Scout Leadership Course Session Activity Notes

Session activity

Speaking and Listening: Instructions

Time to allocate for this activity

30 minutes

Resources required

Any identical large pieces of plastic/wood/polystyrene or some pieces from a construction kit such as lego or other easily distinguished objects (two identical sets per Patrol). A tarp, screen or divider for each Patrol. One presenter per Patrol.

Activity Notes

This short activity is designed to encourage Scouts to speak confidently and listen carefully. It requires them to give and follow clear instructions to achieve a task. The activity can be run indoors or out as your program requires.

The task (10 mins)

Each Patrol is divided into 2 teams - the speakers and the listeners. The two teams are separated by a screen or divider so they cannot see each other, but can easily hear each other.

This activity is all about careful speaking and listening. The presenter will arrange the set of objects on the speaker's side of the screen into a simple pattern. The speaker's must then decribe the pattern to the listener's on the other side of the screen. The listeners will attempt to re-create the pattern with their own pieces. The presenter will act as referee and judge.

On completion of the pattern or at the 10 minute time limit, the presenter will lead a discussion with the Patrol about their communication - how could they improve it? Encourage comments about appropriate tone, care with language, more description, setting definitions from the start (e.g. using the words "short side" rather than "top" when describing a rectangle).

Repeat the exercise with a different speaker and listener and a different pattern. Again discuss the language and communication going on. Continue to attempt the activity with variations of team size and complexity of pattern as time allows.

Conclusion (3 minutes)

Point out that there are many ways of speaking for a specific purpose. Invite comments and brain-storm a quick list of other types of speaking such as selling, conversational, informal, speechmaking, demanding, warning, convincing, arguing, presenting facts. Conclude with the statement from Karl Popper:
"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood."