Social Emotional Learning
A Buzz About Communication
Objective
In this activity, students will have the opportunity to create their own bee language and try to communicate a message with their peers!
Materials
Flip Chart or whiteboard and markers
Buzzers, instruments, or noisemakers (optional)
Communication style cards (print here)
Space to spread out in pairs
Activity Duration:
30-45 minutes
Instructions
Compare: Create a Venn diagram anchor chart that has bee communication on one side, and human communication on the other. Gather your class and work as a group to fill in the chart, paying attention to things bee and human communication have in common, and how they are different.
Communicate: Instruct students that they are now going to try to communicate like bees! Decide as a class what you want to talk about. The topic should be a broad category (sports, holidays, etc.). Divide into pairs or small groups. Pass out communication style cards. More than one group can have the same communication style. Use whichever ones you like the most and have access to! Using only the communication style on their card, students should work with their partner to develop a “language” to communicate a message based on the topic you’ve chosen.
Present: Have each pair of students present their message using their communication style to the class. Try to guess what they are trying to communicate.
Discuss: Gather the class in a circle. Ask, what was easy about trying to make a language? What was hard? Were you able to communicate your message to the group? Why or why not? Would you all be able to work together if you each had a different way of communicating?
Reflect: Have students reflect on the importance of effective communication in building relationships and understanding others. Challenge them to to be curious and observant about the various ways people and animals communicate throughout their everyday lives.
