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More Than Just Words

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Lesson Plan

More Than Just Words

Students will be able to identify at least two unspoken emotions in a social scenario by analyzing tone of voice, body language, and context.

Understanding unspoken emotions helps students better interpret social situations, improve communication, and build empathy, leading to stronger friendships and healthier interactions.

Audience

6th Grade

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Through interactive activities and video analysis, students will learn to recognize subtle emotional cues.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Slide Deck: More Than Just Words, Short, age-appropriate film clip (3-5 minutes) depicting a social interaction with unspoken emotions (e.g., a clip from a Pixar short or a school-life TV show - Teacher to provide clip), Observation Log Worksheet, and Film Clip Discussion Guide

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Emotion Charades

5 minutes

  1. Begin the lesson by explaining that today's lesson is about understanding emotions without words.
    2. Introduce a quick game of 'Emotion Charades'. Write down 3-4 emotions (e.g., confused, excited, frustrated, shy) on separate slips of paper.
    3. Have a few student volunteers act out an emotion silently while the rest of the class guesses.
    4. After each guess, ask: 'How did you know what emotion they were feeling? What clues did you use?' (Focus on body language and facial expressions).

Step 2

Introduction to Subtle Cues

5 minutes

  1. Transition to the Slide Deck: More Than Just Words.
    2. Use the first few slides to introduce the key concepts: subtle cues, tone of voice, body language, and social context.
    3. Explain that these cues help us 'read the room' and understand what people might be feeling even when they don't say it directly.

Step 3

Video Analysis Activity

7 minutes

  1. Distribute the Observation Log Worksheet to each student.
    2. Explain that students will watch a short film clip and use the worksheet to record observations about unspoken emotions.
    3. Play the pre-selected film clip (3-5 minutes).
    4. After the clip, give students 2-3 minutes to individually complete their Observation Log Worksheet.

Step 4

Group Debrief

3 minutes

  1. Lead a brief class discussion using the Film Clip Discussion Guide.
    2. Encourage students to share their observations from the Observation Log Worksheet and discuss how different cues contributed to their understanding of unspoken emotions.
    3. Conclude by reiterating the importance of paying attention to subtle cues in real-life social interactions.
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Slide Deck

More Than Just Words: Reading Unspoken Emotions

How do you know what someone is feeling without them saying a word?

Welcome students and introduce the concept of emotions. Briefly explain that sometimes people don't say exactly what they feel, but we can still understand them.

What are Subtle Cues?

Small, hidden clues that tell us how someone is feeling.

  • Body Language (how someone stands, moves)
  • Facial Expressions (looks on their face)
  • Tone of Voice (how their voice sounds, not just what they say)

Introduce the idea of 'subtle cues.' Ask students for examples of how they might show they're happy or sad without speaking.

Tone of Voice: It's How You Say It!

The way someone's voice sounds can tell you a lot:

  • Is it fast or slow?
  • Is it loud or soft?
  • Does it sound happy, sad, angry, or something else?

Discuss how tone of voice can change the meaning of words. Give examples like saying 'Okay' in a happy vs. frustrated tone.

Body Language Speaks Volumes!

What does someone's body tell you?

  • Crossed arms? (Maybe defensive or closed off)
  • Slumped shoulders? (Maybe sad or tired)
  • Open hands? (Maybe friendly or honest)

Talk about body language. Ask students what different postures or gestures might communicate.

Social Context: Where Are We?

The situation around us changes how we understand emotions.

  • Is it a party? A library? A doctor's office?
  • Who are they with?
  • What just happened?

Explain social context. Use an example like someone crying at a wedding vs. someone crying after a bad test.

Reading the Room

Putting all the clues together helps us understand the unspoken:

  • Tone of voice + Body language + Social context = A clearer picture of what's happening emotionally.

Introduce the idea of 'reading the room'. Emphasize that combining all these cues helps us understand social situations.

Let's Observe!

We're going to watch a short video clip.
Your job: Be a super-sleuth!
Look for: Body language, tone of voice, and the situation.
Think: What emotions are unspoken?

Transition to the video activity. Explain that students will apply what they've learned.

Why Does This Matter?

Understanding unspoken emotions helps you:

  • Be a better friend
  • Communicate more effectively
  • Navigate social situations with confidence

Briefly recap the importance of these skills in real life.

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Discussion

Film Clip Discussion Guide

After watching the film clip, let's discuss what we observed. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, just observations and interpretations.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was happening in the scene? Briefly describe the social scenario.



  2. Were there any characters who seemed to be feeling an emotion they weren't directly talking about? Who were they, and what emotion did you observe?






  3. What specific body language clues did you notice? (e.g., crossed arms, slumped shoulders, fidgeting, big smiles, eye rolls)






  4. Did you notice anything about their tone of voice? How did it sound, and what did that tell you?






  5. How did the situation or social context (where they were, what had just happened) help you understand their unspoken emotions?






  6. How do you think understanding these unspoken emotions might change how other characters, or even you, would react in that situation?






  7. Can you think of a time in real life when you noticed someone feeling something they didn't say out loud? What clues did you use to figure it out?






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Worksheet

Observation Log: More Than Just Words

Name: ____________________________

As you watch the film clip, pay close attention to the characters and their interactions. Even if they aren't speaking their feelings, you can still learn a lot from their actions and expressions.

Character 1 Observation

Character Name (or description): ____________________________

  1. What emotion do you think this character is feeling, even if they don't say it? (e.g., confused, excited, frustrated, shy, happy, sad, angry)



  2. What specific body language did you notice? (How were they standing, what were their hands doing, what was their facial expression?)






  3. Did their tone of voice (if they spoke) give you any clues? (Was it loud, soft, fast, slow, shaky?)






  4. How did the situation around them help you understand their emotion?






Character 2 Observation

Character Name (or description): ____________________________

  1. What emotion do you think this character is feeling, even if they don't say it?



  2. What specific body language did you notice?






  3. Did their tone of voice (if they spoke) give you any clues?






  4. How did the situation around them help you understand their emotion?






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