Social Awareness Script

Warm Up & Introduction (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Take a moment to think about the last time you saw someone who was really happy, or maybe really frustrated. How did you know how they were feeling without them saying a word?"

Teacher: "Today, we're going to unlock our 'Social Superpowers' in a lesson called Beyond Me: Social Superpowers?. This is all about understanding ourselves and others better, which is a huge part of being successful in school and life. Our goal today is to understand what social awareness is, learn how to read social cues, and practice showing empathy. Let's start with our warm-up activity found in your Social Awareness Warm Up document." (Display Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 1-2)

What is Social Awareness? (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Excellent! Now, let's dive deeper into what social awareness truly means. I've handed out a Reading: What is Social Awareness? for everyone. Please take about 5 minutes to read through it quietly. As you read, think about what stands out to you about understanding others."

Teacher: "Alright, what were some key ideas or definitions from the reading that caught your attention? What do you think 'social awareness' means in your own words?" (Facilitate a brief discussion, using Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 3-4)

Teacher: "You've hit on some great points! Social awareness is essentially our ability to understand and respond to the feelings and perspectives of those around us. It's like having a special antenna for emotions and situations."

Reading Social Cues & Perspectives (15 minutes)

Teacher: "One big part of social awareness is being able to 'read' people. Not read their minds, of course, but read their cues. These can be verbal (the words they use, their tone of voice) or non-verbal (body language, facial expressions). Let's watch a short video clip together that shows different social interactions. As you watch, pay close attention to the characters' expressions, gestures, and tone. What cues do you notice?" (Display Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 5, play video)

Teacher: "What did you observe? What non-verbal cues did you see that told you how someone was feeling? How did their words match or not match their body language?" (Facilitate discussion)

Teacher: "Fantastic observations! Now, let's put our cue-reading skills to the test. I'm handing out a Worksheet: Reading Social Cues. Please work individually or with a partner to complete it. You'll be analyzing different scenarios."

Teacher: "Let's review the worksheet together. What did you write for the first scenario? Why did you think that?" (Use Answer Key to guide review)

Empathy in Action: Activity & Discussion (15 minutes)

Teacher: "Reading cues helps us understand, but empathy is about feeling with others. We're going to play Activity: Empathy Charades! This will help us both express and interpret emotions physically." (Display Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 6)

Teacher: "After our charades, let's gather for a discussion. Using the Discussion Prompts: Our Community, I want you to reflect on how understanding others' feelings can impact our classroom and school community. How can we use these 'social superpowers' to make our school a more inclusive and supportive place?" (Display Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 7. Guide discussion, ensuring everyone has a chance to speak.)

Teacher: "If we have a few extra minutes, we can also try the Game: Perspective Play for more fun practice!"

Project Introduction & Wrap-up (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Today, we've learned a lot about social awareness, empathy, and reading cues. To take our learning even further, you'll be working on a project called Project Guide: Community Connections. This project will allow you to apply everything we've discussed to real-world scenarios. I'll hand out the guide and the Project Rubric now, which explains all the details and how you'll be assessed." (Display Social Awareness Slide Deck - Slide 8)

Teacher: "Before we go, let's quickly check our understanding with a short Quiz: Understanding Social Awareness. Please complete this individually."

Teacher: "Great job today, everyone! To wrap up our lesson, please complete the Social Awareness Cool Down activity. This is your chance to reflect on what you learned and what you'll take away from today. You will also have a Test: Social Awareness Comprehensive in the near future to assess your overall understanding of this topic."

Teacher: "Remember, social awareness is a skill you can practice every single day. Keep observing, keep empathizing, and keep using your social superpowers!"

Social Awareness Warm Up: How Do You Know?

Take a moment to think about someone you know well – a friend, a family member, or even a character from a book or movie.

1. Describe a time when you knew how they were feeling without them saying a word. What did you notice? (e.g., their face, body, tone of voice)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Why do you think it's important to be able to understand how others are feeling?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Reading: What is Social Awareness?

