Introduction

As educators, we strive to help our students develop essential life skills that go beyond academic knowledge. One such skill is the ability to make connected comments during conversations. This skill is crucial for effective communication and fosters positive relationships among students. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity that helps elementary students practice making connected comments, along with discussion questions, related skills, and next steps for educators.

No-Prep Activity: The Comment Connection Game

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. To begin, have the students sit in a circle. The first student starts by making a statement or asking a question. The next student must then make a connected comment or ask a related question. The game continues around the circle, with each student making connected comments or asking related questions. If a student struggles to connect their comment, encourage them to think about the topic being discussed and find a way to relate to it.

For example:

• Student 1: “I went to the park this weekend.”
• Student 2: “What did you do at the park?”
• Student 3: “I love playing on the swings at the park.”

This activity helps students practice listening carefully to their peers and responding with relevant comments, improving their communication and social-emotional learning.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to make connected comments during conversations?
2. How do connected comments help us build better relationships with our peers?
3. What strategies can you use to make sure your comments are connected to the conversation?
4. How did it feel when someone made a connected comment to something you said?
5. Can you think of a time when you struggled to make a connected comment? How did you handle it?

Related Skills

Beyond making connected comments, there are other essential skills that contribute to effective communication and social-emotional learning. Some of these related skills include:

• Active listening: Paying close attention to the speaker and engaging with their thoughts and feelings.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the emotions of others, which helps build stronger connections.
• Nonverbal communication: Interpreting body language, facial expressions, and gestures to better understand the speaker’s message.
• Conflict resolution: Resolving disagreements and misunderstandings through effective communication and problem-solving skills.

Next Steps

Now that you’ve learned about teaching students to make connected comments and its importance in social-emotional learning, we encourage you to explore more resources and activities to support your students’ development. To get started, sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech.