Social Awareness Script

Warm-Up: What Do You See? (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! To kick things off today, let's do a quick warm-up. Take a look at the image on the screen, or if you prefer, think about a recent interaction you had with someone.

Now, without anyone saying a word, just observe. What do you notice about the people in the image? What emotions might they be feeling? What do their body postures tell you? If you're thinking about an interaction, what subtle things did you pick up on about the other person?

Pause for students to observe and think.

Alright, who would like to share one thing they observed or felt about the image or their interaction? No need for a long explanation, just a quick observation or thought."

Introduction: Beyond Me? (5 minutes)

"Great observations, class! We just practiced something really important without even realizing it. Today, we're diving into a topic called Social Awareness. (Refer to Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 1)

When you hear the words 'social' and 'awareness,' what comes to mind? What does 'social' mean? What about 'awareness'? Feel free to shout out some ideas.

Allow a few student responses.

Excellent! Social generally refers to interactions with other people, and awareness means knowing or noticing something. So, putting them together, Social Awareness is all about noticing and understanding the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of others. (Refer to Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 2)

It's like having a superpower that helps us understand the social world around us! And trust me, it’s a superpower we all use, and one we can all get better at. (Refer to Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 3)

Deep Dive: What is Social Awareness? (15 minutes)

"To understand social awareness even better, we're going to read a short text together. Please take out the Social Awareness Reading I've handed out. As you read, think about the different ways people show their feelings or thoughts.

Allow students to read the provided text.

Now, based on our reading and what we’ve discussed, social awareness has three main parts. (Refer to Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 4)

First, Empathy. This is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It's putting yourself in someone else's shoes.

Second, Perspective-Taking. This is seeing things from someone else's point of view. It's about recognizing that others might think or feel differently than you do, and that's okay.

And third, Reading Social Cues. This is noticing those non-verbal signals – body language, facial expressions, tone of voice. Just like we tried in our warm-up!

Let’s watch a short video clip that shows different social interactions. (Refer to Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 5, play hypothetical video). As you watch, pay close attention to the body language, facial expressions, and reactions of the people in the video.

What did you observe? Did you see examples of empathy, perspective-taking, or reading social cues? What made you think that?"

Facilitate a brief discussion.

Exploring Empathy & Perspective (10 minutes)

"Fantastic observations, everyone. Now, let's put our empathy and perspective-taking skills to the test. (Refer to Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 6)

Look at the discussion prompt on the slide: 'Think about a time you noticed someone was feeling a certain way without them saying anything. What did you observe?'

Take a moment to reflect, then we'll share our thoughts. Remember to listen respectfully to each other's experiences. (Refer to Social Awareness Discussion Prompts)

Facilitate discussion for a few minutes.

That was insightful! Now, let's move into an activity to truly 'walk in their shoes.' (Refer to Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 7). We're going to do the Social Awareness Activity where you'll get a scenario and think about how you'd feel and what you'd need if you were in that situation. Work with a partner for this one."

Give instructions for the activity and monitor groups.

Reading Social Cues Challenge (10 minutes)

"Alright, let's shift gears and have some fun while practicing reading social cues! We're going to play a game called 'Charades of Emotion.' (Refer to Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 8). I'll explain the rules of the Social Awareness Game.

Explain game rules and facilitate the game.

Excellent job guessing and acting, team! You really had to pay attention to those non-verbal cues. Now, to wrap up this section, please complete the Social Awareness Worksheet individually. This will help you reflect on the different cues you observed today and how you interpreted them."

Distribute worksheets and allow time for completion.

Real-Life Application: Project Introduction (5 minutes)

"Before we finish for today, I want to introduce you to a project that will help you apply what we've learned in a creative way. (Refer to Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 9).

Your task is to create a short story, skit, or presentation demonstrating your understanding of social awareness in action. How can your character or scenario show empathy, perspective-taking, and reading social cues? All the details are in your Social Awareness Project Guide.

We'll be using the Social Awareness Rubric to assess your projects, so make sure to review it carefully. This will be a fantastic way to show off your new superpower!"

Cool-Down: My Social Lens (5 minutes)

"Wonderful work today, everyone! To wrap up, please take out your Social Awareness Cool Down.

I want each of you to think about one new thing you learned today about social awareness, or one specific way you can try to apply social awareness in your life this week. It could be something small, like paying closer attention to a friend's facial expression, or something bigger, like trying to understand why someone might be upset.

Allow students a minute to write.

Who would like to share their reflection?"

Call on a few students to share.

