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Chatting Champs!

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Lesson Plan

Chatting Champs!

Students will learn and practice strategies for initiating and maintaining conversations, taking turns effectively, and building confidence in social interactions.

Strong conversation skills are crucial for building friendships, participating in class, and navigating social situations. This lesson provides tools to communicate more effectively and feel more comfortable in group settings.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and guided practice.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers/Pens, Chatting Champs Slide Deck, Social Starters Warm-Up, Conversation Bingo Activity, and Confidence Check Cool-Down

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Social Starters

5 minutes

  1. Distribute the Social Starters Warm-Up to each student.
  2. Instruct students to quickly write down one or two ways to start a conversation.
  3. Briefly discuss their ideas as a group, highlighting a few effective openers.

Step 2

Introduction: Why Talk?

5 minutes

  1. Display the first slide of the Chatting Champs Slide Deck.
  2. Lead a brief discussion on why conversation skills are important, connecting to their experiences.
  3. Introduce the key skills for the session: initiating, maintaining, turn-taking, and confidence.

Step 3

Skill Focus: Initiating and Maintaining

5 minutes

  1. Use the Chatting Champs Slide Deck to present strategies for initiating conversations (e.g., asking open-ended questions, observing surroundings).
  2. Discuss strategies for maintaining conversations (e.g., active listening, asking follow-up questions, sharing relevant information).
  3. Emphasize the importance of looking for non-verbal cues.

Step 4

Activity: Conversation Bingo

10 minutes

  1. Introduce the Conversation Bingo Activity.
  2. Explain the rules: Students move around and practice conversation starters and maintainers with different group members to get bingo squares marked off.
  3. Circulate and observe, providing gentle coaching and encouragement as needed.

Step 5

Reflection and Wrap-Up

5 minutes

  1. Bring the group back together.
  2. Use the Confidence Check Cool-Down.
  3. Ask students to reflect on one new strategy they will try or something they learned today about conversation.
  4. Reiterate that practice makes progress and encourage them to use these skills in their daily lives.
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Slide Deck

Welcome, Chatting Champs!

What Makes a Great Conversation?

Why do we even talk to each other?

It's about connecting, sharing, and understanding!

Welcome students and introduce the topic. Ask them why they think being good at talking to people is important. Connect it to making friends, group projects, or even just feeling comfortable.

Today's Game Plan

  • Initiating: Starting a conversation
  • Maintaining: Keeping the conversation going
  • Turn-Taking: Sharing the spotlight
  • Confidence: Feeling good about talking
  • Regulation: Managing your reactions

Introduce the main goals for today's session. Emphasize that these are skills anyone can learn and improve.

Breaking the Ice: Starting Conversations

  • Observe and Comment: "That's a cool backpack! Where did you get it?"
  • Ask Open-Ended Questions: "What did you think about the homework?"
  • Offer a Compliment: "Your presentation was really interesting!"
  • Find Common Ground: "Are you excited for the school play?"

Explain different ways to start a conversation. Ask students for examples of what they might say in different situations (e.g., new student, classmate, someone at a party).

Keeping It Going: Maintaining Conversation

  • Active Listening: Really hear what the other person is saying.
  • Ask Follow-Up Questions: "Oh, you went to the beach? What was your favorite part?"
  • Share Relevant Information: "That reminds me, I saw a cool show about marine life last night."
  • Look for Cues: Are they still engaged? Do they want to talk more?

Discuss how to keep a conversation flowing. Highlight active listening and asking follow-up questions.

It's Your Turn! (And Theirs!)

  • Listen More, Talk Less: Give others a chance to speak.
  • Don't Interrupt: Wait for a pause or natural break.
  • Share the Spotlight: A good conversation is like a game of catch, not a solo performance.
  • Self-Regulation: If you feel nervous, take a deep breath. If you're excited, try to pause before speaking.

Explain turn-taking and why it's important not to dominate or interrupt. Discuss regulating emotions if they get excited or nervous.

Time to Practice: Conversation Bingo!

Let's put these skills into action!

We'll play a game of Conversation Bingo to practice initiating and maintaining conversations with different people in our group.

Ready to chat your way to Bingo?

Explain the Conversation Bingo activity and how it will help them practice these skills in a fun way.

You've Got This!

Every conversation is a chance to learn and grow.

Keep practicing these skills, and watch your confidence soar!

What's one thing you'll try in your next conversation?

Conclude with an encouraging message about practicing these skills.

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Warm Up

Social Starters: Quick Connections!

Think about different situations where you might want to start a conversation. How would you begin?

Instructions: For each scenario, write down one or two things you could say to start a conversation.

Scenario 1: A new student just joined your class.




Scenario 2: You are at a school event (like a sports game or concert) and see a classmate you don't know well.




Scenario 3: You notice someone wearing a really cool t-shirt or carrying an interesting book.




Scenario 4: You are working on a group project with people you haven't worked with before.




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Activity

Conversation Bingo: Let's Get Talking!

Name: ____________________________

Instructions: Talk to different group members to complete challenges and get a Bingo! (Horizontal, vertical, or diagonal).

Talk to someone about their favorite hobby.Ask about weekend plans.Find out their favorite school subject.Compliment someone and ask a follow-up question.
Share a fun fact about yourself.Ask about a recent TV show/movie.Discuss a skill you'd like to learn.Ask about their favorite type of music.
Share something you are looking forward to.FREE SPACEAsk what superpower they'd want.Talk about a favorite food.
Ask about a school year goal.Discuss a favorite book or video game.Talk about something interesting you learned.Ask what they do to relax.
Find out their favorite season.Share a dream vacation spot.Ask about a pet (current or desired).Discuss a challenge you overcame.
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Cool Down

Confidence Check: My Conversation Takeaways

Now that we've practiced our conversation skills, take a moment to reflect on what you learned today.

Instructions: Please answer the following questions honestly.

  1. What is one new strategy for starting a conversation that you learned or will try?




  2. What is one way you can improve your turn-taking or maintaining a conversation?




  3. On a scale of 1 to 5, how much more confident do you feel about having conversations after today's lesson? (Circle one)

    1 (Not much more confident) 2 3 (A little more confident) 4 5 (Much more confident)

  4. What is one thing you will remember from today's lesson that will help you in your next conversation?




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