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Chatting Like a Pro

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Lesson Plan

3rd Grade Social Skills

Students will learn and practice how to ask follow-up questions and interpret basic body language to improve their conversational skills.

Understanding how to ask good questions and read body language helps students have more meaningful conversations, make new friends, and feel more confident in social situations.

Audience

3rd Grade Small Group

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and guided role-playing.

Materials

Whiteboard or Chart Paper, Markers, Slide Deck: Chatting Like a Pro Slide Deck, Activity: Conversation Starters, Role-Play Scenarios, and Cool Down: Chatting Like a Pro

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: The Art of Conversation

3 minutes

  • Begin by asking students what makes a conversation interesting. (1 minute)
    * Introduce the idea that good conversations involve listening and responding thoughtfully. Use Slide Deck: Chatting Like a Pro Slide Deck slides 1 and 2 to kick off the discussion. (2 minutes)

Step 2

Asking Follow-Up Questions

4 minutes

  • Explain what a follow-up question is and why it's important (shows interest, keeps the conversation going). Use Slide Deck: Chatting Like a Pro Slide Deck slide 3. (1 minute)
    * Present a simple statement (e.g., "I went to the park yesterday.") and model asking a follow-up question (e.g., "Oh, which park? Did you go on the swings?"). (1 minute)
    * Have students practice with the Activity: Conversation Starters in pairs or small groups, focusing on asking at least two follow-up questions. Circulate and provide feedback. (2 minutes)

Step 3

Reading Body Language

4 minutes

  • Introduce the concept of body language. Explain that our bodies communicate without words (facial expressions, gestures, posture). Use Slide Deck: Chatting Like a Pro Slide Deck slide 4. (1 minute)
    * Show examples of happy/engaged body language (slide 5) and confused/disengaged body language (slide 6). Ask students to identify what each looks like. (1 minute)
    * Engage students in the Role-Play Scenarios. One student acts out a scenario using only body language, and others guess the feeling or situation. (2 minutes)

Step 4

Wrap-Up and Reflection

4 minutes

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Slide Deck

Welcome to Chatting Like a Pro!

Let's learn how to have awesome conversations!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of improving conversation skills.

What Makes a Conversation Great?

  • Listening to others
    * Sharing your thoughts
    * Understanding feelings

Ask students what makes a conversation interesting or enjoyable. Encourage them to share their ideas.

Keep the Ball Rolling!

Asking follow-up questions helps keep conversations going and shows you care about what someone is saying.

Explain that follow-up questions are like 'keeping the ball' in a conversation. They show you're interested.

Your Body Talks Too!

Body language is how our bodies communicate without words.
It includes:
* Facial expressions
* Hand gestures
* Posture

Introduce the concept of body language. Explain that our bodies 'talk' too.

Happy Body Language 😊

  • Smiling face
    * Open arms
    * Relaxed posture
    * Looking at the person you're talking to

Give examples of happy body language. Ask students to demonstrate or identify these.

Confused or Sad Body Language 🙁

  • Frowning or puzzled face
    * Crossed arms
    * Slumped shoulders
    * Looking away or down

Give examples of confused or sad body language. Ask students to identify these cues.

Practice Makes Perfect!

The more we practice, the better we get at chatting like pros! Let's try some conversation starters and role-plays.

Explain how practicing helps. Transition to the activity.

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Activity

Conversation Starters & Follow-Up Fun!

Instructions: In your small groups, pick a conversation starter. One person will share an answer, and the others will practice asking follow-up questions based on what was said. Try to keep the conversation going for at least three turns!

Conversation Starters:

  1. What's your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?


  2. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?


  3. What's the best part about being a 3rd grader?


  4. Tell us about something fun you did recently.


  5. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?


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Activity

Body Language Detectives: Role-Play Scenarios

Instructions: Work with a partner. One person will act out a scenario using only body language (no talking!), and the other person will try to "read" their body language and guess what they are feeling or what is happening. Then, switch roles!

Scenarios:

  1. Excited! You just found out you get to go to your favorite amusement park this weekend. How would your body show that?



  2. Confused. Your teacher is explaining a very tricky math problem, and you don't understand it at all. Show how you might look.



  3. Bored. You are sitting in a very long meeting that isn't interesting to you. What would your body do?



  4. Happy to see a friend. You see your best friend across the playground and want to say hello. How do you show you're glad to see them?



  5. Thinking Hard. You are trying to solve a puzzle or answer a difficult question. Show us your
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Cool Down

Cool Down: My Chatting Superpower

Think about what we learned today about having awesome conversations.

  1. What is one new thing you learned about asking follow-up questions or reading body language?


  2. How will you try to use this new skill in your next conversation?


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