lenny

How Do We Read Social Clues?

Lesson Plan

Clue Catchers Lesson Plan

Students will learn to identify and interpret facial expressions and body language, using “Clue Catcher” strategies to understand peers’ emotions and improve social interactions.

Decoding social cues is vital for empathy, effective communication, and building positive relationships. By recognizing emotions in others, students can navigate social situations with confidence and kindness.

Audience

4th Grade Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive slides, partner talks, games, and reflective exercises.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Feelings Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Ask students: “What clues do we notice when someone is happy or sad?”
  • Chart student responses (facial features, posture, tone) on the board to activate prior knowledge.

Step 2

Introduce Clue Catchers

5 minutes

  • Explain the “Clue Catchers” concept: noticing facial expressions, body posture, and tone of voice.
  • Display the title slide on Reading Faces Slides.
  • Invite students to share why watching faces and bodies can help us understand feelings.

Step 3

Read the Faces (Guided Practice)

10 minutes

  • Project a series of images from Reading Faces Slides.
  • Students turn-and-talk with a partner to identify each emotion and the clues they used.
  • Call on pairs to share their observations; record key facial and body-language clues on the board.

Step 4

Emotion Charades

10 minutes

  • Divide class into small groups and provide each with emotion cue cards for Emotion Charades Activity.
  • One student at a time acts out an emotion using facial expressions and body language while others guess.
  • After each round, discuss which cues led to the correct guesses.

Step 5

Scenario Spotter (Independent Practice)

10 minutes

  • Distribute Scenario Spotter Worksheet.
  • Students read short scenarios and identify the social clues (expressions or gestures) described.
  • Students circle or note each clue and write the associated emotion.

Step 6

Clue Reflection Exit Ticket

5 minutes

  • Hand out the Clue Reflection Exit Ticket.
  • Students reflect in writing: one new clue they noticed today and how they will use it in real life.
  • Collect exit tickets to assess understanding and plan next steps.
lenny

Slide Deck

Reading Faces: Spotting Social Clues

How do our faces and bodies tell others how we feel?

Welcome, everyone! Today we’re learning how to become Clue Catchers by reading faces and bodies to spot how people are feeling. Let’s dive in!

Meet the Clue Catchers

  • Facial Expressions
  • Body Posture
  • Tone of Voice

Introduce the three Clue Catchers. Explain that noticing facial expressions, body posture, and tone of voice helps us understand others’ emotions.

Facial Expressions: Happy

Clue Catcher: Raised cheeks, wide smile, bright eyes

Show a happy face and ask students what they notice. Point out the raised cheeks, big smile, and bright eyes.

Facial Expressions: Sad

Clue Catcher: Downturned mouth, teary eyes, furrowed brows

Display a sad face. Guide students to observe downturned lips, teary or shiny eyes, and furrowed eyebrows.

Body Posture: Closed vs Open

Closed posture: arms crossed, hunched shoulders
Open posture: relaxed arms, upright stance

Contrast closed vs open posture. Ask volunteers to demonstrate both. Explain how posture can signal feelings like discomfort or openness.

Body Gestures: Say More Without Words

• Shrugging shoulders = uncertainty
• Thumbs up = approval
• Fidgeting = nervousness

Show gestures like shrugging, thumbs up, or fidgeting. Discuss how small movements give big clues.

Tone of Voice: Listen Carefully

High, fast voice = excitement
Low, slow voice = calm or sadness
Harsh, loud voice = anger

Explain tone of voice and play short examples if you can. Ask students how the same words can feel different when said in different tones.

Putting It All Together

Look at this scenario image.
What facial, posture, or tone clues can you spot?

Show a combined scenario picture (e.g., a child standing alone with slumped shoulders and a sad face). Ask: What clues do you see?

Turn and Talk

  1. Turn to your partner.
  2. Choose one image.
  3. Identify the emotion and clues.
  4. Share out.

Explain the Turn and Talk step. Encourage clear sharing and listening for clues in your partner’s description.

Let’s Practice: Emotion Charades

Get ready for Emotion Charades Activity.
We will act out and guess emotions!

Introduce the upcoming Emotion Charades activity. Remind students to use their Clue Catcher skills when guessing.

lenny

Activity

Emotion Charades Activity

Objective: Students will practice using their Clue Catcher skills to recognize and express emotions through facial expressions and body posture.

Time: 10 minutes

Materials:

  • A set of Emotion Cue Cards (e.g., happy, sad, angry, surprised, nervous, excited)
  • Clear open space for movement

Prep (5 minutes):

  • Create or gather emotion cue cards; shuffle and place face-down in small piles.
  • Arrange desks or chairs to the side so students can stand and move safely.

Instructions

1. Setup (2 minutes)

  • Divide students into small groups of 4–5.
  • Give each group a pile of face-down Emotion Cue Cards.

2. Charades Rounds (6 minutes)

  1. One student from each group picks a card without showing others.
  2. The actor silently portrays the emotion using only facial expressions and body posture (no sounds or words).
  3. Teammates watch carefully and call out guesses.
  4. After a correct guess or 60 seconds, reveal the card and confirm the emotion.
  5. Discuss: “What clues helped you guess that emotion?” (e.g., a big smile for happy, slumped shoulders for sad)
  6. Rotate so each student has a turn acting.

3. Group Debrief (2 minutes)

  • Ask: Which emotions were easiest to act or guess?
  • Which were most challenging, and why?
  • How did noticing small facial and body cues help you understand each other?

After this game, students will be more aware of how we use our faces and bodies to share feelings—and how to spot those clues in others!

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Scenario Spotter Worksheet

In each of the short scenarios below, identify the social clues described (facial expressions, body posture, gestures, or tone) and write the emotion you think the person is feeling.

Scenario 1

Alex’s eyebrows are furrowed, his shoulders are hunched, and he’s tapping his foot rapidly as he waits for his turn.

Clues you notice:








Emotion:




Scenario 2

Leila’s eyes light up, she leans forward with a big grin, and her hands clap together when she hears the good news.

Clues you notice:








Emotion:




Scenario 3

During the silent reading time, Jordan shrugs, shifts in his seat, and looks around the room instead of reading his book.

Clues you notice:








Emotion:




Scenario 4

After dropping her ice cream, Sophia’s mouth turns down, her gaze drops to the floor, and she crosses her arms tightly.

Clues you notice:








Emotion:




Take a moment to reflect:

  1. Which scenario was easiest to read, and why?






  1. Which scenario was trickiest, and what additional clue would have helped you?






lenny
lenny

Cool Down

Clue Reflection Exit Ticket

Student Name: ______________________ Date: ___________

  1. One new clue I noticed today is:






  1. How will I use this clue in real life?






lenny
lenny