Lesson Plan
Small Talk Strategy Plan
Students will learn key small talk strategies—greeting, asking open questions, and sharing brief information—and practice them through guided prompts and role-plays to build confidence in everyday conversations.
Developing small talk skills helps students connect with peers, reduces social anxiety, and fosters a positive classroom community by giving them clear scripts and practice opportunities.
Audience
5th Grade Small Group
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Teach, model, practice, and reflect through scripts and role-play.
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
5 minutes
- Review the Small Talk Strategy Plan
- Open the Mastering First Impressions slide deck
- Print and cut the Starter Sentence Cards
- Print or display the Peer Practice Prompts
- Arrange desks or tables for quick Role-Play Rotations
Step 1
Introduction & Objective
5 minutes
- Welcome students and explain today’s goal: becoming confident small talkers
- Display slide 1 of Mastering First Impressions
- Read objective aloud and check for understanding
Step 2
Teach Small Talk Strategies
6 minutes
- Present three core strategies on slides 2–4 of Mastering First Impressions: greet, ask open questions, share info
- Model each script using a volunteer or co-teacher
- Highlight how Starter Sentence Cards provide easy prompts
Step 3
Guided Pair Practice
6 minutes
- Divide students into pairs and hand out Peer Practice Prompts
- Each pair practices greeting and question scripts, using the prompt scripts to guide roles
- Circulate to give corrective feedback and praise efforts
Step 4
Role-Play Rotations
8 minutes
- Set up 3 stations, each with a different scenario on Role-Play Rotations
- Students rotate every 2½ minutes, applying scripts with new partners and situations
- Encourage use of Starter Sentence Cards if they get stuck
Step 5
Reflection & Wrap-Up
5 minutes
- Reconvene as a group and ask: “Which script felt easiest? Which was hardest?”
- Use a quick thumbs-up/thumbs-down self-assessment for comfort level
- Assign a short at-home prompt: talk to a family member using one small talk strategy
Slide Deck
Mastering First Impressions
Objective:
• Learn three core small talk strategies: Greeting, Asking Open Questions, and Sharing Information.
• Practice each strategy so you can start conversations with confidence.
Welcome students and explain today’s goal: becoming confident small talkers. Prompt them to think about why small talk matters in friendships and daily life. Read aloud the objective and check for understanding.
Strategy 1: Greeting
When you meet someone, start with a clear, friendly greeting:
• “Hi, I’m Alex. How’s your day going?”
• “Good morning! I’m Jordan. What’s up?”
Tips:
– Make eye contact
– Use a cheerful tone
– Smile
Introduce the first strategy: greeting. Model a simple, friendly greeting. Encourage students to notice tone, eye contact, and smile. Ask a volunteer to practice.
Strategy 2: Asking Open Questions
Instead of questions that get yes/no answers, ask open-ended ones:
• Closed: “Did you watch the game?” → Open: “What was your favorite part of the game?”
• Closed: “Do you like school?” → Open: “What do you enjoy most about school?”
Tips:
– Start with What, How, or Why
– Show genuine interest
Explain open-ended vs. closed questions. Demonstrate both and highlight why open questions keep conversations going. Have a partner demo.
Strategy 3: Sharing Information
After greeting and asking a question, share a little about yourself:
• “I just baked cookies over the weekend. What’s your favorite snack?”
• “I’m reading a cool book about space. Have you read anything fun lately?”
Tips:
– Keep it short
– Relate it back to their response
Show how sharing brief personal info gives the other person something to connect with. Model a full small talk example using all three strategies.
Script
Peer Practice Prompts
Instructions for Pairs:
- Find a partner and decide who will be Student A and who will be Student B for Round 1. You will switch roles each round.
Round 1: Greeting (1 minute)
- Student A says: “Hi, I’m ____. How’s your day going?”
- Student B replies with a greeting and a brief answer, then asks the same greeting back: “Hi ____. I’m doing ____. How about you?”
- Switch roles and repeat once more.
When you finish:
- Give each other quick feedback (30 seconds):
• One thing you did well (e.g., eye contact, clear voice)
• One thing to try next time (e.g., a bigger smile)
Round 2: Asking Open Questions (1.5 minutes)
- Student A asks an open-ended question: “What was your favorite part of yesterday?”
- Student B answers in a full sentence, then asks Student A an open question: “What did you like most about the weekend?”
- Switch roles and try two new questions.
When you finish:
- 30 seconds of feedback:
• One open question you liked
• One tip for making questions even better (e.g., starting with “What” or “How”)
Round 3: Sharing Information (2 minutes)
- Student A shares a short detail: “I baked brownies over the weekend. What’s your favorite dessert?”
- Student B responds and then shares their own information and a follow-up question: “That sounds delicious! I love ice cream. Have you ever tried making ice cream at home?”
- Switch roles and repeat with your own statements.
When you finish:
- 30 seconds of feedback:
• One sharing tip you liked (e.g., you kept it short and interesting)
• One suggestion to connect more (e.g., tie your info to your partner’s answer)
Wrap-Up Reminder: Use these prompts during Role-Play Rotations and at home when you practice with family members. You’ve got this!
Activity
Role-Play Rotations
Instructions:
• Set up three stations around the room.
• Students spend 2½ minutes at each station practicing the scenario using greeting, open questions, and sharing information.
• Partners switch roles each rotation.
Station 1: School Hallway
Scenario: You run into a classmate by their locker in between lessons.
Prompts:
- Greeting: “Hi, I’m ____. How’s your day going so far?”
- Open Question: “What was the best part of our last class?”
- Share Info: “I’m excited for art next period—I love drawing. What do you enjoy most about art?”
Use your Starter Sentence Cards if you get stuck.
Station 2: Lunchtime Chat
Scenario: You and a partner are sitting together at lunch and want to start a fun conversation.
Prompts:
- Greeting: “Hey there! I’m ____. What did you bring for lunch today?”
- Open Question: “What’s your favorite thing to eat at the cafeteria?”
- Share Info: “I tried a new sandwich recipe last night. What’s the coolest meal you’ve ever made?”
Station 3: After-School Club
Scenario: You’re both members of the after-school art club and want to talk about your projects.
Prompts:
- Greeting: “Hello! I’m ____. What art project are you working on today?”
- Open Question: “Why did you choose that color palette?”
- Share Info: “I’m painting a landscape of the park. I love the green shades. What do you like most about your project?”
After three rotations, reconvene for a quick share-out: Which station felt easiest? Which one challenged you the most?
Don’t forget to give each other feedback: one strength and one tip for each scenario!
Use these practice stations whenever you want to build confidence in small talk outside of class. You’ve got this!
Worksheet
Starter Sentence Cards
Greeting Starters
- “Hi, I’m ____. How’s your day going?”
- “Hello! I’m ____. What’s up?”
- “Good morning! I’m ____. How’s your morning so far?”
Open-Ended Question Starters
- “What was the best part of your weekend?”
- “How did you _____?”
- “Why do you enjoy _____?”
- “What do you think about _____?”
Sharing Information Starters
- “I just _____ over the weekend. What’s your favorite _____?”
- “I’m reading _____ about _____. Have you read anything fun?”
- “I tried making _____ last night. Have you ever made _____?”