Help kids build stronger conversation skills and topic maintenance with these engaging On or Off Topic Social Skills Games! This digital and printable activity teaches students how to recognize whether a comment connects to the conversation, ask relevant questions, and practice staying on topic while talking with others.

Through an introductory social story, 32 interactive Google Slides, and printable extension activities, students explore how conversations work and what it means to contribute to a shared topic. They practice identifying on-topic and off-topic responses and learn ways to keep conversations going through comments and questions.

Designed for grades 2–5, this resource is perfect for school counseling, speech-language therapy, social skills groups, special education, and classroom social emotional learning (SEL) lessons. The combination of digital games and printable practice activities makes it easy to introduce and reinforce pragmatic language skills in different settings.

📦 What's Included:

✔️ Introduction to Topic Maintenance Social Story

• A student-friendly introduction to staying on topic during conversations.

• Helps children understand how people build conversations by sharing related comments and asking questions.

✔️ 32 Interactive Google Slides

• Digital on-topic or off-topic scenarios that invite students to decide whether a response connects to the current conversation.

• Use the scenarios to discuss why a comment fits the topic or introduces something different.

✔️ Printable Extension Activities

• Additional practice activities for creating on-topic comments and asking related questions.

• Reinforce conversation skills beyond the digital game through guided discussion and written or verbal responses.

✔️ Digital and Printable Learning Options

• Use the Google Slides activity for interactive lessons and the printable resources for individual practice, small groups, or follow-up instruction.

🎒 Quick Details: Grades 2–5 | 👥 Individual counseling, small groups, speech therapy + classroom SEL | 🖨️ Printable activities + Google Slides | 🎯 Topic maintenance, pragmatic language, conversation skills + social communication

🛍️ Bundle & Save:

Looking for more social communication and pragmatic language activities?

This resource is also included in the Pragmatic Social Skills Growing Bundle, which combines conversation activities and interactive social skills games at a discount.

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🎯 Skills Addressed:

✔️ Understanding topic maintenance

✔️ Recognizing on-topic and off-topic comments

✔️ Asking relevant conversation questions

✔️ Making comments that connect to a shared topic

✔️ Practicing conversational turn-taking

✔️ Developing pragmatic language skills

✔️ Building social communication skills

✔️ Practicing active listening

✔️ Recognizing conversational connections

✔️ Exploring ways to introduce a new topic

✔️ Developing conversational flexibility

✔️ Building confidence participating in conversations

💡 Ways to Use It:

✔️ Introduce topic maintenance during individual counseling

✔️ Read the social story before playing the digital game

✔️ Practice identifying on-topic and off-topic responses using the 32 Google Slides

✔️ Invite students to explain how a comment connects to the conversation

✔️ Practice generating relevant follow-up questions

✔️ Use printable extension activities during speech-language therapy

✔️ Incorporate the game into social skills groups

✔️ Practice conversation turn-taking with partners

✔️ Discuss how to introduce a new topic when someone wants to change the subject

✔️ Explore how conversations can include different interests and perspectives

✔️ Use the digital game during classroom SEL lessons

✔️ Display the slides on an interactive whiteboard

✔️ Use selected scenarios as a counseling warm-up

✔️ Practice conversations about topics chosen by students

✔️ Revisit the activities when working on friendship and communication skills

👩‍🏫 Who It's For:

School Counselors and Social Workers: Teach topic maintenance, conversation skills, and social communication during individual or small-group counseling.

Speech-Language Pathologists: Support pragmatic language goals related to staying on topic, asking relevant questions, and contributing related comments.

Special Education Teachers: Provide structured instruction and opportunities to practice conversation skills.

Classroom Teachers: Incorporate the digital game into SEL lessons, partner activities, and classroom discussions.

Child Therapists and Psychologists: Explore conversational communication and friendship skills through interactive scenarios.

Families and Homeschool Educators: Practice conversation skills through guided activities and everyday discussions.

🖨️ Format & Download:

This digital resource includes:

✔️ Introductory topic maintenance social story

✔️ 32 interactive Google Slides

✔️ Printable extension activities for on-topic comments and questions

Use the digital game on a computer, interactive whiteboard, or through screen sharing.

Print the extension activities for hands-on practice during counseling, speech therapy, or classroom instruction.

This is a digital download. No physical materials will be shipped.

📌 Important Notes:

Conversations are collaborative, and staying on topic is only one part of meaningful communication. Changing topics, sharing personal interests, and communicating in different ways are all valid parts of social interaction.

The goal is to help students recognize conversational connections and build communication options, not to require one rigid style of conversation.

Students can participate through speaking, writing, pointing, or other preferred communication methods.

Invite students to explore when staying on a shared topic is helpful and when introducing a new topic may be appropriate.

This resource is designed for grades 2–5 and can be adapted to students' individual communication needs.

This is a digital download. No physical materials will be shipped.