"Thank you for an engaging discussion and for putting in the effort to understand this vital skill. Remember, social awareness is a skill you develop over time, and every interaction is a chance to practice. Keep observing, keep empathizing, and keep understanding! Have a great rest of your day!"

Social Awareness Warm Up: What Do You See?

Instructions: Observe the image displayed by your teacher (or think of a recent interaction). Without speaking, consider the following questions. We will discuss your observations as a class.

1. What do you notice about the people in the image/interaction?
   
   
   
2. What emotions might they be feeling?
   
   
   
3. What do their body postures or gestures tell you?
   
   
   
4. What do you think is happening in the scene/interaction?
   
   
   

Understanding Social Awareness

Social awareness is like having a special antenna that helps you understand the world around you, especially the people in it. It's about being able to pick up on clues about what others might be feeling or thinking, even if they don't say a word. This skill is super important because it helps us get along with others, build strong friendships, and work together effectively.

The Power of Empathy

One of the biggest parts of social awareness is empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It's more than just feeling sorry for someone; it's imagining yourself in their shoes and truly feeling what they might be going through. For example, if your friend looks sad because they lost a game, empathy means you can understand that feeling of disappointment, even if you didn't play the game yourself. When you show empathy, you connect with people on a deeper level and make them feel understood.

Seeing Different Perspectives

Another key part of social awareness is perspective-taking. This means being able to see a situation from someone else's point of view. Think about a time you had an argument with a friend. You probably saw things one way, and they saw things another. Perspective-taking means you can try to understand their reasons, their feelings, and their way of looking at the situation. It doesn't mean you have to agree with them, but it helps you understand why they might be acting or feeling the way they are. This can help prevent misunderstandings and solve problems peacefully.

Reading the Unspoken Language: Social Cues

Have you ever known someone was upset just by looking at their face? Or realized a friend was excited by their tone of voice? That's reading social cues! Social cues are the non-verbal signals that people give off all the time. These include:

• Body Language: How someone stands, sits, or moves their arms. Crossed arms might mean someone is closed off or upset, while open arms might mean they are welcoming.
• Facial Expressions: The look on someone's face. A smile usually means happiness, a frown means sadness, and raised eyebrows might mean surprise or confusion.
• Tone of Voice: How someone says something. A sharp tone might indicate anger, while a soft tone could mean shyness or comfort.
• Eye Contact: Whether someone looks at you directly, avoids your gaze, or looks away. This can tell you a lot about their comfort level or honesty.

Being good at reading social cues helps you understand unspoken messages and respond appropriately in different social situations. It helps you know when to offer comfort, when to give someone space, or when to join in on the excitement.

Developing social awareness takes practice, but it's a skill that will help you throughout your life. It makes you a better friend, a better teammate, and a more understanding person in the world.

Social Awareness Discussion Prompts

Instructions: Discuss the following questions with your classmates. Remember to listen actively and respect different perspectives.

1. Recall a time when you were able to tell how someone was feeling without them saying a single word. What specific cues did you observe (facial expression, body language, tone of voice, etc.)?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Why do you think it's important to be able to understand how others are feeling, even if they don't tell you directly?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Have you ever experienced a situation where you misunderstood someone's social cues? What happened, and what did you learn from it?
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. How can practicing empathy (putting yourself in someone else's shoes) help resolve conflicts or disagreements with friends or family?
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Can you think of a situation where being socially aware helped you or someone you know? What was the outcome?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Social Awareness Activity: Walk in Their Shoes

Objective: To practice empathy and perspective-taking by considering different situations from another person's point of view.

Instructions:

1. You will work in pairs or small groups.
2. Each group will receive a scenario card (hypothetical scenario cards below).
3. Read your scenario carefully.
4. Discuss within your group: If you were the person in this scenario, how would you feel? What would you be thinking? What would you need from others in this situation?
5. Be prepared to share your thoughts and feelings with the class, explaining why you would feel that way.

Scenario Cards (Cut these out or write them on individual slips)

Scenario 1: The New Kid

A new student just joined your class. They seem very quiet and often sit alone during lunch. You notice they don't make eye contact when spoken to.

• How might this student be feeling?
  
  
  
• What might they be thinking?
  
  
  
• What could you or others do to help them feel more comfortable, considering their perspective?
  
  
  

Scenario 2: The Missed Tryout

Your teammate, who has been practicing for months, just missed the final tryout for the school team due to a last-minute family emergency. They look very upset and are avoiding everyone.

• How might your teammate be feeling?
  
  
  
• What thoughts might be going through their mind?
  
  
  
• What is the best way to approach them or show support?
  
