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Chat Champions

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Lesson Plan

Chat Champions Lesson Plan

Students will practice greeting peers, initiating short conversations using starter questions, and demonstrating turn-taking to build confidence and positive social interactions.

Many students with intellectual disabilities benefit from structured social skills practice. This lesson supports improved peer relationships, communication confidence, and participation in group settings.

Audience

Students with Intellectual Disabilities (Tier 2 Small Group)

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Modeling, visual supports, and role-play.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials and Space

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Greetings

5 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle.
  • Use Greeting Visuals to review simple greetings (e.g., “Hello,” “Good morning”).
  • Teacher models greeting a peer with eye contact and a clear voice.
  • Each student practices greeting the person next to them.
  • Accommodations: Provide sentence starters or allow pointing to visuals.

Step 2

Model Conversation Starters

5 minutes

  • Display two Conversation Starter Cards (e.g., “What’s your favorite color?”, “Do you like animals?”).
  • Teacher models asking and answering questions with clear, simple sentences.
  • Highlight turn-taking: one speaker at a time.
  • Students identify the key parts of a good question and response.

Step 3

Role-Play Practice

10 minutes

  • Pair students and distribute the Role-Play Scenario Prompt Sheet.
  • Students take turns using Conversation Starter Cards to start a short dialogue.
  • Teacher circulates, provides prompts or rephrases, and notes successes on the Behavior Checklist.
  • Scaffold as needed with visual cues or sentence frames.

Step 4

Turn-Taking Spinner Game

5 minutes

  • Introduce the Turn-Taking Spinner.
  • Students spin and speak for the number of seconds indicated.
  • Peers listen silently, then respond when it’s their turn.
  • Teacher reinforces effective listening and positive feedback based on the Behavior Checklist.

Step 5

Wrap-Up and Feedback

5 minutes

  • Reconvene in the circle.
  • Invite each student to share one thing they did well today.
  • Provide specific praise tied to items on the Behavior Checklist.
  • Remind students to use their new greeting and conversation skills throughout the day.
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Slide Deck

Chat Champions: Social Skills

• Practice greetings
• Learn conversation starters
• Role-play dialogs
• Play a turn-taking spinner game
• Share successes

Welcome everyone! Introduce today’s session: “Chat Champions.” Explain that we will learn three key social skills—greetings, starting a chat, and taking turns—to feel more confident talking with friends.

Warm-Up: Greetings

  1. Review simple greetings: “Hello,” “Good morning.”
  2. Teacher models greeting a peer.
  3. Students practice around the circle.
  4. Use visuals or sentence starters as needed.

Display the Greeting Visuals. Model saying “Hello” with a smile and eye contact. Encourage students to stand and greet the person next to them.

Conversation Starters

• What’s your favorite color?
• Do you like animals?
• Where do you like to play?

• Identify question + response parts
• Highlight turn-taking

Show two example cards from Conversation Starter Cards. Model asking “What’s your favorite color?” and responding. Emphasize one speaker at a time.

Role-Play Practice

  1. Work in pairs.
  2. Use starter cards to begin a short chat.
  3. Take turns speaking and listening.
  4. Teacher supports with visuals or frames.

Pair students and hand out the Role-Play Scenario Prompt Sheet. Circulate to prompt or rephrase. Use the Behavior Checklist to note successes.

Turn-Taking Spinner Game

• Spin the spinner
• Speak for the indicated seconds
• Peers listen quietly
• Then switch roles
• Teacher gives positive feedback

Project or pass around the Turn-Taking Spinner. Model spinning, speaking for the allotted time, and then passing. Reinforce good listening.

Visual Supports & Materials

Point to each visual support and explain how they help. Remind students they can use these tools anytime they need help starting a conversation.

Wrap-Up & Feedback

• Each student shares a success
• Teacher gives specific praise
• Remind to use new skills today
• Encourage daily practice

Bring the group back together. Invite everyone to share one thing they did well today. Offer specific praise aligned with the checklist.

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Worksheet

Conversation Starter Practice

1. Matching

Match the conversation starter on the left with the best response on the right. Write the letter in the blank space.

Questions:

  1. What’s your favorite color? _____
  2. Do you like animals? _____
  3. Where do you like to play? _____

Responses:
A. My favorite color is blue.
B. Yes, I like animals.
C. I like to play at the park.




2. Fill in the Blank

Fill in the missing word(s) to complete each question or response.

  1. A: “What’s your _________?”





  2. A: “Do you _________ animals?”





  3. B: “My favorite _________ is _________.”





3. Your Turn

Write one conversation starter question you can ask a friend. Make sure it has a question word (e.g., What, Do, Where).












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Answer Key

Starter Worksheet Answer Key

This key supports consistent scoring and guides teachers through each item with step-by-step reasoning.

1. Matching (3 points)

Match each question to the correct response.

Question No.Correct ResponseTeacher ReasoningPoints
1A“What’s your favorite color?” → “My favorite color is blue.”1
2B“Do you like animals?” → “Yes, I like animals.”1
3C“Where do you like to play?” → “I like to play at the park.”1

Scoring: 1 point for each correct match.

2. Fill in the Blank (4 points)

Complete each sentence by filling in the missing word(s).

  1. A: “What’s your _________?”
    • Correct fill: favorite color
    (1 point for each word: “favorite” + “color” = 2 points)

  2. A: “Do you _________ animals?”
    • Correct fill: like
    (1 point)

  3. B: “My favorite _________ is _________.”
    • Correct fill: color (1 point) and a student-chosen color such as blue (1 point)
    (Total 2 points)

Scoring:

  • Q1: 2 points total (1 per word)
  • Q2: 1 point
  • Q3: 2 points (1 for first blank, 1 for second blank)

3. Your Turn (up to 2 points)

Students write an original conversation starter question. Expect a question word (What, Do, Where, etc.) and proper structure.

Rubric:

  • 1 point: Correct question structure (e.g., begins with a question word + subject + verb)
  • 1 point: Relevance and punctuation (ends with a question mark, on a social topic)

Example of a full-credit response:
“Where do you like to play?”

Total possible points: 3 (Matching) + 4 (Fill in the Blank) + 2 (Your Turn) = 9 points

Use this key to guide feedback and highlight correct patterns for future practice.

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Cool Down

Quick Chat Reflection

Reflect on Your Conversation Skills

  1. Today I practiced (circle one):

    • Greeting
    • Asking a question
    • Taking turns

  2. One thing I did well today was:





  3. Next time I want to try:





  4. How does practicing this skill help you talk with friends?






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