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Decoding Social Cues

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Lesson Plan

Decoding Social Cues

Students will be able to identify common nonverbal social cues (facial expressions, body language) and understand their potential meanings to improve social interactions.

Understanding nonverbal cues is like learning a secret language that helps us connect with others. This lesson will give students tools to better understand what people might be thinking or feeling, making social situations easier and more enjoyable.

Audience

4th and 5th Grade Autistic Students

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, visual examples, interactive activity, and guided practice.

Materials

Small whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, Decoding Emotions Slides, Reading Faces and Bodies, Social Cue Cards Activity, My Social Cues Worksheet, and Social Cues Answer Key

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-up: What are we 'saying'?

3 minutes

  • Greet students and ask: "Have you ever noticed that people 'say' things without using words? What are some ways we do that?"
    - Briefly discuss examples like waving hello or shaking your head 'no'.
    - Introduce the lesson: "Today, we're going to become detectives and learn to decode these 'silent messages' called nonverbal social cues!"

Step 2

Introduce Nonverbal Cues

5 minutes

  • Display Slide 2: What are Nonverbal Cues?.
    - Explain that nonverbal cues are messages we send with our bodies and faces, not our words.
    - Use Slide 3: Facial Expressions and Slide 4: Body Language to show examples.
    - Read aloud the Reading Faces and Bodies text, pausing to point out examples on the slides.
    - Adaptation for Nonverbal Students: Point to facial expressions and body language in real-time or on pictures and ask students to indicate (by pointing, matching a picture, or using a communication device) if they've seen someone make that expression/pose.

Step 3

Activity: Social Cue Cards

7 minutes

  • Introduce the Social Cue Cards Activity.
    - Divide students into pairs or small groups.
    - Distribute the 'Social Cue Cards.'
    - Instruct students to pick a card, observe the picture, and discuss (or indicate for nonverbal students) what nonverbal cue is shown and what it might mean.
    - Circulate and provide support, prompting with questions like, "What do you notice about their eyebrows?" or "How might their arms tell us what they're feeling?"

Step 4

Wrap-up & Worksheet

5 minutes

  • Bring the group back together.
    - Briefly review a few examples from the activity.
    - Distribute the My Social Cues Worksheet for independent practice or a take-home assignment.
    - Explain that practicing these skills helps us understand others better and makes social interactions smoother.
    - Encourage students to keep practicing their 'detective skills' in their daily lives.
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Slide Deck

Decoding Social Cues: Silent Messages

How do we 'talk' without words? Let's become social detectives!

Welcome students and introduce the concept of nonverbal communication. Ask an opening question about how people communicate without words. Refer to the Lesson Plan for the exact script.

What are Nonverbal Cues?

Nonverbal cues are messages we send without speaking.

They are all about:

  • Facial Expressions (what your face shows)
  • Body Language (how your body is positioned)

Explain that nonverbal cues are messages sent using our bodies and faces. Emphasize that these cues can tell us a lot about what someone is thinking or feeling.

Facial Expressions: What's the Face Saying?

Look closely at these faces. What feelings do you see?

  • Happy: Smiling, bright eyes
  • Sad: Frowning, downcast eyes
  • Angry: Scrunched eyebrows, tight lips
  • Surprised: Wide eyes, open mouth

Show examples of different facial expressions. Encourage students to mimic them or identify them. For nonverbal students, point to the expressions and ask them to indicate if they know what feeling it represents.

Body Language: What's the Body Doing?

Our bodies can tell stories too!

  • Arms Crossed: Might mean someone is upset, protective, or closed off.
  • Slumped Shoulders: Could mean tired, sad, or defeated.
  • Open Arms, Relaxed Posture: Often means friendly, welcoming, or confident.
  • Fidgeting: Can mean nervous, impatient, or excited.

Show examples of different body language. Discuss how different postures or gestures can communicate feelings or intentions. For nonverbal students, point to the body language and ask them to indicate if they understand the meaning.

Let's Be Social Detectives!

Time to practice! We'll use our new detective skills to decode some social cues.

Transition to the activity. Explain that they will be practicing identifying these cues. Refer to the Lesson Plan for activity instructions.

Keep Practicing Your Detective Skills!

The more you observe, the better you'll become at understanding silent messages. This helps us connect with others!

Conclude the lesson by reinforcing the importance of observing nonverbal cues. Distribute the worksheet and encourage continued practice. Refer to the Lesson Plan for closing remarks.

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Reading

Reading Faces and Bodies: Understanding Silent Messages

Sometimes, people tell us things without saying a single word! It's like they have a secret language that their bodies and faces speak. Learning to understand this secret language is called decoding nonverbal cues. It helps us know what others might be feeling or thinking.

Faces Tell Stories

Your face has many muscles that can show how you feel. Think about these common facial expressions:

  • Happy: A big smile, eyes might crinkle at the corners. This usually means someone is joyful or pleased.
  • Sad: The corners of the mouth might turn down, and the eyebrows might furrow. Tears can also be a sign of sadness.
  • Angry: Eyebrows might be pulled together and down, the mouth might be a straight line or frowned. Someone might look tense.
  • Surprised: Eyes open wide, and sometimes the mouth opens a little too. This happens when something unexpected occurs.
  • Confused: One eyebrow might go up, or both might be slightly furrowed. Someone is trying to figure something out.

When you see these expressions, you can get clues about how someone is feeling even if they don't say anything.

Bodies Speak Too

Just like faces, our bodies can communicate. How someone stands or sits, or what they do with their hands, can send messages.

