Educational Objective: The student will appropriately express an opinion contrary to another.
Language Arts Standard: Listening and Speaking

Materials Needed: The Prop Box with 2 telephones Brainstorm Form Appropriate Rubric: One for each student to complete during each role play. To download the student rubric, click here

The Lesson:

• Identify Need
• Introductory Activity
• Define Steps and Sequences of Skill
1. Look at the person and address them by their name.
2. Stand about an arm's length away.
3. Look pleasant, even though this takes effort on your part.
4. Actively listen to their point of view. Demonstrate your comprehension by restating what they said.
5. Share your point of view using polite language. "I understand how you feel, but let me share how I see things."
6. Give reasons why you disagree. Use specific facts.
7. Watch how the other person responds with facial expressions and body language as you speak.
8. Let him respond verbally to what you said.
9. You may agree to disagree.
10. Thank the person with a handshake.
• Model the Skill
• Role Plays/Classroom Discussion following completion of Rubric below.
• Applications
• Independent Uses

Role Play Rubric

Student (Speaker)____________________________ Student (Subject)____________________________

Date: _____________________ Observer's Name:___________________________________________

Additional Comments or Observations:______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Other Standards Address in Lesson: Write a letter of complaint to a company.

6th Grade
Reading Standards: Disagreements in writing
1.2 Identify and interpret figurative language and words with multiple meanings.
1.5 Understand shades of meanings in related words.
2.7 Make reasonable assertions about a text through accurate, supporting citations
Writing Strategies
1.1 Choose the form of writing (e.g. personal letter, poem or narrative) that best suits the intended purpose.
1.6 Revise writing to improve the organization and consistency of ideas.
Speaking Applications:
2.4 Offer a logical sequence of information and engage the listener, foster an acceptance of an idea.

7th Grade
Reading Standards: Read and write a letter about a disagreement,
2.1 Understand and analyze the differences in structure and purpose between various categories of informational materials.
3.3 Analyze characterization as delineated through thoughts, words and speech patterns.
Writing Strategies
1.4 Demonstrate the mechanics of writing (e.g., quotation marks, commas at the end of dependent clauses) and appropriate English usage.
Speaking Applications:
1.2 Determine a speaker’s attitude toward a subject.
1.6 Use speaking techniques, including voice modulation , inflection, tempo, enunciation and eye contact for effective communication.