Help students build the essential skills to engage with the world | Topical Talk

Topical Talk lessons support students to develop the four critical-thinking and communication skills from the Skills Builder Universal Framework: problem-solving, creativity, speaking and listening. Each skill is broken down into a sequence of 16 steps, starting with absolute beginner through to mastery.

These skills are essential for success at school and beyond and are supported by over ten years of evidence-backed research.

In Topical Talk resources you'll find activities that help students practice their speaking, listening, problem-solving and creativity, as well as opportunities to reflect on their progress.

Read the full skills descriptions below, or download our free handy classroom poster.

Get the classroom poster

Topical Talk skills

Listening

Receiving, retaining and processing information

GETTING STARTED (ages 5-9)

Step 1: Focusing
I can listen for at least a short time
Step 2: Recalling
I remember simple instructions
Step 3: Checking
I ask questions if I don't understand
Step 4: Retelling
I pass on information accurately

INTERMEDIATE (ages 9-13)
- Step 5: Recognising purpose
  I know why someone is communicating with me
- Step 6: Note-taking
  I record important information
- Step 7: Active listening
  I show I am paying attention
- Step 8: Questioning
  I ask open questions to understand more
ADVANCED (ages 13-17)
- Step 9: Summarising
  I rephrase or summarise what I learnt
- Step 10: Recognising tone
  I recognise tone of communication
- Step 11: Identifying influence
  I recognise when someone is trying to influence me
- Step 12: Comparing views
  I compare different points of view
MASTERY (17+)
- Step 13: Analysing views
  I explore why different points of view might come about
- Step 14: Investigating bias
  I analyse where bias is shown
- Step 15: Strategic questioning
  I use questions to challenge perspectives
- Step 16: Evaluating perspectives
  I objectively evaluate and integrate different perspectives

Speaking

Transmitting information or ideas

GETTING STARTED (ages 5-9)

Step 1 Sharing clearly
I communicate clearly with someone I know
Step 2: Discussing together
I communicate clearly in a small group
Step 3: Meeting others
I communicate with new people when I need to
Step 4: Organising thoughts
I order my points to be understood

INTERMEDIATE (ages 9-13)
- Step 5: Knowing the audience
  I adapt my communication to what my audience already know
- Step 6: Choosing language
  I choose appropriate language for the situation
- Step 7: Expressing self
  I use tone, expression and gesture to be understood
- Step 8: Using facts
  I use facts and examples to support my communication
ADVANCED (ages 13-17)
- Step 9: Sharing visuals
  I use images, charts or diagrams when it helps my communication
- Step 10: Communicating sensitively
  I talk about difficult or sensitive topics effectively
- Step 11: Speaking engagingly
  I communicate in a way that is engaging for my audience
- Step 12: Adaptive communicating
  I adapt my communication depending on audience reactions
MASTERY (17+)
- Step 13: Negotiating
  I manage discussions effectively to reach an agreement
- Step 14: Constructive communicating
  I maintain clear and constructive communication in challenging situations.
- Step 15: Presenting
  I present to an audience when required
- Step 16: Inspiring others
  I communicate a vision persuasively

Problem solving

Finding solutions to challenges

GETTING STARTED (ages 5-9)

Step 1: Following instructions
I follow instructions
Step 2: Seeking support
I find help from someone if needed
Step 3: Sharing problems
I describe problems to others
Step 4: Finding information
I find information to complete a task

INTERMEDIATE (ages 9-13)
- Step 5: Creating options
  I create different possible solutions to a problem
- Step 6: Analysing options
  I identify advantages and disadvantages of potential solutions
- Step 7: Evaluating options
  I choose between possible solutions based on success criteria
- Step 8: Researching
  I research to build my understanding
ADVANCED (ages 13-17)
- Step 9: Exploring causation
  I analyse causes and effects
- Step 10: Recognising patterns
  I identify patterns to gain insight
- Step 11: Systems thinking
  I identify how parts of a system impact each other
- Step 12: Logical reasoning
  I use logical reasoning to structure problems
MASTERY (17+)
- Step 13: Hypothesis testing
  I structure ideas so that I can test them
- Step 14: Strategic planning
  I develop strategic plans to address complex problems
- Step 15: Evaluating approaches
  I evaluate the success of strategic plans
- Step 16: Continual learning
  I improve strategic plans based on new insights

Creativity

Using imagination and generating new ideas

GETTING STARTED (ages 5-9)

Step 1: Imagining
I imagine different things
Step 2: Sharing imagination
I share what I imagine with someone
Step 3: Expressing imagination
I share what I imagine in different ways
Step 4: Generating ideas
I create ideas to solve a problem

INTERMEDIATE (ages 9-13)
- Step 5: Suggesting improvements
  I create ideas to make something better
- Step 6: Combining concepts
  I can combine ideas to make new ones
- Step 7: Identifying opportunities
  I identify opportunities for innovation
- Step 8: Defining success
  I set out success criteria for creating new ideas
ADVANCED (ages 13-17)
- Step 9: Flexible thinking
  I challenge my assumptions about ideas
- Step 10: Reflecting critically
  I question my own ideas to improve them
- Step 11: Seeking perspectives
  I seek different perspectives to develop my ideas
- Step 12: Prototyping
  I create quick tests of an idea
MASTERY (17+)
- Step 13: Incubating ideas
  I give ideas time and attention to evolve
- Step 14: Using curiosity
  I seek new concepts and ideas to innovate from
- Step 15: Facilitating creativity
  I share creative tools for collective innovation
- Step 16: Championing creativity
  I nurture cultures of creativity and innovation