Social communication requires using non-verbal and verbal skills effectively when interacting with others. Non-verbal communication includes the expressions on our face, the tone and volume we use, and the body movements or proximity that we use when communicating. It is recognizing when we need to give someone a chance to talk or take a turn. It is being able to see the perspective of someone else. We pick up cues from our listeners to know that they are listening and understanding what we say.
Someone that doesn’t have strong social skills may have difficulty with peer interactions, be considered rude, or not communicate effectively with individuals or a group. These are very important skills, needed to maintain friendships and employment later in life.
Activities on this page were originally created for a social skills group I was conducting at the elementary and middle school levels. You may feel free to use the activities for children you serve on your caseload, in your classrooms, or your individual child. I can not guarantee results by using these materials . Please seek professional guidance with children who seem beyond your scope or experience. They are not meant to be copied for commercial purposes or posted for downloads on another site. Yon may link to this site.
Small Group Activities
- Social skills goals list for small group
- Cup Pyramid: a teamwork activity that builds communication and cooperation.
- Who are you anyway? : An activity that practices asking questions and using the information to draw a conclusion.
- Paper tower: A teamwork activity that promotes cooperation and communication to accomplish a task.
Tangram Puzzles
- Tangram puzzles: A teamwork activity that promotes problem solving, cooperation, and communication.
- Shamrock Tangram: A puzzle for the month of March
Barrier Games
- Barrier Game: An activity that promotes perspective taking, positional vocabulary building, and accurate communication.
Eggs-actly barrier and BINGO game: a free sample set.
- Eggs-actly barrier game full set at Teachers Pay Teachers
- Role playing cards: Real life scenarios for students to discuss or use when making skits.
- What do you say?: Every day student situations.
- It’s How You Say It task cards on Teachers Pay Teachers
Brain Mold and Jello Brain
Flexible brain jello recipe available on this post with explanation for its use. Used with a flexible brain curriculum and brain jello mold. A Flexible Brain Revisited
Question game in a Jeopardy format
- Jeopardy: I use this game with my social language groups to make students aware of the need for providing appropriate detail. If questions do not contain appropriate detail there may be more than one answer for an item in a category.
- Conversation scaffolding: How to teach conversation skills with visual cues.
Cards are available as a supplement to this activity. They provide examples of topics and responses people use during a conversation. They give structured practice for responding appropriately.
Click here for a free sample of Reply to a Comment
- Chutes and Marbles: A teamwork activity that promotes communication and problem solving. It promotes math/science concepts of slope and level.
- Previous command: This is a good warm up activity if you are doing language groups. There are written instructions connected to the title. Unfortunately, the link to the free sample sound track in the instructions no longer works. However, here is a link to the the CD in case you want to investigate it further. Music Elementary: BODY JIVE CD
Trial and Error Activities
- Crocodile Pass: This activity encourages students to learn from mistakes and to move on. It requires them to use their short term memory to remember a pattern and make inferences to predict the pattern. It encourages using observation as a learning method.
- This activity was updated recently and 2 themed products were added. It is ideal for a social-classroom party activity. It is now available in the themes below. Click here for a direct link to Teachers Pay Teachers.
- exploration of a brown bag: An activity for exploration, problem solving, and seeing another perspective. It also forces students to think of descriptive words not connected with sight.
- Positive and Negative Statements: Statements that can be sorted, and used for discussion.
- Suction Cup Ball and Target: This activity provides rehearsal for beginning a conversation, asking questions and answering. questions on topic. It can be used as an ice breaker for a new group.
- Bad Thing, Good thing: Cards that provide both perspectives for a given scenario. To down load free sample cards, click on title text. To get a complete set from Teachers pay Teachers click on the cover.
- Working on reacting appropriately to a given event? Click here for a free sample of the cards below. Click on the cover for the complete set.
- Expected behaviors when interacting socially.
- Free sample of the cards listed below.
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