Have you ever been in a situation where you just knew what someone else was feeling, even if they didn't say anything? Maybe a friend looked downcast, and you sensed they were sad. Or perhaps a teacher's voice changed, and you understood they were serious. That ability to understand others is a big part of social awareness.

What Exactly Is It?

Social awareness is your superpower for understanding the emotions, needs, and perspectives of people around you. It's about paying attention to more than just words. It's about noticing:

• Body Language: Are they slouched or standing tall? Are their arms crossed or open?
• Facial Expressions: Do their eyes look worried? Is their smile genuine?
• Tone of Voice: Is their voice soft, loud, shaky, or calm?
• Situational Context: What's happening around them? How might that be affecting their feelings?

Social awareness also means understanding different social and ethical norms for behavior. For example, knowing it's usually rude to interrupt someone, or that it's kind to offer help when you see someone struggling.

Why Is It Important?

Being socially aware isn't just a nice skill to have; it's essential for many reasons:

1. Building Strong Relationships: When you understand others, you can connect with them better. This leads to stronger friendships and healthier interactions with family and teachers.
2. Working Together: In group projects or team sports, social awareness helps you understand your teammates' strengths and challenges, making collaboration smoother.
3. Solving Problems: If you can sense when someone is upset, you can try to address the issue before it gets bigger. It helps in preventing and resolving conflicts.
4. Showing Empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Social awareness is the first step to empathy. When you notice someone is sad, you can then try to imagine how they feel and respond with kindness.
5. Becoming a Better Citizen: Understanding diverse perspectives and being sensitive to others' needs helps you contribute positively to your school and wider community.

In short, social awareness helps you navigate the complex world of human interactions with grace and understanding. It's a skill you can practice and improve every day!

Worksheet: Reading Social Cues

Instructions: Read each scenario below. For each situation, identify the social cues (what you see or hear), guess what emotion the person might be feeling, and suggest an empathetic response.

Scenario 1: The Quiet Lunch

You see your friend, Alex, sitting alone at lunch. They are usually very chatty and eat quickly, but today they are slowly pushing food around their plate, looking down, and haven't made eye contact with anyone walking by.

1. What social cues do you notice? (Think about body language, facial expression, usual behavior vs. current behavior)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What emotion(s) might Alex be feeling?
   
   
   
   

3. How might you respond empathetically? (What could you say or do?)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Scenario 2: The Group Project Frustration

Your group is working on a presentation. One team member, Maya, keeps sighing loudly, tapping her pen rapidly, and her voice is getting sharper when she talks about her part. She keeps saying, "I just don't understand what we're supposed to do with this section!"

1. What social cues do you notice? (Think about vocal tone, repeated actions, specific phrases)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What emotion(s) might Maya be feeling?
   
   
   
   

3. How might you respond empathetically? (What could you say or do?)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Scenario 3: The Exciting News

Your classmate, Sam, bursts into the classroom with a huge grin, eyes wide, and practically skips to their desk. They are holding up a piece of paper that looks like a certificate.

1. What social cues do you notice? (Think about body movement, facial expression, actions)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What emotion(s) might Sam be feeling?
   
   
   
   

3. How might you respond empathetically? (What could you say or do?)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Activity: Empathy Charades

Objective: To practice recognizing and expressing a variety of emotions and social situations through non-verbal cues.

Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials:

• Slips of paper with emotions/scenarios (see examples below)
• Hat or bowl to draw from

Instructions:

1. Preparation (Teacher): Before class, write different emotions and simple social scenarios on separate slips of paper. Fold them and place them in a hat or bowl.

   • Emotion Examples: Happy, Sad, Confused, Frustrated, Excited, Bored, Shy, Proud, Scared, Annoyed, Empathetic, Curious, Grateful.
   • Scenario Examples:
     • Losing a favorite pen.
     • Finding out school is canceled.
     • Struggling with a math problem.
     • Seeing a friend trip.
     • Being the new kid in class.
     • Winning a game.
     • Forgetting homework.
     • Someone sharing their snack.

