Science Lesson Talk Rules

Teacher: Before we get talking about what our discussion will be, let's just quickly remind ourselves of our rules for talk, which we do before every single cafe. The things that we need to be just bearing in mind when we're talking to each other, when we're listening to each other. Ok. So we need to think about talking together to think about what it is that we're actually doing. Ok. Talking together. Not talking over each other, but actually having that conversation. Share what you know, there's no point in locking it away. Share your ideas, get your ideas out. If you're not sure if your idea is correct, ask people, they might be able to help you. Ask everyone to say what they think, so don't just always think about what you have to say, think about what other people have to say as well and encourage them to say those things. Listen carefully to others and consider what you hear. It's very easy to sit there and just wait for your turn to speak isn't it? But we actually really need to be thinking about 'well what has that person just said'? Give reasons for what we say. So 'why do you think this?' 'I think this because ...', think about some of the vocabulary that you might use. Pay attention. So always make sure that you're really listening carefully. Try to think of good ideas. Decide what to do only when everybody has said what they want. So it's about that taking turns, making sure that everybody's voice gets heard. Try to agree about what you think, but sometimes is it ok if along the way we disagree?

Class: Yes.

Teacher: It is isn't it? And that's where your talk comes into it. So at the end we've got a goal and our goal is to try to challenge each other, pick apart 'you think this, but you think that', can you all come to an agreement at the end, even if you disagree with some of each others ideas, through that discussion that you have? Always remember our manners and listen politely to others, even if we disagree with their thinking. So we've just said it's good sometimes to disagree with other people's thinking, but we can do that politely, ok? So this morning we're going to have several rounds of discussions and we're going to link our talking today with a lot of the learning that we have been doing about the solar system. Ok? So, to begin with I'm going to put a picture up on the board for you and in this picture there are some statements, and all I would like you to do in your groups, and I've given you some big bits of paper out and you've got your pens. You can make any markings on the paper you want, any jottings you would like. I would like you to discuss what you see. Now before we begin to discuss, what are your top tips for a really really good cafe conversation? We've just gone through what our rules are. These are non-negotiable, this is what we always do. But have you got some top tips that you could give each other because you are experts at this. Marianna?

Marianna: If someone's talking and you've got an idea and you just can't wait to get it out, write it down on your hotter.

Teacher: Brilliant, well done. If somebody's - sorry I just interrupted you. Finish off ...

Marianna: (Inaudible)

Teacher: Yeah well done. If somebody is talking and they are mid-flow and you're trying to listen but you're thinking 'I've got a really good idea but I know that if I keep listening it's going to float off out of my head', write it down and then come back to it. You don't need to interrupt, but write it down so you don't forget. That's a really good tip. Mfoose?

Mfoose: Also, if someone is saying something and you don't quite get it you can tell them to explain further or just make it more interesting, make it more make sense, because you might not know what they might be saying and it might be really good, and yeah, you could forget it.

Teacher: Yeah, sometimes people are talking and as they're thinking and talking at the same time, sometimes our mouths and our brains are getting a little bit confused aren't they and things come out and we think we've said something, but actually we haven't been as clear as we thought. So if someone does that, just really politely, what sentence could we use? What could we say if someone said something that you're thinking 'I'm not quite sure what you mean there?' What could we say? Hannis?

Hannis: Could you repeat that sentence again?

Teacher: Yeah, please can you repeat that again? What if they've repeated it again and you're still not quite sure? Can you think of a different kind of question that we might be able to ask them, so that it's a bit clearer? Xanthia?

Xanthia: Can you explain what you mean?

Teacher: Yeah, can you explain what you mean? Ok? So it's not just, 'Oh I didn't hear, can you repeat it?' It's 'Can you explain what you mean?' Or maybe pick up something they've said and ask them a direct question about it. So that's good. Can you think of any other tips we could give each other? Sam?

Sam: Only one person speaks at a time so that means, how many groups there are, we only hear that many people talking.

Teacher: Well done. We should always remember that in a good conversation, one person should be speaking at a time. So we have 7 groups today, so at any given time, we should only really be able to hear about 7 voices. Ok? Because it's as much about speaking today as it is about listening to each other as well. Ok. Princess and Victoria, could you please go and put a pot of pens at every group? Ok. They're just over there. I'm going to give you large sheets of paper. Just like Marianna said, if someone's talking and you've thought of a really good idea and you're afraid that you're going to forget it, then you need to write it down.

Mfoose: Miss, also, if you still don't get it when they've (explained it) you could ask someone who understands and maybe they can say it in a different way.

Teacher: Yes they could do. ((Pause to hand out paper))