Unit 1: Social Chat is Teamwork - Conversation for Social Interaction (CoSI)

Unit 1 Overview

The main aim of this unit is to introduce children to the value of being able to chat with peers, to break down some of the main elements involved (including the idea of conversation being team work where we use connecting statements) and to get children comfortable with social chat. Tolerance for neurodiversity is supported in a peer-to-peer activity which emphasises that everyone has a different chatting style and that’s fine.

Unit 1 Overarching Plan: This page (see also the downloadable version) gives an overview of the whole unit, and we recommend you look through this before accessing the individual resources.

Click here to download the Overarching Plan Lesson Plan for Unit 1 (PDF)

Learning Objectives

Overarching Learning Objective for Unit 1:

Understand that social chat is teamwork.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand why social chat is important.

2. Understand that we need to show we are interested in the other person’s chat.

3. Understand and practise ways of keeping social chat going by:

I. Using Connecting Statements (i.e. adding relevant information).

II. Using Interested Supporting Words (such as ‘Me too!’ or ‘Wow!’)

4. Understand that people chat differently, and we should respect each other’s differences.

5. Feel more relaxed in engaging in free social chat.

6. Practise listening to what the chatting partner says.

Learning Outcomes

All students can
• Understand that we use social chat to show we are interested in other people.
• Feel more relaxed in a social chat environment.

Most students can
• Notice ways in which people show their interest in others during social chat.
• Offer and respond to some social chat.

Some students can
• Describe ways to keep a social chat going.
• Take into account some of their chatting partner’s needs.

Unit 1 Lessons

Complete the unit in the order listed in the table below. Clicking the links to the PowerPoint slides will automatically download the materials. Other materials will open in a new page, and you can choose to also download them if you want.

Click here for the optional poster that accompanies this unit.

	Lesson	Objectives	Materials	Timing
1	First Lesson	To understand why social chat is important. To understand that social chat is teamwork. To explore ways of keeping social chat going.	‘Unit 1 First Lesson’ PowerPoint slides Notes section on PowerPoint slides Unit 1 Intro Lesson Plan	25-40 minutes
2	Structured Practice	To explore and accept that different people have different chatting styles.	‘People Chat Differently’ PowerPoint slides ‘People Chat Differently’ Lesson plan (Optional) Print Slide 4 for each pupil to complete	15-20 minutes
3	Free Chat	Feel more relaxed in engaging in social chat. Practise listening to what the chatting partner says. Practise keeping the chat going using connecting statements. Practise showing interest by using Interested Supporting Words.	‘Unit 1 Free Social Chat’ PowerPoint slides Unit 1 Free Social Chat Lesson plan Teacher Feedback Phrases for Unit 1 Teacher training video ‘How and Why to give feedback on social chat’	15 minutes Plus Try to find another 5 minutes Free Social Chat time (without slides) during the week.