop social skills such as empathy, respect, and understanding.
CREATIVE ACTIVE LISTENING GAMES
Allow your students to get creative as they learn better listening skills. Drawing and storytelling active listening games are the perfect way to become active listeners in an engaging manner.
Listen and Draw Game
Give students verbal instructions as to what to draw. They listen to the instructions and draw what is being asked of them. Use this fun, free Listen and Draw Game so you don’t have to do extra preparation.
Paper Plate Drawing Game
Divide students into pairs and give each pair a paper plate. One student will describe the object they would like their partner to draw without showing them the object. The other student must create an accurate representation of what is being described. Or try this paper plate drawing game for even more fun.
Dictation Active Listening Games
Have students listen closely to someone speaking. Then they accurately transcribe what they hear.
Storytelling Active Listening Games
Students take turns telling stories in this game while the others listen carefully. The storyteller must remember all details in order to accurately pass on their tale. After they have finished, they must retell their story and the other students must listen to check for accuracy.
MUSICAL ACTIVE LISTENING GAMES
Let your students practice active listening skills while enjoying music! Musical active listening games are creative, fun, and beneficial for students.
Playlist Active Listening Game
Create a playlist with different types of music. The students must listen to the song carefully and identify elements such as type of instruments, genre, rhythm, composer, etc.
Musical Charades Active Listening Game
Divide the students into two teams and let them compete against each other. Each team must choose one player to act out a song while the other players have to guess what it is.
Freeze Dance
This fun active listening game allows students to enjoy music and practice their active listening skills at the same time. Set up a playlist with different types of songs and pause each song randomly. The students must then stop dancing when the music stops and listen for instructions about what movement to perform or task to complete.
Self Regulation Posters
Support well-being, physical development, positive behavior, and enhance social-emotional learning.
PHYSICAL ACTIVE LISTENING GAMES
These active listening games involve physical activities that help students learn better how to listen and respond quickly.
Simon Says Active Listening Game
This classic game requires players to follow the instructions given by “Simon” (the leader of the game). Players only follow the instruction if it is preceded by “Simon Says.” If Simon doesn’t say to do it, and anyone does it, those students are out. Check out this list of 100 Simon Says Ideas.
Group Maze Active Listening Game
Divide your students into groups and create a maze with obstacles. The players must then listen to the leader’s instructions to solve the maze as quickly as possible. This game is perfect for fostering collaboration among peers.
Follow the Leader Active Listening Game
One student leads the group and gives instructions. The other players must then follow these instructions carefully in order to complete the task successfully.
Red Light, Green Light
This game requires players to listen for the leader’s instructions and respond quickly. They must run when the leader says “green light”, but stop immediately when they hear “red light”.
CIRCLE TIME ACTIVE LISTENING GAMES
Circle time activities can also be used to practice active listening. These provide a great opportunity for students to practice their speaking and listening skills in an engaging way.
Storytelling Active Listening Game
Encourage students to listen carefully as a classmate tells a story in the circle. Have another student retell the story accurately. Each student takes turns telling a story, providing as many details as possible. After they have finished, they must retell their story and the other students must listen to check for accuracy.
Riddles Active Listening Game
Sitting in a circle, have the students try to guess the answers to various riddles. Each student takes turns asking a riddle, and then the other players must listen carefully in order to provide an answer.
Telephone Game
The first player in the circle whispers a message to their neighbor, who then repeats it to the next person until it reaches the last student in the circle. The last player must then say out loud what they heard.
Guess The Sound Active Listening Game
This game encourages students to identify various sounds and provide descriptions of them. One student makes a sound, and then the other players must guess what it is. Or you can play different animal sounds and have students try to guess the animal. Once they guess the animal, move like the animal too!
These active listening games help students develop their listening skills and practice responding quickly. Active listening is an important skill for students to have, as it helps them better understand what they are hearing and allows them to think more critically about the information they are receiving. With these active listening games, you can make learning more fun and engaging for your students!
MORE FUN GAMES
Quick Games to Play in the Classroom
Memory Games for the Classroom
