Soft skills are the personal, social, and workplace skills that help people work successfully with others, solve problems, manage responsibilities, and adapt to change. While technical skills help a person perform a specific job, soft skills help a person succeed in almost any classroom, workplace or career. In this activity students will collaborate using Google Docs and review scenarios when soft skills were evident.
Preparation
Check the website to ensure it is not blocked at your site.
Read through the lesson plan.
Print and make copies of any handouts.
How-To
Use Google Docs to have students collaborate and Google Slides for students to create a presentation. See Google Help for instructions.
Teacher Tips
Google Forms are a great way to assess student learning whether in assessments or exit tickets.
Vocabulary practice can be created using Google Forms. (use the multiple choice grid question type).
If your students are new to Soft Skills, or you would like them to review the components, as pairs, have them create posters, infographics (Canva), or a shared Google Slide deck to present the components of the soft skills. These component parts are reviewed on the Worksheet Soft Skills Vocabulary and Components in Documents.
Once created, these posters or infographics can be placed around the room as reminders of Soft Skills Components, or added to a shared Google slide deck or Google shared docs for students to access regularly.
To create a sharedGoogle Slide Deck, open Google Slides, Title Slide Soft Skill Components, Then create a slide with each soft skill component and the students who will create the slide. Let the students use the worksheet and fill their slide. Share the deck with the class.
Program Areas
ABE: Adult Basic Education
ESL: English as a Second Language
ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation
ASE: High School Diploma
CTE: Career Technical Education
AwD: Adults with Disabilities
Levels
All Levels
All Levels
View Lesson Plan
Warm-up
Engagement
Write the following situations on the board:
A student arrives late to class every day.
A group member dies not complete their part of a project.
Two coworkers disagree about how to complete a task.
An employee receives feedback and becomes angry.
A worker notices a problem and takes steps to solve it.
Ask students:
What is happening in each situation?
Which behaviors would help?
Which soft skills are missing or being demonstrated?
Students first discuss the situations with a partner and then share with the class.
Collaborative activity: As pairs and then as a class answer: "What makes someone easy to work with?"
Possible answers: Responsible, respectful, helpful, honest, flexible, good listener, on time, positive, organized
Explain that these qualities are examples of soft skills
Introduction
Engagement
Ask: Imagine two people applying for the same job. Both have the same education and technical skills. Why might one person be hired over the other?
Explain that employers often value more than technical knowledge. Employees also need to communicate, cooperate, solve problems, manage time, and respond effectively to challenges.
Essential Question: How can soft skills help me succeed in school, work, and everyday life?
Student Learning Goal: Have students turn to each other and discuss a possible learning goal for today. Students write down their individual goals. Example: Today, I will identify important soft skills and practice using them during classroom activities.
Presentation
Engagement
Introduce the major soft skills categories. Here is one way to organize the skills:
Working with Yourself
Time management
Organization
Initiative
Accountability
Adaptability
Resilience
Self-management
Working with Others
Communication
Activelistening
Teamwork
Collaboration
Empathy
Conflict resolution
Thinking and Solving
Problem-solving
Critical thinking
Decision-making
Creativity
Working Professionally
Reliability
Responsibility
Respect
Work ethic
Professional communication
Activity: give pairs or small groups cards containing different behaviors. Students sort the cards into categories. Groups compare their answers. Explain that some behaviors may involve more than one soft skills.
Examples of behaviors:
Finishes an assignment before the deadline.
interrupts people during meetings
asks a coworker for clarification
gets angry when plans change
offers a new idea to solve a problem
accepts feedback and makes improvements
Categories:
Communication
Teamwork
Problem-solving
Professionalism
Time management
Adaptability
other
Practice
Engagement Enhancement
Soft Skills Scenarios
Divide students into small groups. Give each group a scenario.
Scenario A: The Group Project
Your group has a project due tomorrow. One group member has not completed their work. Another group member is becoming frustrated.
Discussion:
What is the problem?
Which soft skills are needed?
What should the group do?
Scenario B: A Change at Work
You have learned how to complete a task one way. Your supervisor introduces a new system.
Discuss:
How might you feel?
Which soft skills would help?
What could you say or do?
Scenario C: Miscommunication
A coworker sends you a message that you do not understand.
Discuss:
What is an unproductive response?
What is a professonal response?
How can feedback help you improve?
Groups share one recommendation with the class.
Practice
Engagement Enhancement
Soft Skills Role-Play
Pairs select or recieve a workplace or classroom situation.
Examples:
asking for help
disagreeing respectfully
givingconstructive feedback
responding to criticism
explaining a problem
working with a difficult group member
apologizing for a mistake
asking for clarification
One student demonstrates an ineffective response. Then the pair repeats the situation using effective soft skills.
The class identifies:
What improved?
Which soft skills were demonstrated?
What could be improved further?
Evaluation
Soft Skills Self-Assessment
Application
Enhancement
Personal Soft Skills Improvement Plan
In a Google Doc shared with the teacher, choose one soft skill to improve over the next two to four weeks.
My Soft Skills Goal
The skill I want to improve
Why this skill is important to me
One situation where I can practice it
Actions I will take
1.
2.
3.
How I will know I am improving:
Students revise their goals regularly and reflect on their progress.
Demonstrate effectiveness in working with
other people
Learning and Thinking Skills
Demonstrate ability to use critical thinking
skills
Demonstrate ability to use problem-solving
skills
Reading
Critical Thinking/Decision Making
Employability
View CTE Anchor Standards
Anchor Standard 5: Problem Solving and Critical Thinking - Writing Standard: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question
(including a self-generated question) or solve a problem, narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate, and synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under
investigation.
Anchor Standard 7: Responsibility and Flexibility - Speaking and Listening Standard: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and
expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Anchor Standard 9: Leadership and Teamwork - Speaking and Listening Standard: Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision
making; set clear goals and deadlines; and establish individual roles as needed.