2. Introduction (Teacher): Explain to students that they will be playing "Empathy Charades" to practice observing and understanding non-verbal communication.

3. Gameplay:

   • Divide students into small groups (3-4 students per group) or play as a whole class.
   • One student from a group (or volunteered student) draws a slip of paper.
   • Without speaking, the student acts out the emotion or scenario.
   • Their group (or the class) tries to guess the emotion/scenario.
   • Once guessed, the class discusses:
     • What specific non-verbal cues did the actor use?
     • What emotion was being conveyed?
     • How might someone respond empathetically in that situation?
   • Continue with different students and slips of paper as time allows.

Discussion Points Post-Activity:

• Was it easy or difficult to guess the emotions/scenarios? Why?
• What did you learn about how our bodies and faces communicate feelings?
• How can being better at reading these cues help us in real life?
• Why is it important to think about how others might feel, even if they don't say it aloud?

Discussion Prompts: Our Community

Objective: To reflect on the importance of social awareness in building a positive and inclusive community, both in the classroom and beyond.

Instructions: Discuss the following questions as a class or in small groups. Be sure to listen respectfully to each other's ideas and experiences.

1. Thinking about our classroom or school, how does someone showing social awareness (like understanding another's feelings) make the environment better for everyone?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Can you share a time (without naming names) when someone showed social awareness towards you, and it made a positive difference? What happened?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. What are some ways we can actively practice social awareness in our daily interactions at school? (Think about things you can say or do.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Why might it sometimes be difficult to be socially aware, and what can we do when we struggle to understand someone else's perspective?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. How can social awareness help us resolve disagreements or conflicts in a more constructive way?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Game: Perspective Play

Objective: To practice understanding and articulating different perspectives in various social scenarios.

Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials:

• Scenario cards (see examples below)

Instructions:

1. Preparation (Teacher): Create scenario cards. Each card describes a social situation.

   • Scenario Examples:
     • "Two friends both want to use the last art easel during free art time."
     • "A student accidentally bumps into another student in the hallway, causing their books to fall."
     • "A new student joins the class mid-year and seems very quiet during group activities."
     • "During a class discussion, one student keeps interrupting others to share their ideas."
     • "A classmate receives a much lower grade than they expected on a test they studied hard for."
     • "Someone finds a lost wallet in the school hallway."

2. Introduction (Teacher): Explain that the game "Perspective Play" will help them practice seeing situations from different angles, which is a key part of social awareness.

3. Gameplay:

   • Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
   • Give each group a scenario card.
   • Round 1: Individual Reflection (2 minutes): Each student in the group silently reads the scenario and thinks about: "What are the different people involved in this situation feeling or thinking?"
   • Round 2: Group Discussion (5-7 minutes): The group discusses the scenario. For each person/character in the scenario, they should try to articulate:
     • What is this person's perspective?
     • What might they be feeling?
     • Why might they be feeling that way?
     • What might be their goal or want in this situation?
   • Round 3: Empathetic Solution (3-5 minutes): As a group, brainstorm one or two empathetic solutions or actions that could help improve the situation, considering all the perspectives they discussed.
   • Share Out: Have each group briefly share their scenario and their insights on different perspectives and potential solutions with the class.

Optional Variation: Assign each student in a group a specific character from the scenario to "role-play" their thoughts and feelings before the group discussion.

Discussion Points Post-Game:

• Was it easy to see things from different perspectives? Why or why not?
• How did understanding different viewpoints change how you thought about the situation?
• What did you learn about the importance of listening and considering others?
• How can thinking about different perspectives help us in real life?

Project Guide: Community Connections

Objective: To apply your understanding of social awareness to identify a real-world community issue, analyze different perspectives involved, and propose an empathetic solution.

