Slide Deck
Got Social Skills? Let's Connect!
Building awesome friendships and communicating well!
Welcome students and introduce the topic. Ask them what comes to mind when they hear "social skills."
What Are Social Skills?
Skills we use to talk, play, and work with other people!
- Listening
- Sharing
- Being kind
- Talking nicely
Explain in simple terms what social skills are – tools we use to get along with others.
Why Are Social Skills Important?
They help us to...
- Make new friends and keep old ones!
- Understand others and be understood.
- Feel confident in different situations.
- Work well in teams.
Discuss why these skills are super important for their everyday lives, both in school and at home.
Today's Super Skills!
We're focusing on:
- Turn-Taking
- Eye Contact
- Conversation Starters
Introduce the three main skills we'll focus on today. You can have students repeat them.
Skill 1: Turn-Taking
Sharing talking time!
- Listen when others speak.
- Wait for your chance to talk.
- Don't interrupt.
- It's like playing a game, everyone gets a turn!
Explain turn-taking with a simple example. Ask for examples of when they take turns.
Skill 2: Eye Contact
Looking at the person you're talking to!
- Shows you are listening.
- Shows you are interested.
- Helps you understand their feelings.
- It doesn't mean staring!
Explain eye contact and its importance in showing you are listening and engaged. Model good eye contact.
Skill 3: Conversation Starters
How to begin a chat with someone!
- "Hi, how are you?"
- "What did you do this weekend?"
- "That's a cool ______! Where did you get it?"
- "Can I join you?"
Give a few examples of how to start a conversation. Ask students for ideas.
Time to Practice Our Skills!
Let's put what we learned into action!
- We'll use cards to start conversations.
- We'll practice acting out different situations.
Transition to the activities, building excitement for practicing the skills.
Activity
Conversation Card Mixer
Objective: To practice using conversation starters, turn-taking, and eye contact in a fun, interactive way.
Materials: Printed and cut conversation cards (provided below), a timer (optional).
Instructions for Students:
- Find a Partner: When the teacher says "Go!", find a classmate you haven't talked to much today.
- Pick a Card: Each person silently choose one card from the pile.
- Start Chatting! One person uses their card to start a conversation. Remember to make eye contact! The other person listens carefully.
- Take Turns: After the first person shares, the second person responds, making sure to take their turn to talk. Keep the conversation going for a few sentences, practicing your eye contact and listening skills.
- Switch! When the teacher calls "Switch!", thank your partner, put your cards back (if instructed), and find a new partner to repeat the process.
Conversation Cards (Cut these out!)
| Card 1 | Card 2 |
|---|---|
| What's your favorite animal and why? | If you could have any superpower, what would it be? |
| What's the best thing you did last weekend? | What's your favorite subject in school? |
| If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go? | What's a game or sport you really enjoy playing? |
| What's your favorite book or movie? | What's something new you learned recently? |
| What's your favorite snack? | If you could invent something, what would it be? |
| What do you like to do for fun after school? | What's your favorite kind of music? |
| What's a fun fact about yourself? | Do you have a pet? Tell me about them! |
| What's your favorite season and why? | What's one thing you're really good at? |
Script
Role-Play Prompts: Practicing Social Skills
Teacher Script:
"Alright, fantastic work with the conversation cards! Now, we're going to put our skills into action with some role-playing. Role-playing is like acting, but we're practicing real-life situations. The goal is to focus on our eye contact and turn-taking as we chat. You'll work in small groups of 2-3 people.
I'm going to give you a scenario. I want you to act it out, making sure to look at each other when you're talking and really listen so you can take turns speaking smoothly. Remember, it's okay if it feels a little silly at first, the more we practice, the easier it gets!"
Scenario 1: New Kid in Class
Characters: Two students, one new (A) and one already in the class (B).
Situation: It's the first day of school for Student A. Student B sees Student A sitting alone at lunch. Student B wants to say hello and invite Student A to play.
Focus: How does Student B start the conversation? Do both students make eye contact? Do they take turns talking about their interests?
"Okay, students, for our first role-play, let's imagine you have a new classmate. How would you welcome them and get to know them? Think about those conversation starters and making eye contact!"
Scenario 2: Sharing a Story
Characters: Two students (A and B).
Situation: Student A just came back from an exciting trip/event. Student B is interested in hearing about it. They need to share details and ask questions respectfully.
