COMMUNICATING FEELINGS
GRADE 11 LESSON 13
Time Required: 30-45 minutes
Content Standards: (AA.S.9) Students will
understand safety and survival skills and apply
coping strategies.
Indicators (Students will…): AA.PSD.11.9.02
Identify appropriate ways to communicate their
personal feelings.
GOAL: Students will understand the importance of communication.
Activity Statements:
Students will brainstorm solutions for handling situations in which people have difficulty
communicating their feelings.
Materials:
1.
2.
3.
3.
Handout 1, Communication is the Key
Handout 2, Using “I” Messages
Paper
Pencil/pen
Procedures:
1. Copy and distribute the handout to the students.
2. Go over the first half of handout and ask students to work independently for a few minutes
and write down their experiences.
3. Encourage students to think not only of their own experiences, but of others as well.
4. Ask students to share their experiences in a full group discussion.
5. Encourage students to work together to list possible solutions.
6. Ask students to review the handout “Using “I” Messages”
7. Allow class members to work together to make “I” Messages about upsetting situations.
COMMUNICATING FEELINGS
GRADE 11 LESSON 13
Discussion:
1. Do you feel better when you are able to communicate how you feel to the people you care
about?
2. Why is communication with your teachers and the administrators at school important?
3. Why is it important to be able to communicate with your parents?
4. If you have difficulty communicating with your parents, who else could you turn to?
5. What are some other ways poor communication skills might impact your future?
 School
 Home
 Work
 Community activities
Integrative Closing Statement:
Being able to communicate how we feel is the key to our relationships. We must work to
communicate our feelings to each other with the hope of arriving at a better understanding of
each other.
Additional Resources:
Larry Alan Nadig, Ph.D. How to Express Difficult Feelings
http://www.drnadig.com/feelings.htm
Feelings Matching Game
http://eslbears.homestead.com/files/feelings1.htm
Extension Activities:
Set a personal goal regarding how you will improve your communication skills to have more
success in school, home, the community and the work place.
Activity:
Have students read Dealing with Difficult Co-Workers and discuss how good communication
skills are necessary in their work life.
a. To “try out” real-life decision making in jobs (and to show the importance of good
decision making), have the students go to the Explore Careers section in CFWV.com.
b. Then ask them to select a career cluster that appeals to them.
c. From the list of careers in that cluster, choose one that has “Insider Info Only”
d. From the tabs on the left side of the page, choose “Real Life Activity”
COMMUNICATING FEELINGS
GRADE 11 LESSON 13
Have the student try out the “Real-Life Decision Making” question for that career
STUDENTS: Enter/revise Grade 12 courses in the Education Plan in preparation for ISTP meeting.
(Schedule accordingly) (See Portfolio Activity #5 – High School Education Plan.
Verify course selections in conjunction with college admissions requirements.
Resource:
Chicago Public Schools (9-12) 30 Advisor/Advisee Lessons
http://intranet.cps.k12.il.us/Lessons/Advisory/
Grade 11 Lesson 28