Introduction
Teaching high school students the importance of Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers is crucial for their social-emotional development. Conversation Drivers are essential for maintaining and progressing a conversation, while Conversation Stoppers can bring an interaction to a premature end. The following activity, “Guess What Happens Next,” is designed to help students understand and practice these skills in a fun and engaging way.
No-Prep Activity: Guess What Happens Next
This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator, making it an ideal choice for a quick and effective lesson. To begin, have your students gather in a circle or sit in a way that allows them to face each other. Explain the concept of Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers, and then introduce the game.
In the “Guess What Happens Next” activity, the educator will present a short conversation between two people. After each statement, the educator will pause and give the students three possible responses. The students’ task is to guess which response will keep the conversation going (Conversation Driver) and which will stop it (Conversation Stopper). Students can either vote by raising their hands or discuss their choices in small groups before sharing with the class.
For example:
Person A: “Hey, how was your weekend?”
Person B: “It was good. I went to the movies.”
Person A could say:
- “Oh, what movie did you see?” (Conversation Driver)
- “That’s cool.” (Conversation Stopper)
- “I don’t like movies.” (Conversation Stopper)
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to recognize and use Conversation Drivers in our daily interactions?
- Can you think of a situation where you unintentionally used a Conversation Stopper? How did it impact the conversation?
- How do body language and nonverbal cues play a role in driving or stopping a conversation?
- What strategies can you use to ensure you are using more Conversation Drivers than Stoppers in your interactions?
- How do Conversation Drivers and Stoppers affect the quality of our relationships with others?
Related Skills
Beyond Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers, there are several other related skills that are important for students to develop:
- Active Listening: Paying close attention to what others are saying and showing genuine interest in their thoughts and feelings.
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing the emotions of others, which can help in maintaining meaningful conversations.
- Assertiveness: Expressing one’s thoughts and feelings clearly and respectfully, which can help in driving a conversation forward.
- Conflict Resolution: Addressing and resolving disagreements in a healthy and productive manner.
Next Steps
To further enhance your students’ understanding of Conversation Drivers, Conversation Stoppers, and other essential social-emotional learning skills, consider signing up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. These resources offer a variety of engaging activities and lessons designed to help students develop strong communication skills and build lasting relationships.
