Chat Spark Cards Chat Spark Cards
Cut these out to kickstart your lunch conversation!
OPINION POPPER
If you could only eat one snack for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Follow-up Idea:
"What's the best brand of that snack?"
THE DEBATE
Which is better: Having a superpower like flying or being able to talk to animals?
Follow-up Idea:
"What animal would you talk to first?"
OPINION POPPER
What is the absolute best movie or TV show to watch on a rainy day?
Follow-up Idea:
"Who is your favorite character in that?"
THE DEBATE
Do you think hot dogs are technically sandwiches? Why or why not?
Follow-up Idea:
"What other foods are hard to categorize?"
OPINION POPPER
If you could change one school rule, which one would you pick?
Follow-up Idea:
"How would that change a normal school day?"
THE DEBATE
Is it better to travel 100 years into the past or 100 years into the future?
Follow-up Idea:
"What technology are you most excited to see?"
MY OWN QUESTION
Follow-up Idea:
MY OWN QUESTION
Follow-up Idea:
Chat Catalyst Visuals Talk Track Visuals
Keep the conversation moving like a pro!
Share an Opinion
Ask a Follow-Up
Share Your Opinion
"I think that..."
"In my opinion, the best..."
"I prefer _______ because..."
"I'm not sure, but I feel like..."
Ask a Follow-Up
"What do you think?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Tell me more about _______."
"Have you ever tried _______?"
The Golden Rule of Chatting
Listen to their answer! A good follow-up question shows you were actually paying attention to what they said.
Mini Table Tents
Cut these out and fold them to put on the table!
Fold Here
SHARING OPINIONS
"I think... because..."
ASKING FOLLOW-UPS
"What do you think?"
Fold Here
Fold Here
GIVE A THOUGHT
"In my opinion..."
ASK A "WHY"
"Why do you say that?"
Fold Here
Chat Cafe Slides Chat Cafe
The Art of Great Conversation
Sharing Opinions
Asking Follow-ups
What is an Opinion?
An opinion is how YOU feel or think about something.
"It's not a fact—it's your personal flavor!"
"I think pizza is the best lunch."
"In my opinion, cats are funnier than dogs."
"I feel like recess is too short!"
The Secret Ingredient
Asking a Follow-Up Question
It shows you're LISTENING
It keeps the chat GOING
It makes others feel IMPORTANT
The Conversation Loop
Step 1
Give an Opinion
"I think..."
Step 2
Ask a Follow-Up
"What do you think?"
Repeat until the lunch bell rings!
Cafe Practice
Ready to use your Chat Spark Cards?
1
One person picks a card and reads the question.
2
Everyone shares their opinion.
3
Ask a follow-up question to learn more!
Let's get chatting!
Chat Cafe Teacher Guide Chat Cafe Facilitation Guide
Teacher Resource • Social Skills
Objective
Students will practice reciprocal conversation by sharing their own opinions and asking follow-up questions to engage with their peers in a lunch group setting.
Material Prep
Chat Spark Cards (Cut & Laminated)
Chat Catalyst Visuals (Printed)
Chat Cafe Slides (Projected)
Self-Reflection Sheets (1 per student)
Key Terms
Opinion:
A personal thought or feeling that isn't necessarily a fact.
Follow-Up:
A question related to what someone just said to keep the talk moving.
Reciprocal:
A back-and-forth exchange where everyone contributes.
The Lunch Group Menu
Min 05
The Appetizer: Small Talk Warm-up
Start with a simple "One-Word Opinion" round. Ask everyone: "What is one food that should NEVER be allowed at lunch?" Go around the circle quickly.
"We're warming up our 'Opinion Engines' today! Just like a cafe has a menu, we have topics to talk about."
Min 10
The Main Course: Instruction & Loop
Use the Chat Cafe Slides to define Opinion and Follow-Up. Introduce the Conversation Loop . Model a poor conversation vs. a good one with another adult or a student volunteer.
"Dead End": Share opinion... (Awkward silence)
"The Loop": Share opinion... "What do you think?"
Min 15
Dessert: Spark Card Practice
Hand out the Chat Spark Cards . Let students take turns being the 'Cafe Host' who picks a card and reads it. Remind everyone to use the Table Tents for sentence stems.
Look For:
Eye contact when asking a question.
Wait time after asking a question.
Using "I think..." or "In my opinion...".
Min 05
Check, Please: Reflection
Distribute the Self-Reflection Sheets . Have students mark their own progress. Discuss one "win" from the group today.
Chef's Secret Tips
For Quiet Chatters:
Give them the "Host" role more often to control the prompt. Provide the visual Table Tent directly in front of them.
For "Topic Grabbers":
Use a physical 'talking piece' (like a coaster). They can only talk when holding it, and must pass it after asking a follow-up.
Chat Cafe Reflection Sheet Check, Please!
Chat Cafe Reflection
Name
Date
How did you do today?
Check the boxes for the things you practiced!
I shared an opinion about a topic.
I asked a follow-up question.
I listened while my friends were talking.
Rate our Session
Color in the stars to show how well we talked together!
Needs Practice Superstar Chat!
One thing I learned about a friend today:
Chat Cafe • Connection Over Conversation
Chat Cafe Tracker Chat Cafe Tracker
Teacher Observation Tool
Session: ____________________
Observation Key
Consistent
Emerging
Not Yet Observed
Student Name Shares Opinion Follow-Up Question Maintains Topic Individual Notes
Group Dynamics & Wins
Next Session Focus
Adjustment Needed
Chat Cafe • Professional Progress Tracker
