Quick Connect Lesson Plan
Quick Connect
Building Supportive Bonds
20 Minutes
Audience
9th Grade Students
Objective
Foster supportive relationships
Approach
Active Listening & Empathy
Why This Lesson Matters
This lesson helps 9th graders develop active listening and empathy—crucial skills for forming strong connections. By engaging in structured interactions, students build a sense of belonging, promoting a more inclusive and supportive classroom culture.
Materials Needed
- Post-it Notes
- Pens/Pencils
- Discussion Question Cards
- Presentation Slides
Instructional Sequence
3 min
Introduction
- Welcome students and explain the purpose: building supportive bonds through quick activities.
- Briefly define Active Listening (giving full attention) and Empathy (understanding another's feelings).
5 min
Ice-Breaker: "Guess Who?"
- Distribute post-it notes and pens.
- Students write down one interesting/surprising fact about themselves.
- Collect the notes, shuffle, and read them aloud.
- Class guesses who wrote each fact. Keep it fast-paced and fun!
8 min
Paired Connection
- Pair students up and distribute the Discussion Question Cards.
- Emphasize active listening: eye contact, nodding, and thoughtful responses.
- Rotate Pairs (4 mins): After 4 minutes, have one partner move to a new seat to interact with a different peer.
- Prompt students to use follow-up questions like "Can you tell me more about that?"
4 min
Reflective Closure
- Gather the class together. Ask 2-3 volunteers to share one thing they learned about a peer today.
- Reflect: How did it feel when someone was really listening to you?
- Challenge students to practice active listening in the hallway or lunchroom today.
Pro-Tips for Success
If time is short during "Guess Who?", only read 5-10 random facts. During discussions, circulate the room to model active listening behaviors. Ensure students move quickly during the rotation to maximize talking time.
Discussion Questions Handout
Discussion Questions
Quick Connect: Building Supportive Bonds
Paired Talk
Active Listener Checklist
Make Eye Contact
Nod and Show Interest
Ask a Follow-up Question
Question 01
What is something you are passionate about?
Listener: Ask "What do you enjoy most about that?" or "How did you get started?"
Quick Notes (One thing you learned):
Question 02
Describe a time when someone supported you. How did it make you feel?
Listener: Listen for the emotions. Reflect back what you heard: "It sounds like that meant a lot to you."
Quick Notes (How they felt):
Question 03
What is one thing you would like to achieve this year?
Listener: Show encouragement! Ask "What's the first step you'll take?"
Quick Notes (Their goal):
Name
Date
Quick Connect Slides
Tier 1 SEL
Quick Connect
Building Supportive Bonds
Today's Focus
The Goal
To build supportive relationships through active listening and empathy.
Why it Matters
Feeling connected makes school a better place for everyone to learn and grow.
Guess Who?
Ice-Breaker Challenge
5 MIN
1
Grab a post-it note and a pen.
2
Write down one interesting fact about yourself that people might not know.
3
Hand it in! We'll read them aloud and guess who is who.
Active Listening Skills
Eyes Up
Maintain friendly eye contact to show you are present.
Show Interest
Nod your head and use small prompts like "Yeah" or "Tell me more."
Ask More
Ask at least one follow-up question when your partner finishes.
Discussion Round 1
4 MIN
Question 1:
What is something you are passionate about?
Question 2:
Describe a time when someone supported you. How did it make you feel?
Switch Partners!
4 MIN
Question 3:
What is one thing you would like to achieve this year?
Bonus: What is the first step you'll take?
Reflection
"How did it feel when your partner was really listening to you?"
Today's Takeaway
Active listening builds real bonds.
Next Step
Try this in the hall today!
