Introduction

Engaging in meaningful conversations is a crucial social skill that helps build and maintain relationships. One effective strategy to make conversations interesting is to talk about things that others like. By observing visual clues and thinking about their interests, we can make conversations more enjoyable and foster stronger connections. In this blog post, we will explore an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity designed to teach students how to engage in conversations by discussing things that others enjoy.

No-Prep Activity

This activity, called “Conversation Clues,” requires no preparation or materials from the educator. It can be done in a classroom or group setting. Follow these steps to conduct the activity:

1. Ask students to form pairs or small groups.
2. Each student takes turns being the “observer” and the “participant.”
3. The observer’s task is to look for visual clues about the participant’s interests, such as clothing, accessories, or personal items.
4. The participant’s task is to engage in a conversation with the observer, discussing the topic related to the clues they found.
5. After a few minutes, ask students to switch roles and repeat the process.
6. Once everyone has had a chance to participate, bring the group together and discuss the experience.

This activity helps students practice their observation skills and engage in conversations based on others’ interests, making them more enjoyable and meaningful.

Discussion Questions

• What visual clues did you find that helped you start a conversation with your partner?
• How did talking about something your partner likes make the conversation more enjoyable?
• What other strategies can you use to find out what someone else likes?
• How can you apply these skills in real-life situations to engage in more meaningful conversations?
• Why is it important to talk about things others like in a conversation?

Related Skills

Besides talking about things that others like, there are other related social skills that students can benefit from learning:

• Active listening: Paying attention to what the other person is saying and showing empathy and understanding.
• Asking open-ended questions: Encouraging deeper conversations by asking questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.”
• Reading body language: Observing non-verbal cues to understand others’ feelings and emotions.
• Sharing personal experiences: Building connections by sharing your own interests and experiences.

Next Steps

If you found this activity helpful and would like to explore more resources on teaching social skills, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of our materials. Visit Everyday Speech’s sample materials page to access a wide range of engaging and effective activities designed to help students develop essential social-emotional skills.