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The Word Keeper
TARGET:
3-5 years
INTENSITY:
3–5 min / Regular
LEARNING GOAL
Developing My Ability to Communicate Harmoniously with Others
PEDAGOGICAL INTENTION
Really Listening Without Interrupting
Target SKILLS
Socio-emotional Intelligence
Co-Intelligence Human-Human
Well-Being
MATERIALS
Stick or feather
DETAILED PROCEDURE
This activity works best one-on-one, or with one child at a time within a small group. Establish the rule: only the holder of the object may speak.
Step 1
Explain the turn-taking rule by saying: "We wait patiently for the stick to travel to us before speaking."
Step 2
Then tell a short story while the children practice their patience.
Step 3
Celebrate children for having kept their silence tucked away in their pockets.
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
PROGRESS INDICATORS
The child respects a peer's speaking time for 1 full minute.
Research Foundations
Denham (1998)
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