38 Conversation Cards
Brooklynn Hill
Strategy Overview
- Conversation Cards is a learning activity that students use to practice talking to each other using topic starters within Conversation Cards. Conversation Cards are questions or prompts that are given to students that help them guide their own conversations with each other. This can be about a specific classroom topic or just cards that are helping students get to know their peers while also practicing their speech.
- Conversation Cards are important because they encourage student interaction and social skill development. Conversation Cards are also able to help students develop their verbal expression skills along with their comprehension skills as they are not only reading what is on the card, but they are to continue listening and speaking to their partner throughout the activity.• Teachers can use this activity in the classroom at any time during the day. It is most often used in between lessons or subjects as it is a great way to break up direct student learning. Teachers use this strategy to help students get up and get moving while practicing their skills and yet it is still organized. Students are learning and skill building while they believe that they are only talking to their peers.• In the article, “Strength Cards Online Journal” it states, “They (the cards) promote language development as children are encouraged to express their thoughts and opinions. This allows them to expand their vocabulary and improve their communication skills” (Wood, 2023). Moreover, “discussion cards help build critical thinking skills. Children are encouraged to question, interpret, and evaluate information. This helps them to develop analytical and problem-solving skills” (Wood, 2023).
Throughout this activity, students will be able to get up and move around and speak to their peers about the conversation cards they have in front of them. Each child will receive a question that they are to ask their partner. Before anyone moves from their seat, teachers should pass out these cards and tell the students to keep their question to themselves for right now as they don’t want to give it away for the activity. First, have the student read their question to themselves silently to make sure that everyone knows what they need to ask their peers. Once everyone knows what they are to ask, each student will be assigned a number, one or two. If you were selected to be a “one”, when the teacher or instructor says so, you may get up go to the open are in the room and make a circle facing outwards. Once the “ones” are in place, the “twos” may stand up and go stand in front of one of the number “ones”. Once everyone has a partner, teacher will announce ones to ask their questions first. “Twos” will respond to the question, and they may keep talking until told otherwise. Once the conversation has quieted down, teacher will announce that “twos” may ask their question. Once the conversation has quieted down again, teacher will announce that the “twos” can rotate around the circle by however many to find a new partner to talk to. This will repeat until all of the “ones” have been partnered with all of the “twos”. Once everyone has finished, students can return to their seats and will have a class discussion about what everyone talked about.
Related Resource
Wood, D. (2023, March 29). The benefits and use of discussion cards. Strength Cards.
