Chat Champions Lesson Plan Chat Champions Lesson Plan
Tier 2 Social Skills Small Group
Total Time 30 MIN
Learning Objective
Students will practice greeting peers, initiating short conversations using starter questions, and demonstrating turn-taking to build confidence and positive social interactions.
Why This Matters
Many students with intellectual disabilities benefit from structured social skills practice. This lesson supports improved peer relationships, communication confidence, and participation in group settings.
Audience
Students with Intellectual Disabilities (Tier 2)
Approach
Modeling
Visual Supports
Role-Play
Teacher Prep (10 Minutes)
Print and cut out Greeting Visuals and Conversation Starter Cards .
Load or project the Turn-Taking Spinner .
Preview prompts on Role-Play Scenario Prompt Sheet .
Review the Behavior Checklist to track student progress.
Arrange chairs in a circle to facilitate group interaction.
Instructional Timeline
1
Warm-Up Greetings
5 min
Gather students in a circle.
Use Greeting Visuals to review simple greetings (e.g., “Hello,” “Good morning”).
Teacher models greeting a peer with eye contact and a clear voice.
Each student practices greeting the person next to them.
Accommodations: Provide sentence starters or allow pointing to visuals.
2
Model Conversation Starters
5 min
Display two Starter Cards (e.g., “What’s your favorite color?”).
Teacher models asking and answering with clear, simple sentences.
Highlight turn-taking: one speaker at a time.
Students identify the key parts of a good question and response.
3
Role-Play Practice
10 min
Pair students and distribute the Scenario Prompt Sheet .
Students use cards to start short dialogues.
Teacher circulates, prompts, and notes successes on Behavior Checklist .
Scaffold as needed with visual cues or sentence frames.
4
Turn-Taking Spinner Game
5 min
Introduce the Turn-Taking Spinner .
Students spin and speak for the number of seconds indicated.
Peers listen silently, then respond when it’s their turn.
Teacher reinforces effective listening and positive feedback.
5
Wrap-Up and Feedback
5 min
Reconvene in the circle.
Invite each student to share one thing they did well today.
Provide specific praise tied to items on the Behavior Checklist .
Remind students to use their new skills throughout the day.
Chat Champions Slides Chat Champions:
Social Skills
Welcome everyone! Introduce today’s session: “Chat Champions.” Explain that we will learn three key social skills—greetings, starting a chat, and taking turns—to feel more confident talking with friends.
Warm-Up: Greetings
1 Review simple greetings: “Hello,” “Good morning.”
2 Teacher models greeting a peer.
3 Students practice around the circle.
4 Use visuals or starters as needed.
👋
"Hello, [Name]!"
☀️
"Good morning!"
Display the Greeting Visuals. Model saying “Hello” with a smile and eye contact. Encourage students to stand and greet the person next to them.
Conversation Starters
Try these questions:
“What’s your favorite color?”
“Do you like animals?”
“Where do you like to play?”
Identify question + response parts
One person speaks at a time
Show two example cards. Model asking “What’s your favorite color?” and responding. Emphasize one speaker at a time.
Role-Play Practice
1
Work in pairs with a partner.
2
Use starter cards to start a short chat.
3
Take turns speaking and listening.
4
Ask for help if you get stuck!
Pair students and hand out Scenario Sheet. Circulate to prompt or rephrase. Use Behavior Checklist to note successes.
Turn-Taking Spinner
5s
10s
15s
20s
Spin the spinner
Speak for the seconds
Peers listen quietly
Then switch roles
Project or pass around the spinner. Model spinning, speaking for the time, and then passing. Reinforce good listening.
Our Chat Tools
Greeting Visuals
Pictures to help you say hello.
Starter Cards
Cards with questions to ask friends.
Scenario Sheets
Practice what to say and when.
Point to each visual support. Remind students they can use these tools anytime they need help starting a conversation.
Conversation Starter Practice Worksheet Conversation Starter Practice
Chat Champions • Social Skills
Name:
Date:
1
Matching
Match the question on the left with the best response on the right. Write the letter in the blank space.
Questions
What’s your favorite color?
Do you like animals?
Where do you like to play?
Responses
A.
My favorite color is blue.
B.
Yes, I like animals.
C.
I like to play at the park.
2
Fill in the Blank
Use words from our practice to finish each sentence.
