Holiday Communication Navigators Lesson Plan Holiday Communication Navigators
Social Skills Lesson Plan • Tier 2 Group
Duration 60 min
Why This Matters
Developing effective communication and social skills is crucial for students to confidently participate in family gatherings and holiday events, fostering a sense of belonging and reducing potential social anxiety.
Audience & Approach
Audience: Middle School Students with ID (including AAC users)
Approach: Guided discussion, role-playing, and interactive gaming.
Teacher Preparation
Review all generated materials: slides, warm-ups, and bingo cards.
Print or display the Holiday Greeting Gallery prompts.
Prepare scenario slips for the Role-Play Round Robin .
Gather AAC devices or communication boards; ensure holiday vocabulary is loaded.
Print enough copies of the Social Skills Bingo Game cards.
Prep Time 15 Minutes
Learning Objective
"Students will identify and practice appropriate social greetings, asking questions, and responding in holiday contexts, including considerations for AAC users, to enhance their contextual communication and social skills."
Instructional Sequence
10 min
Warm Up: Holiday Greeting Gallery
Present various greetings and ask students to identify when and where they might use each one.
Encourage students to demonstrate or use their AAC devices to show appropriate greetings.
Facilitate a brief group share about why different greetings are used in different situations.
15 min
Discussion: Holiday Chat Starters
Lead a discussion on conversation starters and responses for holiday gatherings.
Provide examples of open-ended questions and practice responding thoughtfully.
Emphasize turn-taking and listening skills. For AAC users, discuss initiation and maintenance strategies.
20 min
Activity: Role-Play Round Robin
Divide students into pairs or small groups and provide holiday scenario slips.
Students role-play greetings, asking questions, and responding appropriately.
Circulate to provide support and feedback, paying special attention to AAC device use.
Rotate scenarios or partners after a few minutes.
10 min
Game: Social Skills Bingo
Distribute bingo cards with social skills (e.g., 'Made eye contact', 'Asked a question').
Call out skills as students perform or recall them during quick interactions.
First student to get bingo wins a small, non-food prize.
5 min
Wrap-Up and Reflection
Bring group back together to share one new skill learned or practiced.
Reiterate the importance of these skills for upcoming gatherings.
Encourage pride in effective communication efforts.
Holiday Communication Slides Holiday Communication Navigators
Your Guide to Awesome Holiday Chats!
Hellos & Goodbyes
Great Conversations
Responding to Others
Social Superstars!
Welcome students! Explain that today we're going to become 'communication navigators' for the holidays. Emphasize that everyone communicates differently, including AAC users.
Holiday Greeting Gallery
How do you say hello to different people?
1 Your best friend?
2 Your grandma?
3 Someone new?
Let's Brainstorm!
What words or gestures do you use?
AAC Users: Find "Hello" or "Hi" on your device!
Holiday Chat Starters
Start Strong
"What is your favorite holiday food?"
Ask Questions
Use Who, What, Where, When, Why!
Active Listening
Nod your head and make eye contact.
AAC Strategy: Use "How was your...?" or "Tell me about..."
Role-Play Round Robin
Practice Makes Perfect!
Ready? Set? Let's Try It!
Social Skills Bingo
Mark off your squares as you use or see these skills!
Eye Contact
Asked a Question
Used a Greeting
Responded Kindly
First to 5 in a row wins!
Navigator Success!
What did you learn today?
New Skill
"What's one new skill you'll try at your next holiday party?"
The Big Why
"Why is it important to practice talking with others?"
Great Job, Navigators!
Holiday Greeting Gallery Warm Up Holiday Greeting Gallery
Warm Up Activity
Name:
Date:
Think about the holidays. You see lots of different people!Directions: Read about the people below. How would you greet them? Write your answer or draw what you would do.
👋✨
1. Your Best Friend
(Imagine: Two friends waving excitedly!)
How would you say hello at a party?
👵👴
2. Your Grandma or Grandpa
(Imagine: A grandparent smiling warmly!)
How would you say hello to them?
👔💼
3. An Adult Relative (Aunt or Uncle)
(Imagine: Someone you haven't seen in a long time!)
How would you greet them politely?
🤝👤
4. A New Person
(Imagine: Someone new you are meeting for the first time!)