Introduction: Social awareness isn't just about understanding people in your immediate circle; it's also about understanding the needs and perspectives of different groups within our wider community. For this project, you will choose a local issue and explore it through the lens of social awareness.

Project Steps:

1. Identify a Community Issue (Choose ONE): (1-2 days to research/identify)

   • Think about issues in your school, neighborhood, or town. Examples:
     • Littering in public parks.
     • Lack of access to healthy food.
     • A new policy at school that affects students.
     • Bullying or exclusion in social groups.
     • Need for more community activities for teens.
     • Accessibility challenges for people with disabilities.

2. Research & Analyze Perspectives (3-4 days to research/analyze):

   • Once you've chosen an issue, research it. Think about all the different groups of people who are affected by this issue or have an opinion on it.
   • For each group, answer:
     • What is their perspective on the issue?
     • What might be their feelings or concerns about it?
     • What are their needs or wants regarding this issue?
     • What experiences might shape their viewpoint?
   • (Example: For littering, consider perspectives of park users, city workers, local businesses, environmental groups, teenagers who hang out there.)

3. Propose an Empathetic Solution (2-3 days to develop):

   • Based on your understanding of the different perspectives, brainstorm one or more solutions that aim to address the issue while considering the needs and feelings of all affected groups.
   • Your solution should demonstrate empathy and a commitment to improving the community.

4. Create Your Presentation/Report (3-4 days to create):

   • Choose one of the following formats to present your project:
     • Presentation: A short slide deck (3-5 slides) or poster presentation that visually explains your issue, the different perspectives, and your proposed solution.
     • Written Report: A 1-2 page report (typed, double-spaced) detailing your issue, analysis of perspectives, and solution.
     • Community Action Plan (Visual): A detailed infographic or creative visual display that outlines the problem, stakeholders, and steps for your empathetic solution.

Deliverables:

• Completed research notes on your chosen issue and perspectives.
• Your chosen presentation format (slides, report, or visual plan).
• A brief oral explanation of your project (2-3 minutes).

Assessment: Your project will be assessed using the Project Rubric which outlines the criteria for success. Pay close attention to how well you demonstrate social awareness in your analysis and proposed solution.

Due Date: [Insert Due Date Here]

Project Rubric: Community Connections

Project Name: Community Connections Project

Objective: To assess students' ability to identify a community issue, analyze diverse perspectives, and propose an empathetic solution.

Answer Key: Social Awareness

Worksheet: Reading Social Cues

Scenario 1: The Quiet Lunch

1. What social cues do you notice?
   • Possible Answer: Sitting alone, pushing food around, looking down, not making eye contact, usually chatty but quiet today.
2. What emotion(s) might Alex be feeling?
   • Possible Answer: Sad, lonely, upset, worried, tired, stressed.
3. How might you respond empathetically?
   • Possible Answer: Go over and sit with them quietly. Ask if they're okay in a gentle voice. Offer to listen if they want to talk, or just be present. "Hey Alex, everything okay? You seem a little quiet today."

Scenario 2: The Group Project Frustration

1. What social cues do you notice?
   • Possible Answer: Sighing loudly, tapping pen rapidly, sharper voice, explicit statement of not understanding ("I just don't understand what we're supposed to do with this section!").
2. What emotion(s) might Maya be feeling?
   • Possible Answer: Frustration, stress, confusion, feeling overwhelmed.
3. How might you respond empathetically?
   • Possible Answer: Acknowledge her frustration. Offer help or a break. "It sounds like this section is really tricky. Can we take a moment to look at it together, or maybe take a quick brain break?"

Scenario 3: The Exciting News

1. What social cues do you notice?
   • Possible Answer: Huge grin, wide eyes, skipping, holding up a certificate.
2. What emotion(s) might Sam be feeling?
   • Possible Answer: Excited, proud, happy, joyful.
3. How might you respond empathetically?
   • Possible Answer: Show genuine interest and share their excitement. Ask about the news. "Wow, Sam! You look incredibly happy! What's going on? That looks like an award!"