  
  

Scenario 3: The Group Project Pressure

Your group has a big project due, but one member hasn't contributed much and seems distracted. When you try to talk to them, they shrug and say, "I'm busy."

• How might this group member be feeling or what might be happening with them?
  
  
  
• What could be their perspective or challenges?
  
  
  
• How could your group approach this situation with social awareness to help resolve it?
  
  
  

Scenario 4: The Misunderstood Joke

You told a joke that you thought was funny, but you notice one of your friends suddenly looks hurt and quiet. Others are still laughing, but your friend looks down.

• How might your friend be feeling?
  
  
  
• What might their perspective be on the joke?
  
  
  
• What social cues did you observe, and what should your next steps be?
  
  
  

Social Awareness Worksheet: Reading Cues

Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________

Instructions: Reflect on the "Charades of Emotion" game we played and the video we watched. Answer the questions below, thinking about how you interpret social cues.

1. During the "Charades of Emotion" game, what was one emotion that was easy to guess? What specific body language or facial expressions made it easy to identify?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. What was one emotion or scenario that was difficult to guess? Why do you think it was challenging to interpret?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Think about the video or a real-life situation. Describe a time you saw someone's body language or facial expression change. What did that change tell you about how they were feeling or what they were thinking?
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Why is it important to pay attention to both what people say and how they say it (their tone of voice)? Give an example.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. What is one thing you can do this week to practice reading social cues in your daily interactions?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Social Awareness Game: Charades of Emotion

Objective: To practice recognizing and interpreting non-verbal social cues (facial expressions, body language, gestures).

Materials: Slips of paper with emotions/scenarios written on them, a hat or bag to draw from.

Instructions:

1. Divide the class into two or more teams.
2. Each team will send one player up to the front.
3. The player will draw a slip of paper from the hat. The slip will have an emotion or a simple social scenario written on it (e.g., Excited, Frustrated, Confused, Trying to listen but distracted, Secretly happy about something, Annoyed by a loud noise).
4. The player must act out the emotion or scenario using only facial expressions, body language, and gestures – no talking or making sounds!
5. Their team has 60 seconds to guess what emotion or scenario the player is acting out.
6. If the team guesses correctly within the time limit, they earn a point.
7. Teams take turns, and the team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Example Emotion/Scenario Slips:

• Happy
• Sad
• Angry
• Confused
• Surprised
• Scared
• Excited
• Frustrated
• Worried
• Annoyed
• Tired
• Proud
• Shy
• Curious
• Relieved
• Thinking hard
• Trying to be polite
• Listening intently
• Feeling left out
• Secretly laughing

Social Awareness Cool Down: My Social Lens

Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________

Instructions: Please answer the following questions to reflect on what you learned today.

1. What is one new idea or concept about social awareness that you learned today?
   
   
   

2. Think about an upcoming social interaction you might have (with friends, family, or classmates). How can you apply one of the social awareness skills (empathy, perspective-taking, or reading social cues) in that interaction?
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident do you feel now about your ability to recognize how others are feeling (1 = not confident, 5 = very confident)?
   1      2      3      4      5

4. What is one question you still have about social awareness or social interactions?
   
   
   

Social Awareness Answer Key

For Social Awareness Quiz

1. Which of the following best defines social awareness?

   • Correct Answer: Understanding the feelings and perspectives of others
   • Thought Process: Social awareness is about being aware of the social world around you, specifically other people's emotions, thoughts, and experiences. The other options are either too narrow or incorrect.

2. What does 'empathy' mean?

   • Correct Answer: Understanding and sharing the feelings of another person
   • Thought Process: Empathy goes beyond sympathy; it's about connecting with someone's feelings on a deeper level by imagining yourself in their situation and feeling with them.

3. When you try to see a situation from someone else's point of view, you are practicing:

   • Correct Answer: Perspective-Taking
   • Thought Process: The definition directly aligns with perspective-taking, which is a core component of social awareness.

4. Which of these is an example of a social cue?

   • Correct Answer: Someone's facial expression
   • Thought Process: Social cues are non-verbal signals. Facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice are all examples. Someone telling a story, their name, or favorite color are not social cues.

5. Explain why reading body language is an important part of social awareness.

   • Thought Process: Body language provides critical non-verbal information. People often convey more through their physical expressions than their words. Understanding these cues helps us interpret emotions, intentions, and react appropriately in social situations, even when words are not spoken or are misleading.
   • Sample Answer: Reading body language is important because it provides non-verbal information about how someone is feeling or what they are thinking. People often communicate more through their body language than their words, so understanding these cues helps you respond appropriately and build better connections.