How would you introduce yourself?
Bonus Challenge for AAC Users
Can you find these greetings on your device or board?
Hello / Hi
Good to see you!
Happy Holidays!
I am... (Name)
Holiday Chat Starters Discussion Holiday Chat Starters
Discussion & Practice Worksheet
Holiday gatherings are a great time to talk to people! But sometimes it's hard to know what to say. Let's learn how to keep the conversation going.
1
Starting a Conversation
Think about it: What are some polite ways to start talking to someone at a holiday party?
Fun Idea
"Did you do anything special today?"
Holiday Idea
"What's your favorite holiday food?"
Positive Idea
"This house looks so festive!"
AAC Tip:
Practice finding phrases like "How are you?" or "What's new?" on your device. You can also point to holiday pictures to start a chat!
2
Asking Questions
Open-ended questions make people talk more! They usually start with: Who, What, Where, When, Why, How.
1. "Did you get any presents?" (Yes/No)
Make it open-ended:
2. "Is the food good?" (Yes/No)
Make it open-ended:
3. "Are you having fun?" (Yes/No)
Make it open-ended:
3
Responding Thoughtfully
Eye Contact
Nod & Smile
Comment/Ask
Statement: "My family is making a huge pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving!"
How would you respond?
Statement: "I got a new book for the holidays."
How would you respond?
Role-Play Round Robin Activity Slips Role-Play Round Robin
Teacher Activity Guide & Scenario Slips
Teacher Material
How to Facilitate
Cut out the scenario slips below.
Place students in pairs or small groups.
Give each group one slip to practice.
Set a timer for 3-4 minutes per round.
Rotate slips/partners for 4 rounds.
Circulate and provide AAC support.
Scenario 1: The Long-Lost Cousin
You are greeting your cousin who just arrived at your family's Thanksgiving dinner. You haven't seen them since last summer.
Practice: Greetings ID: RR-01
Scenario 2: The School Update
An adult family friend asks you, "How was school this year?" You want to tell them a little bit about what you learned.
Practice: Responding ID: RR-02
Scenario 3: The Festive Decor
You see your aunt admiring a new holiday decoration. You want to comment on it and ask her about it.
Practice: Asking Questions ID: RR-03
Scenario 4: The Thank You
Your grandparent gives you a gift, and you open it. You want to thank them and say something about the gift.
Practice: Appreciation ID: RR-04
Scenario 5: The Buffet Line
You are in line for food next to someone you don't know well. Start a conversation about the holiday dinner.
Practice: Chat Starters ID: RR-05
Scenario 6: Sharing a Game
You are playing a game with a group of friends. Ask someone a question about their day to keep things friendly.
Practice: Turn-Taking ID: RR-06
AAC Implementation Notes
Programming: Ensure "Questions," "Social Phrases," and "Holiday" folders are easily accessible. Pre-load specific phrases like "Thank you for the gift!" or "That looks yummy!"
Modeling: Use the student's device to model initiating a conversation in Scenario 5. Show them how to navigate to the "Open-Ended" question words.
Social Skills Bingo Game Social Skills Bingo
Review & Social Recognition Game
GAME DAY
How to Play:
1 Every student gets a BINGO card. Look at your squares!
2 The teacher will call out a social skill or a holiday topic.
3 If you used that skill or saw someone else use it today, mark it off!
4 Get 5 squares in a row (across, down, or diagonal) and shout "BINGO!"
AAC Accommodations:
• Encourage students to point to the skill on their card if they used it.
• Use tokens (like coins or holiday stickers) instead of markers to make it easier to reset.
• Ask AAC users to model the skill they just marked off on their device!
BINGO Card #1
Student:
B
I
N
G
O
Asked a "What" Question
Made Eye Contact
Used a Greeting
Listened Carefully
Said "Thank You"
Responded to Question
Talked About Food
Asked a "How" Question
Waited My Turn
Smiled While Talking
Offered a Compliment
Started a Conversation
Free Space! ✨
Talked About a Gift
Asked a "Who" Question
Talked About School
Asked a "Where" Question
Gave a Comment
Asked a "Why" Question
Nodded My Head
Stayed on Topic
Asked "What's New?"
Used AAC Device
Talked About Weather
Said "Goodbye"
