Lesson Plan
Chatting Champs!
Students will understand and practice key conversation expectations: making eye contact, active listening, and making comments that connect to the topic.
Mastering these conversation skills helps students build stronger friendships, understand social cues better, and communicate their thoughts and feelings more effectively in various social settings.
Audience
2nd and 3rd Grade Students on the Autism Spectrum
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Direct instruction, modeling, and guided practice.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Chatting Champs Slide Deck, Chatting Champs Script, and Conversation Connection Cards (printed and cut out)
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Chatting Champs Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
- Print and cut out the Conversation Connection Cards.
- Ensure whiteboard/projector is ready for the Chatting Champs Slide Deck.
Step 1
Introduction (2 minutes)
2 minutes
- Teacher: Greet students and introduce the lesson's fun topic: becoming 'Chatting Champs'! Use the first slide of the Chatting Champs Slide Deck to set the stage.
- Teacher: Explain that good conversations are like playing catch – you have to throw the ball (talk) and catch the ball (listen) to keep it going.
Step 2
Conversation Expectations (8 minutes)
8 minutes
- Teacher: Use the Chatting Champs Slide Deck and Chatting Champs Script to explain the three key expectations:
- Eye Contact (or near eye contact): Explain why it's helpful (shows you're listening, helps you understand feelings).
- Active Listening: Emphasize listening with your ears and brain, not just waiting for your turn to talk.
- Connected Comments: Discuss how to respond with comments or questions that relate to what the other person just said.
- Teacher: Model good and not-so-good examples of each expectation. Ask students to identify what works and what doesn't. Use the Chatting Champs Script for specific examples.
Step 3
Practice with Conversation Connection Cards (8 minutes)
8 minutes
- Teacher: Distribute Conversation Connection Cards to pairs or small groups.
- Teacher: Instruct students to pick a card and take turns practicing a short conversation based on the prompt, focusing on eye contact and making connected comments. Encourage them to use phrases like 'That reminds me of...' or 'I agree because...' or 'Can you tell me more about...'
- Teacher: Circulate, provide positive reinforcement, and offer gentle redirection or coaching as needed.
Step 4
Wrap-up & Review (2 minutes)
2 minutes
- Teacher: Bring the group back together. Review the three conversation expectations using the last slide of the Chatting Champs Slide Deck.
- Teacher: Ask students to share one thing they learned or one way they can be a 'Chatting Champ' in their next conversation.
- Teacher: Praise their efforts and encourage them to use these skills daily.
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Slide Deck
Chatting Champs! Let's Talk!
Become a Super Talker!
Ever wonder what makes some conversations feel really great? Today, we're going to learn how to be amazing 'Chatting Champs'!
Welcome students and introduce the exciting goal: becoming 'Chatting Champs'! Ask them what they think makes a good conversation.
Conversation Catch!
Imagine a conversation is like playing catch with a ball.
- One person 'throws' an idea.
- The other person 'catches' it by listening.
- Then they 'throw' their idea back!
What happens if you don't throw or catch?
Explain the 'conversation as catch' analogy. Emphasize that both talking and listening are important.
1. Eyes Up, Ears Open!
Show you're listening with your eyes!
- Look at the person speaking (or near their face).
- It shows you care about what they are saying.
- It helps you understand their feelings.
Practice looking at your partner now!
Introduce the first rule: eye contact. Explain why it's important (shows listening, helps understand feelings). Acknowledge that 'near eye contact' is perfectly okay for some students.
2. Listen Up, Brain On!
Listen with your ears AND your brain!
- Don't just wait for your turn to talk.
- Think about what the other person is saying.
- Try to understand their ideas and feelings.
Close your eyes and just listen to a sound in the room for 5 seconds.
Introduce the second rule: active listening. Stress that it's more than just hearing; it's understanding and thinking about what's being said.
3. Connect Your Comments!
Keep the conversation ball rolling!
- Say something that relates to what the other person just said.
- Ask a question about their topic.
- Share a similar experience.
Example:
- Friend: "I saw a big dog at the park!"
- You: "Oh, what kind of dog was it? I love dogs!"
Introduce the third rule: connected comments. Provide simple examples of how to link comments to what was just said. This is key for continuity.
Be a Chatting Champ!
Remember these 3 Super Skills:
- Eyes Up, Ears Open! (Eye Contact)
- Listen Up, Brain On! (Active Listening)
- Connect Your Comments! (Related Responses)
You've got this! Go be a Chatting Champ!
Reiterate the three main points. Encourage students to remember and use these skills in their daily conversations.
Script
Chatting Champs! Script
Introduction (2 minutes)
(Teacher displays Chatting Champs Slide Deck - Slide 1: "Chatting Champs! Let's Talk!")
"Hello, future Chatting Champs! Today, we're going on an exciting adventure to learn how to be super talkers. Have you ever had a conversation that felt really fun and easy? Or maybe one that felt a little tricky? We're going to learn some special skills to make all our conversations awesome!"
(Teacher displays Chatting Champs Slide Deck - Slide 2: "Conversation Catch!")
"Imagine a conversation is like playing catch with a ball. One person 'throws' an idea, like 'I went to the park today!' The other person 'catches' it by listening carefully. Then, they 'throw' their idea back, maybe by asking a question or sharing something similar. What do you think happens if no one throws the ball, or if someone throws it in a different direction?"
