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Unit Sustaining Community
Lesson Name What Is Your Communication Style? (Elementary and Middle School)
Grade Band

Elementary (3-5)

Middle School (6-8)
Required Materials

  • Paper

  • Crayons/Markers

  • Large sheets of paper or poster board

  • Sticky notes

  • Pencils

  • Jamboard (electronic option)
Standards / Competencies

SEL Core Competencies: 

  • Self-Awareness: identifying emotions, experiencing self-efficacy, linking feelings, values and thoughts, demonstrating honesty and integrity 

  • Self-Management: managing one’s emotions, exhibiting self-discipline 

  • Social Awareness: taking others’ perspectives, recognizing strengths in others, demonstrating empathy and compassion, identifying diverse social norms, showing concern for the feelings of others 

  • Relationship Skills: communicating effectively, developing positive relationships, showing leadership in groups, resolving conflicts constructively, seeking or offering support when needed 

ELA Standards: Listening and Speaking, Writing 

Social Studies Theme: Individual Development and Identity 
Recommended Time 60 mins 
Essential Question What is your communication style?
Learning Objectives

Students will identify different communication styles (provide guided questions or an example for students who might not understand what this means).

Students will recognize their own communication style by identifying the way in which they prefer to communicate or be spoken to.

Students will understand the importance of effective communication in conflict resolution.
Activating Prior Knowledge Start with a brief discussion on what conflict (link attached if the teacher notices students are having a difficult time with understanding real world conflicts, students enjoy BrainPop) is and why it’s important to resolve conflicts peacefully. Emphasize the role of communication in resolving conflicts.
Core Instruction

Introduce the concept of communication styles (e.g., passive, aggressive, assertive). Explain each communication style using age-appropriate language and examples. For instance:

  • Passive: Not expressing thoughts or feelings, allowing others to make decisions.

  • Aggressive: Expressing thoughts or feelings forcefully, often without considering others’ feelings.

  • Assertive: Expressing thoughts and feelings clearly and respectfully, while considering others’ perspectives.

Engage students in activities to explore each communication style:

  • Passive: Have students draw a situation where someone is being passive (e.g., not speaking up when they’re being treated unfairly).

  • Aggressive: Similarly, have students draw a situation where someone is being aggressive (e.g., yelling or pushing someone).

  • Assertive: Have students draw a situation where someone is being assertive (e.g., calmly stating their needs and feelings).

Discuss each scenario as a class, highlighting the consequences of each communication style.
Wrap-up Ask, What are some things you can do to help you adopt a more “assertive” conflict style?
Learning Beyond Classroom Walls

Have students reflect on their own communication style. Distribute sticky notes and ask them to write down one way they can improve their communication style in conflicts.

Encourage students to share their thoughts and strategies with the class.

Discuss the importance of practicing assertive communication in resolving conflicts peacefully.
Supplementary Resources
Instructional Content Adaptations 

  • ​​Use visual aids and simple language to ensure understanding.

  • Provide examples that are relatable to the students’ experiences (teachers will create scenes catered to conflicts that are occurring in their students’ schools, classrooms or communities or real world)

Lesson prepared by Angelica Restrepo