1. A: “What’s your _________ _________?”
2. A: “Do you _________ animals?”
3. B: “My favorite _________ is _________.”
3
Your Turn
Write one conversation starter question you can ask a friend.
Starter Worksheet Key Starter Worksheet Answer Key
Chat Champions • Assessment & Scoring Guide
Total Points 9
This key supports consistent scoring and guides teachers through each item with step-by-step reasoning for Tier 2 progress monitoring.
1. Matching
3 Points Total
No. Correct Answer Teacher Reasoning Points 1 A “What’s your favorite color?” matches “My favorite color is blue.” 1 2 B “Do you like animals?” matches “Yes, I like animals.” 1 3 C “Where do you like to play?” matches “I like to play at the park.” 1
2. Fill in the Blank
4 Points Total
1
A: “What’s your favorite color?”
Scoring: 1 pt for each word (2 total).
2
A: “Do you like animals?”
Scoring: 1 pt for the correct verb.
3
B: “My favorite color is [any color].”
Scoring: 1 pt for "color", 1 pt for a logical choice (e.g., blue, red).
3. Your Turn
2 Points Total
Students write an original conversation starter question. Expect a question word (What, Do, Where, etc.) and proper structure.
Rubric
1 pt: Structure (Question word + subject + verb)1 pt: Relevance & Punctuation (Social topic + ?)
Full Credit Example
“Where do you like to play?”
Use this key to guide feedback and highlight correct patterns for future practice.
Quick Chat Reflection Worksheet Cool Down Activity
Quick Chat Reflection
Thinking about how I used my social skills today.
Name:
1 Today I practiced...
Circle one or more things you did today:
Greeting
Asking a Question
Taking Turns
2 One thing I did well today was...
3 Next time I want to try...
4 How does this help you talk with friends?
You are a Chat Champion!
Greeting Visuals Handout Greeting Visuals
Chat Champions • Communication Tools
Use these visuals to model and practice different ways to say hello!
👋
Hello!
Wave and Smile
☀️
Good Morning!
Start your day
😃
Hi!
A quick greeting
❓
How are you?
Show you care
Teaching Tip: Point to the visual while modeling the greeting. Have students practice "eye contact" and "volume control" (not too loud, not too quiet) while using these prompts. These can also be taped to student desks or cubbies as reminders.
Conversation Starter Cards Handout Conversation Starter Cards
Cut along the dotted lines • Practice asking friends questions!
Question
🎨
What is your favorite color?
Question
🐶
Do you like animals?
Question
🛝
Where do you like to play?
Question
🍕
What is your favorite food?
Question
🧸
What is your favorite toy?
Question
🎮
Do you like playing games?
Helpful Sentence Frames
To ask:
"What is your...?"
To answer:
"My favorite is..."
Role-Play Scenario Prompt Sheet Role-Play Scenario Prompts
Chat Champions • Practice Scenarios
How to Use
Pair students together. Give each pair a scenario or read one aloud. Use the Conversation Starter Cards to help students know what to say. Encourage one student to start and the other to listen and respond.
🏫
Scenario 1: Hallway Greeting
"You see a friend in the hallway before class starts."
Try this:
Student A says: "Good morning! How are you?"
Student B says: "I am good, thank you!"
🥪
Scenario 2: Lunch Chat
"You are sitting next to a friend at lunch."
Try this:
Student A says: "What is your favorite food?"
Student B says: "My favorite food is [pizza]!"
🛝
Scenario 3: Recess Fun
"You meet a friend on the playground."
Try this:
Student A says: "Where do you like to play?"
Student B says: "I like to play on the slides!"
🎨
Scenario 4: Art Class
"You are working on a drawing with a partner."
Try this:
Student A says: "What is your favorite color?"
Student B says: "I like blue! What do you like?"
Teacher Note: Encourage students to stay on topic and wait for their partner to finish speaking.
Behavior Tracking Checklist Behavior Tracking Checklist
Chat Champions • Social Skills Monitoring
Instructions
Use this checklist during role-play and the turn-taking game to monitor student progress. Mark a check (✓) for skills performed independently, or use the prompt level codes: I (Independent), V (Verbal Prompt), G (Gestural/Visual), P (Physical).
Student Name Uses Greeting Initiates Question Responds Appropriately Waits Turn Eye Contact
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Observation Notes
Tier 2 Support Documentation • Keep for Progress Monitoring
