Building on What Someone Said
A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on the rules of a discussion and on responding to the person who spoke before you.
Building on What Someone Said is a free 40-minute Grade 1 English lesson plan for Common Core standard SL.1.1 — follow the rules for discussion and build on what others say. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 1
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- SL.1.1
Grade 1 · Speaking & Listening
SL.1.1
Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
Objective
Students will be able to follow discussion rules and add a comment that connects to the previous speaker.
Students are successful when they can
- Listens without interrupting.
- Uses a linking phrase to connect to the last speaker.
- Adds something new rather than agreeing only.
What you need
- A talking object
- Linking phrases on card: I agree because, I want to add, that reminds me, but what about
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — four rules
5 min- Agree four rules: one voice, look at the speaker, wait, stay on the topic.
- Break one deliberately and let the class name it.
Teach — the phrase before the idea
13 min- Show the four linking phrases. Read each aloud.
- Start a discussion. Take a comment, then model a linked one using a phrase.
- Then model an unlinked one — a good idea that ignores what came before. Ask what was missing.
- Say the rule: use the phrase first, then your idea.
- Show that 'I agree' on its own is not enough — the 'because' is where the thinking is.
“Start with the phrase. It makes you say what the last person said before you say yours.”
Guided practice — chain of four
12 min- Groups of four hold a discussion, each using a linking phrase.
- The talking object passes in order the first time round, freely the second.
- Listen for anyone who agrees without adding.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the discussion page.
- It gives a comment and asks for a linked response.
Close
2 min- Make a statement. Take three responses, each with a different phrase.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Agrees and adds nothing.
Why: Agreeing is safe, quick and socially correct.
Fix: Require the 'because'. 'I agree' is the start of a sentence, not the whole of one.
Says an unconnected idea in turn.
Why: They have been holding it since before the last speaker started.
Fix: The phrase first. Saying what the last person said forces the connection to be made or admitted.
Waits with a hand up and stops listening.
Why: Holding an idea and taking one in compete for the same attention.
Fix: Hands down while somebody is speaking. The idea can be written on a scrap instead.
If they are not there yet
- One linking phrase rather than four.
- Give thirty seconds' thinking time before the group starts.
If they finish early
- Disagree politely and give a reason.
- Bring a group back to the topic without stopping the speaker.
- Summarise what three people said.
Exit ticket
Your partner said the story was sad. Respond with a linking phrase and add something.
What to look for: The phrase and something new. 'I agree' alone means the 'because' needs another lesson's worth of attention.
Printable practice for SL.1.1
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Rules for a Good DiscussionFinish each sentence.
Questions about Building on What Someone Said
How long does the Building on What Someone Said lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Building on What Someone Said teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.1 — SL.1.1, Speaking & Listening for Grade 1: “Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.” In plain terms, follow the rules for discussion and build on what others say.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
A talking object, linking phrases on card: I agree because, I want to add, that reminds me, but what about and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: agrees and adds nothing; says an unconnected idea in turn and waits with a hand up and stops listening. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Your partner said the story was sad. Respond with a linking phrase and add something.” The phrase and something new. 'I agree' alone means the 'because' needs another lesson's worth of attention. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Building on What Someone Said?
Yes — 1 printable SL.1.1 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Building on What Someone Said free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to SL.1.1 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.