Lesson Plan
Engage & Connect 6-Week Plan
Over six 15-minute sessions, the student will master key conversational skills—greetings, open questions, follow-ups, nonverbal cues, and active listening—then integrate them in gaming/YouTube contexts to boost real-world social engagement.
A spaced, skills-by-week approach lets the student build confidence through focused practice and consistent feedback in topics they love, improving peer connections over time.
Audience
10th Grade Student
Time
6 sessions × 15 minutes each
Approach
Weekly focused role-play & feedback
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Review Conversation Cue Cards
- Print or assemble the Role-Play Scenarios Sheet
- Have the Engagement Feedback Checklist ready
- Plan which category to emphasize each week
Step 1
Week 1: Greetings & Rapport
15 minutes
- Warm-Up: Ask about their latest gaming session (e.g., “What game did you play last night?”) and new YouTube ideas.
- Skill Focus: Show the Greeting row on the Conversation Cue Cards.
- Role-Play: Use Scenario 1 (Invite a Peer at Lunch) to practice friendly greetings.
- Feedback: Note greeting effectiveness on the Engagement Feedback Checklist.
- Goal: Student plans to greet at least one peer enthusiastically this week.
Step 2
Week 2: Open Questions
15 minutes
- Warm-Up: Follow up on Week 1 goal (“How did your greeting at lunch go?”).
- Skill Focus: Review the Open Question row on the Conversation Cue Cards.
- Role-Play: Practice asking open questions in Scenario 2 (Ask a Teammate for Help) or planning first channel video idea.
- Feedback: Mark open-question usage on the checklist.
- Goal: Student will ask two open questions in a real conversation.
Step 3
Week 3: Follow-Up Questions
15 minutes
- Warm-Up: Ask a follow-up about the student’s YouTube concept.
- Skill Focus: Introduce the Follow-Up Question row on the cue cards.
- Role-Play: Use Scenario 3 (Check in on an Upset Classmate) or follow up on a gaming clip discussion.
- Feedback: Check follow-up questions on the checklist.
- Goal: Student will practice at least two follow-ups in next chat.
Step 4
Week 4: Nonverbal Cues
15 minutes
- Warm-Up: Demonstrate a thumbs-up or nod when the student describes a game win.
- Skill Focus: Highlight the Nonverbal Cue row on the cue cards.
- Role-Play: Choose Scenario 4 (Introduce to a New Student) focusing on eye contact, posture, and nods.
- Feedback: Observe nonverbal engagement on the checklist.
- Goal: Student will use two nonverbal cues in a real interaction.
Step 5
Week 5: Active Listening
15 minutes
- Warm-Up: Paraphrase the student’s recent YouTube edit process.
- Skill Focus: Review the Active Listening row on the cue cards.
- Role-Play: Practice summarizing and reflecting feelings in Scenario 2 or scenario of their choice.
- Feedback: Note active listening on the checklist.
- Goal: Student will use reflective statements in at least one conversation.
Step 6
Week 6: Integration & YouTube Collaboration
15 minutes
- Warm-Up: Discuss collaborating
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Slide Deck
Engage & Connect
Objective:
• Recognize social cues
• Initiate and maintain dialogues
• Apply feedback to real-world conversations
Welcome the student, introduce the session, and set a positive, supportive tone.
Script: “Hi [Student Name], today we’re going to practice ways to start and keep a conversation going. It’ll be a relaxed space—we’ll chat, role-play, and reflect together.”
Session Agenda
- Warm-Up Discussion (2 min)
- Introduce Cue Cards (3 min)
- Guided Role-Play (5 min)
- Self-Reflection & Feedback (3 min)
- Wrap-Up & Goal Setting (2 min)
Briefly walk through the session flow so the student knows what to expect.
Script: “Here’s our plan: warm-up chat, learn cue cards, guided role-play, reflect with feedback, then set a personal goal.”
Warm-Up Discussion
• Greet and build rapport
• Remind of today’s purpose
• Emphasize a non-judgmental space
Use this slide as a prompt to engage the student in a casual check-in.
Script: “Let’s start with: How’s your day going? Anything fun or interesting happened?”
Introduce Cue Cards
• Show Conversation Cue Cards
• Explain: greetings, open questions, nonverbal cues
• Student names emotion/intent on sample cards
Display sample cue cards (physical or on-screen) and explain each focus. Encourage the student to guess the emotion or intent.
Script: “These are our Conversation Cue Cards. They cover greetings, asking open questions, and using nonverbal signals like eye contact or nodding. What do you think this card means?”
Guided Role-Play
• Choose a scenario from the Role-Play Scenarios Sheet
• Use cue cards to initiate dialogue
• Observe and note on the Engagement Feedback Checklist
• Switch roles for student-led prompts
Guide the role-play actively: play the peer, model using cue cards, then switch roles. Take notes discreetly on the checklist.
Script: “Pick one scenario from our sheet. I’ll play your classmate first—use the cue cards to start. Then we’ll switch and you’ll give me prompts.”
Self-Reflection & Feedback
• Student reflects: easy vs. challenging
• Review notes from Engagement Feedback Checklist
• Highlight strengths and one focus skill
Encourage honest self-reflection, then share your observations from the checklist. Highlight specific strengths and one area to improve.
Script: “What felt easy? What was tricky? Here’s what I noticed…”
Wrap-Up & Goal Setting
• Student states a personal conversational goal
• Summarize takeaways
• Encourage daily practice
• Confirm next session’s focus
Have the student state a SMART-style conversational goal. Confirm next steps and wrap with positive reinforcement.
Script: “What’s one goal you’ll try this week when talking with someone? Great—let’s meet next time to build on that.”
Materials & Preparation
Ensure all materials are printed or assembled before the session. Use this as a quick reference.
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Worksheet
Conversation Cue Cards
Use the table below to review sample gaming & YouTube–themed prompts for each conversation skill and then create your own cue cards in the third column.
| Category | Example Cue Cards | Your Cue Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | • “Hey, did you catch that new game trailer last night?” • “Hi! Which game did you play over the weekend?” | |
| Open Question | • “What’s your favorite boss fight and why?” • “If you started a YouTube channel, which game would you feature first?” | |
| Nonverbal Cue | • Give a thumbs-up when you agree • Nod enthusiastically when excited • Smile when celebrating a win | |
| Follow-Up Question | • “How did you edit that gameplay clip?” • “What strategies do you use when streaming?” | |
| Active Listening | • “So you spent three hours crafting that highlight reel?” • “It sounds like you felt proud of reaching that subscriber goal.” |
Cut out each row if you’d like physical cards, or use this sheet as a quick reference during your gaming and streaming practice.
Worksheet
Role-Play Scenarios Sheet
Select one scenario below for practice. For each scenario:
- Plan your opening line, follow-up questions, and nonverbal cues.
- Role-play the conversation using your Conversation Cue Cards.
- Reflect on your performance in the space provided.
Scenario 1: Invite a Peer at Lunch
You notice a classmate sitting alone at lunch. Invite them to join your group and start a friendly conversation.
Opening Line:
Possible Follow-Up Questions:
Nonverbal Cues to Use:
Reflection: What went well? What could you improve next time?
Scenario 2: Ask a Teammate for Help on an Assignment
You’re working on a group project and need clarification from a teammate. Practice asking for assistance in a supportive way.
Opening Line:
Possible Follow-Up Questions:
Nonverbal Cues to Use:
Reflection: How did the conversation flow? What could you say differently?
Scenario 3: Check in on an Upset Classmate
You see someone in the hallway who seems upset. Practice starting a caring conversation to check in.
Opening Line:
Possible Follow-Up Questions:
Nonverbal Cues to Use:
Reflection: Did you show empathy? What nonverbal signals helped?
Scenario 4: Introduce Yourself to a New Student
A new student just joined your class. Practice introducing yourself and getting to know them.
Opening Line:
Possible Follow-Up Questions:
Nonverbal Cues to Use:
Reflection: What made the introduction feel welcoming? What will you try next time?
Scenario 5: Plan a YouTube Collaboration
You’re excited about starting a YouTube channel and want to invite a friend to collaborate on a gameplay video. Practice asking them to join and planning the details together.
Opening Line:
Possible Follow-Up Questions:
Nonverbal Cues to Use:
Reflection: How clearly did you present your idea? What might you change to be more engaging or persuasive next time?
Use this sheet alongside your Engagement Feedback Checklist to note strengths and areas for growth after each role-play.
Worksheet
Engagement Feedback Checklist
Use this checklist to note the student’s performance on key engagement skills during role-play. Check observed skills and add comments.
| Skill Category | Observed (✔) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | [ ] | |
| Eye Contact | [ ] | |
| Open Questions | [ ] | |
| Follow-Up Questions | [ ] | |
| Active Listening | [ ] | |
| Nonverbal Cues (smile, nod) | [ ] | |
| Empathy & Respect | [ ] | |
| Tone & Clarity | [ ] | |
| Confidence & Engagement | [ ] | |
| Overall Interaction Flow | [ ] |
Teacher Summary:
Next Steps / Goals: