Conversation and Communication

Summary
A nonsense verse introduces the art of conversation followed by a discussion of rules that make for good conversation and communication. After the lesson, activities help the children practice conversation and communication skills.

Objectives
• The children will be able to listen and respond appropriately during a conversation.

• The children will be able to use language confidently and competently for communication.

Suggested Grades
2nd Grade
3rd Grade

Excerpt
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings"
(Lewis Carroll 1872).

Read the verse above, which is from Lewis Carroll?s poem, The Walrus and the Carpenter. The Walrus has come up with all sorts of topics to talk about, but right now we just want to talk about talking. When two or more people talk together we call that a conversation. Did you know that there are rules for conversation, just as there are rules for school, for home and for sports? Can you think of some of the rules? Here are the most important ones:

Continued...