Focus: Does Student A share without dominating the conversation? Does Student B ask questions and listen actively? Do they both use eye contact?
"For our next scenario, think about a time you had something exciting to share, or when you wanted to hear about a friend's adventure. How do you share the story while making sure both people get to talk?"
Scenario 3: Working on a Project
Characters: Two or three students (A, B, C).
Situation: Students are assigned a group project. They need to decide who does what and how to start. They have different ideas.
Focus: Do all students get a chance to share their ideas? Do they make eye contact when discussing? Do they listen to each other's suggestions and take turns presenting their thoughts?
"Imagine you're working on a project with classmates. You all have ideas, and you need to work together. How do you talk about your ideas and make decisions as a team, using those turn-taking and eye contact skills?"
Teacher Reminders during Role-Play:
- "Remember to look at your partner when they are speaking, and when you are speaking!"
- "Great turn-taking! You listened and then shared your idea."
- "Can you try starting that conversation again with one of our conversation starters?"
- "Make sure everyone gets a chance to share their thoughts."
Warm Up
Greeting Warm-Up: Connect and Greet!
Objective: To quickly engage students and practice making eye contact and starting a simple interaction.
Time: 5 minutes
Instructions for Students:
- When the teacher says "Go!", gently stand up and walk around the classroom.
- Your task is to greet at least three different classmates.
- When you greet someone, make sure to:
- Make eye contact with them.
- Say "Hello" or "Good morning/afternoon!" (or another polite greeting).
- You can also add a simple question like "How are you?" or "How was your weekend?" if time allows.
- After you greet someone, you can move on to find another classmate.
Teacher Script:
"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Before we dive into our lesson on social skills, let's get our energy flowing and practice a very important skill right away: greeting others! When I say 'Go!', I want you to stand up, move around the room, and greet at least three different classmates. Remember to make eye contact and use a friendly voice. You can simply say 'Hello' or 'Good morning,' or if you have a bit more time, ask 'How are you?' Let's try to connect with each other. Ready? Go!"
(Allow 2-3 minutes for students to move and greet. Then, bring them back together.)
"Alright, bring it back in, everyone! Settle down. How did that feel? Did you notice anything when you made eye contact with your classmates? What was it like to greet people?"
"Why do you think it's important to make eye contact when we greet someone or talk to them?"
Lesson Plan
Social Skills Syllabus
Students will practice and apply turn-taking, eye contact, and conversation starters to improve peer relationships.
Strong social skills help students make friends, communicate effectively, and feel more confident in social situations, leading to a more positive classroom and school experience.
Audience
4th Grade Class
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Interactive activities, role-playing, and discussion.
Materials
Let’s Connect Slides, Conversation Card Mixer, Role-Play Prompts, Greeting Warm-Up, Index cards or small slips of paper, and Pencils or pens
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up: Greeting Practice
5 minutes
Begin the lesson with the Greeting Warm-Up activity. Have students circulate and greet at least three classmates, focusing on making eye contact and saying "Hello" or "Good Morning/Afternoon." Briefly discuss how it felt to make eye contact and greet others.
Step 2
Introduction to Social Skills
10 minutes
Use the Let’s Connect Slides to introduce the concept of social skills. Go through slides explaining what social skills are, why they are important for making friends and communicating, and highlight the three key skills for today: turn-taking, eye contact, and conversation starters. Facilitate a brief class discussion on why these skills are helpful in their daily lives.
Step 3
Activity: Conversation Card Mixer
15 minutes
Distribute the pre-cut cards from the Conversation Card Mixer (one per student or pair). Explain the rules: students will find a partner, each choose a card, and use the prompt to start a conversation, practicing turn-taking and eye contact. After a few minutes, have them switch partners and repeat with new cards. Circulate and observe, offering gentle reminders about the skills.
Step 4
Activity: Role-Play Practice
15 minutes
Introduce the Role-Play Prompts. Explain that students will work in small groups (2-3) to act out short scenarios, specifically focusing on practicing eye contact and smooth turn-taking in conversation. Provide a few prompts and give students time to practice. You might choose to have a few groups demonstrate for the class.
Step 5
Wrap-Up and Reflection
5 minutes
Bring the class back together. Ask students to share one thing they learned or practiced today about social skills. Reinforce the importance of these skills for building positive relationships. Encourage them to continue practicing these skills in and out of the classroom.