Introduction

Communication skills are essential for young children to develop strong relationships and navigate their social world. One important aspect of communication is making connected comments. In this blog post, we will explore the skill of making connected comments, offer a no-prep activity for educators, and provide discussion questions to stimulate further conversations. By teaching PreK students to make connected comments, we can help them foster better connections with their peers and enhance their social-emotional learning journey.

No-Prep Activity: The Animal Connection Game

The Animal Connection Game is a simple, no-prep activity that helps students practice making connected comments. Here’s how it works:

1. Have students sit in a circle.
2. Start the game by making a statement about your favorite animal (e.g., “My favorite animal is a giraffe.”)
3. Ask the student to your left to make a connected comment about animals (e.g., “Giraffes have long necks. My favorite animal is a zebra.”)
4. Continue around the circle, with each student making a connected comment and mentioning their favorite animal.
5. If a student struggles to make a connected comment, encourage them to think about the previous comment and find a connection to their own thoughts or experiences.

This activity allows students to practice making connected comments in a fun and engaging way while also learning about their classmates’ favorite animals.

Discussion Questions

• Why is it important to make connected comments when we talk to others?
• How does making connected comments help us build better relationships with our friends?
• What are some strategies you can use to make connected comments if you’re unsure how to respond?
• How can we practice making connected comments in our everyday conversations?
• Can you think of a time when you made a connected comment, and it led to a great conversation with a friend? What happened?

Related Skills

In addition to making connected comments, there are other communication skills that can help PreK students develop healthy relationships and navigate their social world. Some related skills include:

• Active listening: Paying full attention to what others are saying, and responding appropriately.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Nonverbal communication: Using body language, facial expressions, and gestures to convey meaning.
• Conflict resolution: Resolving disagreements and misunderstandings in a calm and respectful manner.

Next Steps

Teaching PreK students to make connected comments is an essential part of their social-emotional learning journey. If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources to help teach this skill and others, sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. By incorporating these valuable skills into your educational approach, you can help students build strong communication skills and foster meaningful connections with their peers.