[INTRODUCTION – animated scene]

Narrator: Using our Topic Radar helps us think about what other people like to talk about. We want to make sure we talk about more than just our favorite topics.

Boy1: Video games are so cool!

Boy2: (neutral emotion)

Narrator: This isn’t very fun for other people. If we aren’t sure what to talk about with others, we can use the Topic Radar. This helps us remember what we know about others.

Boy1: (topic radar – dog, hiking, book. Topic radar selection: book) What is your favorite book?

Narrator: People like to talk about things you have in common or about things they’re interested in. This makes them feel excited.

Boy2: I have so many favorite books! Where do I even begin?

[SKILLS]

Narrator: The skills we use are:

(1) Think about the other person’s interests

(2) Remember what you know about them. This could be their family members, hobbies, or favorite things.

(3) Look for clues in your surroundings – something a friend is holding or wearing.

Let’s see how Julian uses his Topic Radar.

[SCENE 1 – Julian and Cole are writing in their notebooks at home]

Julian: (looks up to Cole) I got to this new level of my video game last night and now there are all these weird robots and they keep making these weird noises.

Cole: Yeah. (rolls eyes) You were telling me about that at lunch. (sighs, continues writing on notebook)

Julian: Yeah, and it’s getting really hard, but I think I found their weakness.

Cole: (does not look up from his work) Great.

Julian: (notices Cole’s book) But, anyway, how is that book you’ve been reading?

Cole: Oh, it’s so good! I couldn’t put it down. (shows his book to Julian)

Julian: What’s it about?

Cole: It’s about time travel.

Julian: Time travel? That’s so cool.

[FROM MY VIEW]

Julian: When Cole came over, I had to think about what to talk about with him. I really want to tell him about the video game I’ve been playing, but I realize he didn’t look that interested. It’s not fair to only talk about what I like, so I used my Topic Radar to think about what Cole would want to talk about. I know he likes dogs, hiking, and reading. He’s been carrying that book with him all week so I knew I could ask him about that.

[SKILLS REVIEW]

Narrator: When we’re talking to our friends, we can use our Topic Radar to think about new things to talk about. We can think about things they like, something they’ve told us before, or a clue that we see. This way, we know they’ll be excited to talk to us.

[WHAT DID WE LEARN?]

Narrator: So, what did we learn?

If we only talk about our favorite topics all the time, it isn’t much fun for other people. Instead, we can think about what others like to talk about.

To use the Topic Radar, we:

(1) Think about the other person’s interests.

(2) Remember what you know about them. This could be their family members, hobbies, or favorite things.

(3) Look for clues in your surroundings – something a friend is holding or wearing.