Quiz: Understanding Social Awareness

1. Which of the following is the best definition of social awareness?

   • Correct Answer: The ability to understand and respond appropriately to the feelings and perspectives of others.

2. If you see a classmate sigh loudly, tap their foot, and avoid eye contact during a group activity, what emotion might they be feeling?

   • Correct Answer: Frustrated

3. Explain in your own words why empathy is an important part of social awareness.

   • Possible Answer: Empathy is important because it means putting yourself in someone else's shoes and trying to understand what they are feeling. Social awareness helps you notice what someone is feeling, and then empathy allows you to connect with that feeling and respond kindly or helpfully. For example, if you see a friend looking sad (social awareness), you can imagine how you'd feel if you were sad and offer comfort (empathy).

4. Which of these is NOT a social cue?

   • Correct Answer: The color of someone's shirt

5. Describe a situation where showing social awareness could help solve a conflict between friends.

   • Possible Answer: If two friends are arguing over a shared toy, being socially aware means noticing that both friends are upset and why they each want the toy (e.g., one wants to play now, the other feels it's their turn). An empathetic response could be to suggest a compromise or a turn-taking system that acknowledges both their feelings and desires, rather than just forcing one person to give up.

Test: Social Awareness Comprehensive

1. Social awareness primarily involves:

   • Correct Answer: Understanding and responding to others' emotions and perspectives.

2. Which of the following is an example of a non-verbal social cue?

   • Correct Answer: A person crossing their arms and looking away.

3. Define 'empathy' and explain how it connects to social awareness. Provide an example.

   • Possible Answer: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, essentially "walking in their shoes." It connects to social awareness because social awareness is about noticing and interpreting the cues (verbal and non-verbal) that tell us how someone is feeling. Once you are socially aware of their feelings, empathy allows you to connect with those feelings and react in a compassionate way. Example: If you notice a classmate is struggling with a heavy backpack (social awareness), you can imagine how tired their arms must be and offer to help carry some books (empathy).

4. Which action demonstrates good perspective-taking?

   • Correct Answer: Trying to understand why someone might have a different opinion.

5. Scenario: Your friend tells you about a problem they're having, and you notice their voice is shaky and they're fidgeting with their hands. What emotions might they be feeling, and how could you respond empathetically?

   • Possible Answer: They might be feeling anxious, nervous, scared, sad, or overwhelmed. An empathetic response would be to acknowledge their distress, listen actively, and offer support: "It sounds like you're going through a lot right now. I can see you're feeling really worried. I'm here to listen if you want to talk more, or if there's anything I can do to help."

6. Why is social awareness important for building a positive school community?

   • Correct Answer: It fosters understanding, respect, and helps resolve conflicts constructively.

7. Imagine you are working on a group project, and one team member seems frustrated. Describe three different social cues you might observe that would indicate their frustration. Then, suggest one empathetic action you could take.

   • Possible Cues:
     1. Tight lips or furrowed brow.
     2. Sighing heavily or making exasperated noises.
     3. Tapping fingers or fidgeting restlessly.
     4. Sharper tone of voice.
     5. Avoiding eye contact.
   • Empathetic Action: "Hey, you seem a bit stressed with this part. Is there anything I can do to help, or do you want to take a quick break?" or "It looks like this is challenging. How about we tackle this problem together?"

8. What is one benefit of practicing social awareness in your daily life?

   • Correct Answer: It helps you build stronger relationships and communicate more effectively.

Cool Down: My Social Superpower Takeaway

Instructions: Take a few moments to reflect on today's lesson on social awareness. Choose ONE of the prompts below and write your response.

Prompt 1: The Big Idea

What is the most important thing you learned about social awareness today?

Prompt 2: My Action Plan

Think about one specific way you can use your new social awareness "superpowers" in your interactions with others this week. How will you apply what you've learned?