  • Arms Crossed: When someone crosses their arms, they might feel upset, shy, or closed off. It can sometimes mean they are not open to what you are saying.
  • Slumped Shoulders: If someone's shoulders are droopy and their head is down, they might be tired, sad, or feeling defeated.
  • Open Body Language: When someone has their arms uncrossed, hands relaxed, and stands facing you, it usually means they are friendly, interested, and open to talking.
  • Fidgeting: If someone is tapping their foot, playing with their hands, or constantly shifting, they might be nervous, bored, or excited. You have to look at other cues to know which one!
  • Eye Contact: Looking into someone's eyes usually shows you are listening and interested. Not looking at someone might mean they are shy, uncomfortable, or not paying attention.

Becoming a

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Activity

Social Cue Cards Activity: Detective Time!

Objective: To practice identifying and interpreting nonverbal social cues.

Materials: Printed and cut-out "Social Cue Cards" (below).

Instructions for Students:

  1. Work with a partner or in a small group.
  2. Take turns picking a "Social Cue Card."
  3. Look at the picture on the card carefully. What do you notice about the person's face? What do you notice about their body?
  4. Discuss with your group:
    • What nonverbal cue is this person showing? (e.g., happy face, crossed arms)
    • What do you think this person might be feeling or thinking? Why?
    • How might you respond to this person based on their silent message?
  5. If you are a nonverbal student, you can point to the emotion on an emotion chart, use a communication device, or show your partner the cue you picked to help them guess.

Social Cue Cards (Print and Cut Apart)

Card 1: Happy Face

(Image: A person smiling broadly, eyes crinkled, looking joyful.)





Card 2: Sad Face

(Image: A person with downturned mouth, slightly furrowed brow, looking sad.)





Card 3: Angry Face

(Image: A person with eyebrows pulled together and down, tight lips, looking upset.)





Card 4: Confused Face

(Image: A person with one eyebrow raised, slightly tilted head, looking puzzled.)





Card 5: Arms Crossed Body Language

(Image: A person standing with arms crossed over their chest, body slightly turned away.)





Card 6: Slumped Shoulders Body Language

(Image: A person sitting or standing with shoulders hunched forward, head slightly down.)





Card 7: Engaged/Open Body Language

(Image: A person standing with open arms, hands relaxed at their sides, facing forward, making eye contact.)





Card 8: Fidgeting Body Language

(Image: A person tapping their foot or nervously twisting their hands.)





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Worksheet

My Social Cues Worksheet

Name: ________________________

Date: ________________________

Part 1: What Does the Face Say?

Look at the descriptions of facial expressions. Write down what emotion you think the person is feeling.

  1. Description: The person has wide eyes and their mouth is slightly open.
    Emotion:


  2. Description: The person is smiling brightly, and their eyes have small crinkles at the corners.
    Emotion:


  3. Description: The person's eyebrows are pulled down and together, and their lips are in a tight, straight line.
    Emotion:


  4. Description: The corners of the person's mouth are turned down, and their eyes look watery.
    Emotion:


Part 2: What Does the Body Do?

Read the descriptions of body language. Write down what you think the body is communicating.

  1. Description: A student is sitting with their shoulders hunched forward and their head looking down at their desk.
    What it might mean:


  2. Description: Your friend is talking to you with their arms uncrossed, facing you, and making eye contact.
    What it might mean:


  3. Description: Your classmate keeps tapping their pencil rapidly and shifting in their seat during a quiet reading time.
    What it might mean (choose one or more):


  4. Description: A new student is standing with their arms crossed tightly over their chest and is looking at the floor.
    What it might mean (choose one or more):


Part 3: Draw Your Cues (Optional)

Draw a picture of a face showing an emotion OR a body showing a type of body language. Label what it is!

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Answer Key

Social Cues Worksheet: Answer Key

Part 1: What Does the Face Say?

  1. Description: The person has wide eyes and their mouth is slightly open.
    Emotion: Surprised
    Thought Process: Wide eyes and an open mouth are classic signs of surprise, indicating something unexpected has happened.

  2. Description: The person is smiling brightly, and their eyes have small crinkles at the corners.
    Emotion: Happy
    Thought Process: A bright smile and crinkled eyes are universal indicators of happiness or joy.

  3. Description: The person's eyebrows are pulled down and together, and their lips are in a tight, straight line.
    Emotion: Angry / Upset
    Thought Process: Furrowed or pulled-down eyebrows combined with tight lips often signal anger, frustration, or being upset.

  4. Description: The corners of the person's mouth are turned down, and their eyes look watery.
    Emotion: Sad
    Thought Process: Downturned mouth corners and watery eyes are clear indicators of sadness.

Part 2: What Does the Body Do?

  1. Description: A student is sitting with their shoulders hunched forward and their head looking down at their desk.
    What it might mean: Tired, sad, defeated, shy, or uninterested.
    Thought Process: Slumped posture and a lowered head often suggest low energy, sadness, or a desire to be unnoticed.

  2. Description: Your friend is talking to you with their arms uncrossed, facing you, and making eye contact.
    What it might mean: Friendly, interested, engaged, open to communication.
    Thought Process: Open body language and direct eye contact usually convey approachability, attentiveness, and positive engagement.

  3. Description: Your classmate keeps tapping their pencil rapidly and shifting in their seat during a quiet reading time.
    What it might mean (choose one or more): Nervous, impatient, excited, bored.
    Thought Process: Fidgeting can stem from various internal states. Without more context, it could indicate restlessness, anticipation, or discomfort.

  4. Description: A new student is standing with their arms crossed tightly over their chest and is looking at the floor.
    What it might mean (choose one or more): Shy, uncomfortable, closed off, protective, nervous.
    Thought Process: Crossed arms and avoiding eye contact often signal a person feeling closed off, shy, or uncomfortable in their environment.

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