Introduction

Helping students understand the importance of varying conversation topics is an essential component of social-emotional learning. When students focus on a single subject, it can be difficult for them to connect with others who have different interests. By teaching students to be aware of their conversation partners’ interests and preferences, they can develop stronger connections and enhance their social skills. In this blog post, we will explore an easy no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help elementary students learn to adapt their conversations to the interests of others.

No-Prep Activity: Topic Switch Game

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator and can be easily implemented in a classroom setting. The purpose of this game is to help students practice switching between different conversation topics, encouraging them to be mindful of their conversation partners’ interests.

1. Have students sit in a circle or in pairs, depending on the size of the group.
2. Choose a student to start the game by mentioning a topic they are interested in.
3. The next student, going clockwise or to the other partner, must briefly discuss the first topic and then introduce a new topic.
4. Continue around the circle or between partners, with each student briefly discussing the previous topic and introducing a new one.
5. Encourage students to be attentive and responsive to each other’s topics, even if they are not personally interested in them.

This activity helps students practice listening, responding, and adapting to different conversation topics, promoting empathy and understanding of others’ interests.

Discussion Questions

1. How does it feel when someone only talks about a topic you’re not interested in? How can we avoid making others feel this way?
2. Why is it important to discuss various topics with different people? How does this help us build stronger connections with others?
3. Can you think of a time when you had to change the subject of a conversation to make it more interesting for the person you were talking to? How did you do it, and what was the outcome?
4. How can we practice being more attentive and responsive to the interests of others during conversations?
5. What are some strategies for politely changing the topic of a conversation when we notice someone is not engaged or interested?

Related Skills

Teaching students to vary conversation topics is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that can help students develop strong social connections include:

• Active listening: Encouraging students to listen carefully to others and respond thoughtfully during conversations.
• Empathy: Helping students understand and share the feelings of others, allowing them to better connect and communicate with their peers.
• Nonverbal communication: Teaching students to recognize and interpret body language and facial expressions to better understand how others are feeling.
• Conflict resolution: Providing students with tools to address disagreements and misunderstandings in a respectful and constructive manner.

Next Steps

Now that you have an understanding of the importance of varying conversation topics and how to implement this skill in your classroom, we encourage you to explore more social-emotional learning resources. Sign up for free sample materials from Everyday Speech to discover activities, videos, and more to help your students develop a wide range of essential social skills.