Following Directions  

primary Unit

Designed for primary students (K-2)
Final Relay Challenge
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Sample Unit
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Intermediate Unit

Designed for intermediate students (3-6).
Sample Unit
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Lesson 1:

We start the lesson by taking a test. I do not give any directions or read any part of the assessment. When students finish, we debrief by reading the directions. Typically, I have very few students follow the directions and "pass" the test.

We go on to talk about the importance of following directions at school and in life. We connect this to the picture game (details in lesson plan), where students have to provide only verbal directions to one another; the pairs try to imitate a silly pose from a photo (example: picture on the left). I close the lesson by helping the students reflect on how easy or difficult the game was and why.
Test
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Lesson 2:

We open with a reflection on our last lesson, then discuss what directions we have in school. I divide students into small groups and they come up with a task that they have to complete in school, such as turning in their homework, feeding the class fish, etc. Next, the group members write up the necessary directions for that task. When all groups are finished, we review the directions one-by-one. The written instructions can remain by the classroom area as an extra reminder. If enough time remains, then students can even videotape or take pictures of their steps.

Lesson 3:

I end the unit one of two ways: "Team Challenge" or "Treasure Hunt"
Treasure Hunt
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The treasure hunt is a classroom test to see how much they remember about our lessons. I also ask teachers to include current content from their curriculum to demonstrate how what we've learned applies to more than just our classroom counseling lessons.
Challenge
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Reminder Cards
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The team challenge involves students testing their following directions skills to see how much they have learned.

LEGO

I used this lesson with 3rd graders, but it could definitely work up to 6th grade.  I began with the PowerPoint (below), which sparked discussion about the importance of following directions. Then, I told the students I was going to test their listening skills. I described how I wanted them to design the left LEGO figure and didn't repeat directions. Then, the students checked how close they were (looking at PowerPoint slide). I repeated this with a second set of direction for the right LEGO figure. Again, students checked to see how close they were. Finally, students divided into groups of two, designed their own LEGO ("My LEGO"), and had to give directions to the partner, who would put their answer on the LEGO figure below. We ended the lesson by reflecting on the quiz questions, which also served as a check-out, letting me know what they understood about following directions.
PowerPoint and Video (ZIP)
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Worksheet (PDF)
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Worksheet (WORD)
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Additional Activities

Shake things up with some of these activities.

Brain Breaks

Help primary students transition to your lesson with a video brain break. Bonus: The videos give students the opportunity to practice following directions. For more brain break options, visit my YouTube channel.

Comprehension Check

This idea from Kindergarten Rocks is a wonderful way to check your students' understanding. When you ask comprehension questions after your lesson, students take turns swatting their answers. You can hang your chart paper on the wall or lay it out on the floor. If possible, laminate the paper so it can withstand more lessons.
I would use this activity to pre-test my students and to end a unit. If you're conducting many classroom lessons in a year, you'll need to change things up a bit. This is a perfect way to do so. 

Click here to purchase colorful fly swatters for your "game."

Listening Ladybugs

At SubLime Speech, you can find these adorable ladybug playing cards.

I "Mustache" You a Question...

Another great resource from SubLime Speech.
This could be a fun way to warm-up your students' listening ears at the beginning of a lesson. Plus, mustaches are hilarious, so automatic win.

Pair this activity with an awesome mustache t-shirt from my school counseling store.

Helpful Websites

Infinite Learning Lab http://learninglab.org/life_skills/listening
Picture