Talk Cards: 24 Conversation Starters
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About this resource
The central resource of this pack — 24 cut-out talk cards designed to provoke genuine conversation, not one-word answers. Each card poses an open question that requires the speaker to articulate, justify, or imagine: “If you could invent a new flavour of ice cream, what would it be and why?” or “What would you take to a desert island and why?”
The cards are deliberately graded across four kinds: Imagining (encourages hypothesising), Justifying (encourages reasoning), Describing (encourages well-structured narratives), and Comparing (encourages evaluation). The teacher pack maps each card type to its specific NC spoken language requirement.
Designed to be printed once and used hundreds of times. Take one card on the school run, at the dinner table, at circle time, or in a quiet moment. Each conversation can last 30 seconds or 30 minutes — depends on the child.
What you'll learn
- Asking & answering questions DfE NC English spoken language req 2
- Explaining & justifying DfE NC English spoken language reqs 4, 5, 7
- Group discussion & collaboration DfE NC English spoken language reqs 6, 11, 12
Inside this resource
- 3 printable pages
For the student — how to do this
You're going to complete a printable activity sheet about english. It should take about 15 minutes. Take your time — there's no rush. If you get stuck, ask a grown-up.
For parents and carers
This is a printable activity sheet for Key Stage 1 english — about 15 minutes of focused activity. Your child can complete this on their own or with you alongside. There's no pressure to finish in one sitting.
Their best score, the time taken, and any answers they got wrong will all be saved automatically to your dashboard so you can see how they're getting on.
For teachers and tutors
A a printable activity sheet aligned to the DfE National Curriculum for Key Stage 1 english. Use as a standalone activity, a homework task, or a lesson plenary.
Pupils' completion data and assessment scores flow into the class dashboard so you can spot who needs support and on which sub-topic.
How to check the work
Compare the child's answers to the answer key (where one is included). For activities without a single right answer — drawings, reflections, or open-ended writing — talk through what they did and why. Process matters as much as outcome.