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Chatting Champs

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Lesson Plan

Chatting Champs

Students will learn and practice three key steps for successful conversations: how to start a conversation, how to keep it going by asking questions and making comments, and how to end a conversation politely.

Effective communication is a crucial life skill. This lesson empowers students to connect with others, build friendships, and navigate social situations with greater confidence by providing them with concrete strategies for conversation.

Audience

K-2 Present Grade Level Autism Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, modeling, guided practice, and role-playing.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm Up: Conversation Starter Spinners

5 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the day's topic: "Today, we're going to become 'Chatting Champs' and learn how to have super conversations!"
    - Distribute the Warm Up: Conversation Starter Spinners and explain the activity.
    - Have each student spin their spinner and practice starting a conversation based on the prompt. Facilitate brief, simple interactions, providing positive feedback and gentle corrections as needed.

Step 2

Mini-Lesson: The 3 C's of Chatting

10 minutes

  • Display the Chatting Champs Slide Deck (Slide 1: Title).
    - Introduce the "3 C's of Chatting" using the Chatting Champs Slide Deck:
    - Catch Their Eye! (Slide 2): Explain how to start a conversation (look, say name, say hi, ask a simple question). Model examples and have students practice a quick "hello" with a partner.
    - Continue the Chat! (Slide 3): Discuss how to keep conversations going (listen, ask questions, make comments). Model asking a follow-up question. Provide simple sentence starters for comments.
    - Close with Kindness! (Slide 4): Teach polite ways to end a conversation (say "nice talking to you," "see you later," wave, walk away calmly). Model and practice a polite goodbye.

Step 3

Worksheet & Role Play Practice

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Conversation Practice Worksheet to each student. Guide them through the prompts, encouraging them to write or draw their answers.
    - After completing the worksheet, pair students up or work with individuals to role-play scenarios from the worksheet, focusing on applying the "3 C's." Provide direct coaching and positive reinforcement.

Step 4

Cool Down: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

5 minutes

  • Gather students and introduce the Cool Down: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down activity.
    - Read each statement aloud and ask students to show a "Thumbs Up" for good conversation choices and "Thumbs Down" for poor ones. Briefly discuss why each choice is good or bad, reinforcing the lesson's key takeaways.
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Warm Up

Warm Up: Conversation Starter Spinners

Instructions: Cut out the spinner below. Using a pencil and a paper clip, spin to see how you will start a conversation! Once you land on a prompt, practice starting a conversation with a friend or your teacher.

Spinner Prompts:

  • Tell a friend something cool you did this week.










  • Ask a friend what their favorite animal is.










  • Talk about your favorite toy with a friend.










  • Ask your teacher about their favorite color.










  • Share something you like about school.










  • Ask a friend what they like to eat for breakfast.










(Imagine a circular spinner graphic with 6 sections, each containing one of the prompts above. A center point indicates where a paperclip/pencil could be placed to spin.)

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Slide Deck

Chatting Champs: Conversation Superpowers!

Learn how to start, keep, and end conversations like a pro!

Welcome students and introduce the idea of being 'Chatting Champs'. Explain that today we'll learn how to talk to people, keep talking, and say goodbye nicely.

C1: Catch Their Eye!

How to START a conversation:

  • Look at the person.
  • Say their name (if you know it).
  • Say "Hi!" or "Hello!"
  • Ask a simple question (like "What are you doing?").

Introduce the first 'C' - CATCH. Explain that this is how we get someone's attention to start talking. Emphasize looking at the person and using their name or a friendly greeting.

C2: Continue the Chat!

How to KEEP a conversation going:

  • Listen to what they say.
  • Ask another question (like "Why do you like that?").
  • Say something about what they said (like "Me too!").
  • Look at them when they talk!

Introduce the second 'C' - CONTINUE. Explain that after starting, we need to keep the conversation going. Talk about asking questions and making comments related to what the other person said. Give simple examples.

C3: Close with Kindness!

How to END a conversation nicely:

  • Say "It was nice talking to you!"
  • Say "See you later!"
  • Wave goodbye.
  • Walk away calmly.

Introduce the third 'C' - CLOSE. Explain that it's important to end conversations politely so both people feel good. Give examples of polite goodbyes.

The 3 C's of Chatting!

Remember:

  1. Catch Their Eye! (START)
  2. Continue the Chat! (KEEP GOING)
  3. Close with Kindness! (END)

Review all three 'C's. Ask students to recall each step and its purpose. This is a good opportunity for a quick check for understanding.

Let's Practice!

Time to become a real Chatting Champ!

Explain that now students will practice these skills using the worksheet and through role-playing. Emphasize that practice makes them better 'Chatting Champs'.

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Worksheet

Conversation Practice Worksheet: Chatting Champs!

Name: ________________________

Instructions: Let's practice being a Chatting Champ! Look at the pictures and words, then draw or circle your answers.

Part 1: Catch Their Eye! (Starting a Conversation)

  1. Circle the best way to get a friend's attention to talk to them:





    • A) Tap their shoulder gently and say their name.
    • B) Shout loudly from across the room.
    • C) Pull on their arm.
  2. How would you start a conversation at the park? Draw what you would do or say!





















Part 2: Continue the Chat! (Keeping a Conversation Going)

  1. Your friend says, "I like blue cars!" Circle the best thing to say next to keep talking:





    • A) "My shoes are red."
    • B) "Me too! What's your favorite kind of blue car?"
    • C) "I don't like cars."
  2. Your friend tells you about their new toy. Circle the best thing you could say back:





    • A) "That sounds fun!"
    • B) "I want that toy."
    • C) "Time to go home."

Part 3: Close with Kindness! (Ending a Conversation)

  1. You need to go play. Circle two polite things you could say to end the conversation:





    • A) "Bye! See you later!"
    • B) "I'm just going to leave now."
    • C) "It was nice talking with you!"
    • D) "You talk too much."
  2. Draw a picture of you waving goodbye after a nice chat.























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Cool Down

Cool Down: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

Instructions: Listen to each statement. If it's a good way to have a conversation, give a Thumbs Up! If it's not a good way, give a Thumbs Down.

  1. Statement: You want to talk to your friend. You tap them on the shoulder and say, "Hi, [Friend's Name]! What are you doing?"






    Think: Is this a good way to start?
  2. Statement: Your friend is talking to you, but you look at the ceiling and don't listen.






    Think: Is this a good way to keep talking?
  3. Statement: Your friend tells you they love ice cream. You say, "Me too! What kind do you like?"






    Think: Is this a good way to keep talking?
  4. Statement: You need to go. You just walk away from your friend without saying anything.






    Think: Is this a good way to end?
  5. Statement: You finished playing. You say, "It was fun talking! See you later!" and wave goodbye.






    Think: Is this a good way to end?
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Chatting Champs • Lenny Learning