Activity Overview
Communication without words can be extremely challenging for people who rely heavily on speech. Have students choose phrases and words that are most important to them and create their own communication board. Have students try to communicate with partners/groups using only their completed boards. Supply students with a list of possible questions to ask one another; word some of them as yes/no and some that would be tricky to answer.
A few possible questions might be:
- "How are you?"
- "Are you tired?"
- "Do you want to go home?"
- "What do you want to do today?"
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a communication storyboard with phrases and words that are most important to you.
- Use the template provided by your teacher.
- Identify 9 phrases and words that are important to you to communicate.
- Type those phrases in to the titles of each cell.
- Create a simple illustration to describe each phrase or word.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 5 Points | Emerging 3 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The descriptions are clear and at least two sentences. | The descriptions can be understood but it are somewhat unclear. | The descriptions are unclear and are not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the descriptions using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the descriptions, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the descriptions. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
Activity Overview
Communication without words can be extremely challenging for people who rely heavily on speech. Have students choose phrases and words that are most important to them and create their own communication board. Have students try to communicate with partners/groups using only their completed boards. Supply students with a list of possible questions to ask one another; word some of them as yes/no and some that would be tricky to answer.
A few possible questions might be:
- "How are you?"
- "Are you tired?"
- "Do you want to go home?"
- "What do you want to do today?"
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a communication storyboard with phrases and words that are most important to you.
- Use the template provided by your teacher.
- Identify 9 phrases and words that are important to you to communicate.
- Type those phrases in to the titles of each cell.
- Create a simple illustration to describe each phrase or word.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 5 Points | Emerging 3 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The descriptions are clear and at least two sentences. | The descriptions can be understood but it are somewhat unclear. | The descriptions are unclear and are not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the descriptions using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the descriptions, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the descriptions. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
How Tos about Out of My Mind Communication Board Activity
Organize a classroom discussion about communication barriers
Encourage students to reflect on the challenges of nonverbal communication. Facilitate a class discussion by asking students to share their experiences using the communication boards and how it felt to rely solely on them. This helps build empathy and a deeper understanding of diverse communication needs.
Model how to use a communication board in a real-life scenario
Demonstrate how to use a communication board by acting out a simple conversation with a student or co-teacher. Show how to select phrases, respond to questions, and express feelings. This gives students a clear example before they try on their own.
Assign partners for peer feedback on board usability
Pair students and have them use each other's boards to communicate. Encourage constructive feedback about what was easy or difficult. This activity promotes collaboration and helps improve each board’s effectiveness.
Integrate reflection journaling after the activity
Ask students to write a brief journal entry about their experience using the communication board. Prompt them to consider what they learned about communication and how it might feel to rely on alternative methods. This reinforces self-awareness and empathy.
Frequently Asked Questions about Out of My Mind Communication Board Activity
What is a communication board activity for middle school students?
A communication board activity for middle school students is an exercise where students select important phrases and words, create a personalized board, and use it to communicate with others—helping them experience communication without spoken words.
How do I create a communication board in my classroom?
To create a communication board, have students pick 9 key phrases or words, enter them into a template (one per cell), and add simple illustrations for each. This encourages students to think about what matters most to communicate.
What are some good phrases to include on a student communication board?
Effective phrases for a student communication board might include: “How are you?”, “I need help”, “I’m tired”, “I have a question”, “Can we work together?”, “Yes”, “No”, “Thank you”, and “What do you want to do today?”
Why is using a communication board important in teaching Out of My Mind?
Using a communication board helps students empathize with characters like Melody in Out of My Mind and understand the challenges of non-verbal communication, promoting inclusion and awareness in the classroom.
How can I make communication board activities engaging for students?
Make activities engaging by letting students personalize their boards, use creative illustrations, work in groups or pairs, and try answering both simple and tricky questions using only their boards.
More Storyboard That Activities
Out of My Mind
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