"Exactly! The game stops, or it gets confusing! So, to be great at conversation catch, we need to learn three important rules."
Conversation Expectations (8 minutes)
1. Eyes Up, Ears Open! (Eye Contact)
(Teacher displays Chatting Champs Slide Deck - Slide 3: "1. Eyes Up, Ears Open!")
"Our first rule is 'Eyes Up, Ears Open!' This means we try to look at the person who is talking, or somewhere near their face. Why do you think this is helpful?"
"Yes! When you look at someone, it shows them you are listening and you care about what they're saying. It also helps you see their face and understand their feelings better. For some of us, looking directly in the eyes can feel a little uncomfortable, and that's totally okay! You can try looking at their forehead, their nose, or even their mouth. The important thing is that your body is facing them, and they know you are paying attention."
"Let's practice! Turn to a partner, and just try looking at their face for a few seconds without talking. Remember, it doesn't have to be directly into their eyes. Just looking 'up' and 'open' towards them."
(Pause for quick practice)
2. Listen Up, Brain On! (Active Listening)
(Teacher displays Chatting Champs Slide Deck - Slide 4: "2. Listen Up, Brain On!")
"Our second rule is 'Listen Up, Brain On!' This means we're not just hearing words with our ears, but our brain is working too! We're thinking about what the other person is saying, trying to understand their ideas and feelings. It's not just waiting for your turn to talk. It's truly listening."
"Here's a quick exercise: close your eyes for five seconds and just listen to all the sounds you can hear in the room. Don't try to guess what they are, just notice them."
(Pause for 5 seconds)
"Now, open your eyes. What did you hear?"
"Good! That's being aware of sounds. Now, imagine applying that same focused attention to someone's words!"
3. Connect Your Comments! (Related Responses)
(Teacher displays Chatting Champs Slide Deck - Slide 5: "3. Connect Your Comments!")
"Our third and final rule is 'Connect Your Comments!' This is how we keep the conversation ball rolling! When someone says something, your response should be connected to their topic. It's like throwing the ball back to them, not to a totally different person!"
"Let's look at an example on the slide. If your friend says, 'I saw a big dog at the park!' What would be a connected comment or question?"
"Great ideas! You could say, 'Oh, what kind of dog was it? I love dogs!' or 'Was it playing fetch?' You wouldn't suddenly say, 'I had pizza for dinner!' because that's not connected. It's like throwing a different ball!"
Modeling Examples (Teacher provides a few simple examples of good and bad connected comments and asks students to identify which is which):
-
Scenario 1:
- Teacher: "My favorite animal is a dolphin because they are so smart!"
- Option A: "Dolphins are cool! I saw one at the aquarium once."
- Option B: "I like ice cream."
- "Which one is a connected comment? Why?"
-
Scenario 2:
- Teacher: "I really enjoy drawing superheroes."
- Option A: "Superheroes are fun to draw! What's your favorite superhero to draw?"
- Option B: "My shoes are blue."
- "Which one keeps the conversation going?"
Practice with Conversation Connection Cards (8 minutes)
"Alright, Chatting Champs! Now it's your turn to practice these amazing skills. I'm going to give each pair of you some Conversation Connection Cards. Each card has a different topic."
"Here's what I want you to do:"
- "Take turns picking a card."
- "One person starts talking about the topic on the card for a short time."
- "The other person practices 'Eyes Up, Ears Open!' and 'Listen Up, Brain On!'"
- "Then, the listener makes a 'Connect Your Comment!' before taking their turn to talk about the card, or asking a follow-up question."
"Remember, try to use phrases like, 'That reminds me of...' or 'I agree because...' or 'Can you tell me more about...'"
(Distribute Conversation Connection Cards and circulate to provide support and positive feedback.)
Wrap-up & Review (2 minutes)
(Teacher displays Chatting Champs Slide Deck - Slide 6: "Be a Chatting Champ!")
"Wonderful job, everyone! You were all working so hard to be Chatting Champs. Let's quickly review our three super skills for great conversations:"
- "Eyes Up, Ears Open! (Making eye contact or looking near the speaker's face)"
- "Listen Up, Brain On! (Actively listening with your brain, not just waiting to talk)"
- "Connect Your Comments! (Responding with comments or questions that relate to what was just said)"
"Can one person share one thing they learned today or one way they can be a Chatting Champ in their next conversation?"
"Fantastic! I am so proud of your effort today. Keep practicing these skills, and you'll be amazing Chatting Champs in no time! Give yourselves a silent cheer!"
Activity
Conversation Connection Cards
Instructions: Cut out each card. Students take turns picking a card and starting a conversation about the topic. The listener practices 'Eyes Up, Ears Open!' and 'Listen Up, Brain On!' before making a 'Connect Your Comment!'
Card 1
My favorite animal is...
Card 2
Something I did last weekend was...
Card 3
If I could have any superpower, it would be...
Card 4
My favorite food is...
Card 5
A fun game to play is...
Card 6
Something I'm excited about is...
Card 7
My favorite color is...
Card 8
I like to read books about...
Card 9
If I could visit any place, I would go to...
Card 10
One thing I'm good at is...