For Social Awareness Test

1. Social awareness is primarily about understanding:

   • Correct Answer: The feelings and perspectives of others
   • Thought Process: Reinforces the core definition of social awareness as outward-focused understanding of others.

2. Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates empathy?

   • Correct Answer: You listen to a friend talk about their bad day and try to imagine how they feel.
   • Thought Process: Empathy involves active listening and an attempt to understand and share the emotional experience, not just giving advice or dismissing feelings.

3. What does 'perspective-taking' involve?

   • Correct Answer: Seeing a situation from someone else's point of view
   • Thought Process: This is the direct definition of perspective-taking, emphasizing the shift in viewpoint.

4. Which of these is NOT an example of a social cue?

   • Correct Answer: What someone is wearing
   • Thought Process: Social cues are communicative signals, usually non-verbal, that convey emotion or intent. Clothing is generally a personal choice/style, not a direct real-time communication of feelings in the same way as expressions or tone.

5. Imagine a classmate is giving a presentation and you notice they are fidgeting, avoiding eye contact, and speaking very quickly. What social cues are they showing, and what might these cues suggest about how they are feeling?

   • Thought Process: This requires students to identify multiple cues and infer underlying emotions. Fidgeting/avoiding eye contact/fast speech are classic signs of discomfort/anxiety.
   • Sample Answer: Fidgeting, avoiding eye contact, and speaking quickly are social cues that often suggest nervousness or anxiety. The classmate might be feeling shy, scared of public speaking, or worried about being judged. They might be trying to get through the presentation as quickly as possible.

6. Describe a situation where having strong social awareness skills could help you resolve a conflict with a friend or family member. Be specific about which skills you would use.

   • Thought Process: This question asks for application and synthesis of the learned skills. Students should describe a conflict and explicitly mention how empathy, perspective-taking, and/or reading social cues would contribute to its resolution.
   • Sample Answer: If my friend and I argued about whose turn it was to use a shared item, strong social awareness would help. I would use perspective-taking to understand why they might genuinely believe it's their turn (maybe they forgot our last agreement or have a different memory). I would also use empathy to acknowledge their potential frustration or desire to use the item. By reading their social cues (e.g., if their voice is raised, or arms are crossed), I'd know to approach the conversation calmly and listen actively, rather than escalate the argument. This could lead to a calm discussion and finding a fair solution.

Social Awareness Project: Showing What You Know

Objective

To demonstrate your understanding and application of social awareness skills (empathy, perspective-taking, reading social cues) in a creative format.

Project Choices

You have a choice in how you want to showcase your learning. Choose ONE of the following options:

Option 1: The Social Story

Write a short story (500-750 words) about a character who faces a social challenge or misunderstanding. Your story must clearly show the character using social awareness skills to navigate the situation, build connections, or resolve a conflict. Highlight moments where your character demonstrates empathy, takes another's perspective, or accurately reads social cues.

• Key Elements: Clear plot, character development, explicit examples of social awareness skills, reflection on the outcome.

Option 2: The Empathy Skit

Create and perform a short skit (3-5 minutes) with 1-3 classmates. Your skit should depict a social situation where characters initially struggle with social awareness but then demonstrate growth or successful application of empathy, perspective-taking, or reading social cues to improve the situation.

• Key Elements: Clear scenario, development of social awareness, visible demonstration of skills (e.g., body language, dialogue showing understanding), engaging performance.

Option 3: Social Cues Presentation

Prepare and deliver a presentation (3-5 minutes) individually or with a partner. In your presentation, you will choose 3-5 specific social cues (e.g., folded arms, direct eye contact, sighing, biting nails) and explain what they often mean, when they might be seen, and how accurately reading them can help in social interactions. You can use visual aids (pictures, drawings) to demonstrate the cues.

• Key Elements: Clear explanation of chosen social cues, real-life examples, tips for interpretation, engaging delivery.

Project Requirements (Applies to all options):

• Clear Connection: Your project must clearly connect to and demonstrate at least two of the three key components of social awareness: Empathy, Perspective-Taking, and Reading Social Cues.
• Creativity: Show your understanding in an original and engaging way.
• Reflection: Include a brief written reflection (100-150 words) on what you learned about social awareness through creating this project and how you plan to use these skills in your own life.

Submission

Your project (story, video of skit, or presentation slides/notes) and reflection are due by [Date]. We will share our projects in class on [Date].

Assessment

Your project will be assessed using the Social Awareness Rubric. Make sure to review the rubric carefully before you begin working on your project!

Social Awareness Project Rubric

Student Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________
Project Option: _________________________