Topic Maintenance: Four Turns on One Topic
Pragmatics · Grades 3–8 · 10 cards · about 15 min
Turn-counted conversation tasks with an explicit maintenance rule per card, so staying on topic is the measurable thing rather than an impression at the end of the session.
Your partner names a topic. Stay on it for four turns without changing it, then say how you did.
Say it out loud
What's in this activity
- Your partner names a topic. Stay on it for four turns without changing it, then say how you did.
- Talk about school lunch for four turns. Each turn has to add something new, not repeat.
- Your partner starts a topic you find boring. Stay on it for three turns and ask one real question about it.
- Talk about a topic you love. Stop after four turns even if you want to keep going.
- A topic change is only allowed after a bridge sentence. Say the bridge out loud when you use it.
- Your partner will change the topic once without warning. Notice it, name it, and steer back.
- Talk about weekend plans. Every turn of yours has to begin by referring to what your partner just said.
- Pick a topic you know nothing about. Stay in the conversation by asking questions for four turns.
- Have a three-minute conversation on one topic. Count the topic changes together afterwards.
- Tell your partner about a problem. Their job is to stay on your topic; afterwards say whether they did.