Enhancing Discussion Skills

Taylor-Leigh·

Discussion

Preview

At a Glance

Grade Level5th Grade

SubjectDiscussion

Original Prompt

Students will discuss the meaning of a paragraph with a partner. Starter Students choose an emoji that matches the paragraph’s emotion. Guided Practice Teacher and TA model discussion using sentence stems. Independent Practice Pairs read, summarise, and discuss questions about a new paragraph. Plenary Each pair shares one understood point.

This resource is designed for 5th-grade students to improve their discussion skills through collaborative learning. It outlines an interactive session that includes the use of sample paragraphs, emoji cards to identify emotions, and sentence stem anchors to facilitate meaningful conversations. Students will engage in partner discussions focusing on understanding the content of paragraphs, sharing perspectives, and building teamwork skills. The lesson emphasizes the importance of good discussion practices that apply not only in academic settings but also in daily life. By creating a positive atmosphere for sharing ideas, the resource encourages students to actively listen, take turns speaking, and respectfully build on each other's thoughts. The session includes clear expectations, modeling examples, and structured activities that guide students through reading, summarizing, and discussing text in pairs, ultimately culminating in a sharing time where students highlight key insights.