Topic Elaboration - 1

Teachers

Definition: Topic elaboration means to provide a lot of information on a particular subject. To effectively elaborate on a topic you can: give facts, add interesting comments, teach new information, provide comparisons, state the obvious, add humor, or provide

Questions

Why is it important to elaborate on topics in a conversation?
What happens to the dynamics of a conversation when a person talks about a topic continuously and provides the same information over and over?
How does asking questions help us elaborate on a topic?

Discuss with students what it means to elaborate on a topic. Review the discussion point questions.

Possible activities to review the discussion point:

The group should form a circle. Ask a question and allow students to toss a bean bag to those who would like to answer the question.
Play tic-tac-toe by dividing the group into teams. Write discussion questions on a post-it note and place them on the tic-tac-toe grid. Allow a representative from the team to select a post-it note and as a team develop an answer to the question. If they get it right they may put their teams marker (x or o) on the grid.

Activity 1: Storylines

Review with students the definition of topic elaboration. Reflect on the discussion point questions.

In the large group, choose two students, Student A and Student B. Give the students the script on student activity sheet A and allow students to role play. The remainder of the students should determine if Student A and Student B appropriately elaborated on the topic.

Parenter students and allow them to practice elaborating on these topics:

What did you do this weekend?
What did you do at your birthday party?

For practice consider creating your own story lines.

Materials Needed:

Student Activity Sheet A - 1 per group

Pencil per group

Activity 2: Related Information and Circumstances

Explain to students that knowing related information about topics allows them to better elaborate. Form students into small groups. Distribute student activity sheet B and allow groups to work together to complete.

Materials Needed:

Student Activity Sheet B - 1 per group

Pencil per group

Activity 3: Comic Strip Worksheet

Allow students time to complete student activity sheet C. Discuss answers as a group.

Materials Needed:

Student Activity Sheet C - 1 per student

Pencil for each student

Lesson Extension: Listening Comprehension and Grammar Review

Explain that a script is a form of dialogue writing between characters in a movie, play, or broadcast. Utilizing the immersive reader students should listen carefully as the teacher plays the example scripts below. Replay the script if needed. Allow students time to answer the questions on student activity sheet D.

After students have finished, discuss the listening comprehension questions together.

Materials Needed:

Student Activity Sheet D - 1 per student

Pencil for each student

Student activity sheet E - 1 per student

Red and purple colored pencil or crayon

Example script of demonstrating appropriate topic elaboration:
Darren: Hi, Anya. Do you like to play board games? I love all board games.
Anya: Yes, I do. My favorite is chess. I play it all the time.
Darren: That’s great! What other board games do you like?
Anya: I like to play checkers. Darren: Me too!

Example script of demonstrating inappropriate topic elaboration:
Darren: Hey, do you like baseball?
Anya: Yes, what’s your favorite team?
Darren: (walks away)
Anya: That was rude.

Allow students time to complete activity sheet E.

Display the script using the immersive reader, highlight the nouns in the script. Students should self check their work to determine if they correctly named two nouns. Repeat the process for verbs and syllables.

If time allows students may partner together and role play the script.

Script Writing and Animation

Review and discuss example scripts from lesson extension.

In small groups, have the students create scripts using eye contact appropriately (looking at the conversation partner) and inappropriately (by not looking at the conversation partner). Use the script sheet to create students scripts.

Have students record their scripts using SiLAS software for social skills. Remember to name and save their work. Premiere the movies with the group members at the end of each session.

Materials Needed:

Script sheet for each group

Pencil for each student

Lesson Review

Allow students to complete the student lesson review sheet

Materials Needed:

Student Lesson Review Sheet - 1 per student

A pencil for each student

Read Aloud Recommendations:

Completing a read aloud with students is a great way for them to see and learn social skills as well as incorporating reading skills. Below are some books that could be used to reinforce the concept. Read and discuss as appropriate for level and as time allows throughout the lesson.

Utilize current classroom literature that demonstrates topic elaboration.

Students

Go to only student curriculum

Student Activity Sheet A

Directions: With your partner decide who will be student A and who will be student B. Role play the situation.

Script 1

Student A:Hi, how are you? I went to the movies last night.
Student B:That sounds like fun. What movie did you see?

Script 2

Student B:Hi Chris would you like to come to the playground with me?
Student A:No.

Student Activity Sheet B

Write down the name of a topic. Next, identify four pieces of information directly related to the topic.

Topic ___________________________

__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

Student Activity Sheet C

Directions: Study the comic strips below. Next, circle the answers that show the characters elaborating on a topic.

Student Activity Sheet D

Who are the characters in this script?
What is Anya’s favorite board game?
Does Darren like board games?
How do you think Anya felt when Darren walked away?

Student Activity Sheet E

Directions: In the scripts below circle two nouns in purple that name a person and one noun that names a place. In red circle two verbs.

Remember: A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. A verb names describe an action, state, or occurrence

Directions: How many syllables do you hear in the words below?
Darren __
chess __
baseball __
rude __
checkers __

Student Lesson Review Sheet

Directions: Complete the following questions.

Please give three examples of how you can elaborate on a topic.
Why do we need to elaborate on a topic?