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More Than Words

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Lesson Plan

More Than Words

Students will identify at least three different nonverbal cues (e.g., body language, facial expression, tone of voice) and interpret their meaning in 4 out of 5 provided social scenarios.

Understanding nonverbal cues is essential for effective communication and navigating social situations successfully. This lesson helps students develop stronger interpersonal skills, empathy, and self-awareness.

Audience

9th Grade Students

Time

40 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, visual analysis, and role-playing.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Secret Language Slides, Paper or Whiteboard, Markers/Pens, Charades with Emotions Activity, and Observation Checklist Worksheet

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Secret Language Slides and practice presenting the key concepts.
    * Print copies of the Observation Checklist Worksheet for each student.
    * Prepare a list of emotions/scenarios for the Charades with Emotions Activity.
    * Ensure projector/smartboard is functional for slide presentation and video/image analysis.
    * Review all generated materials to ensure familiarity and make any necessary adjustments for your specific classroom needs.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What Do You See?

5 minutes

  • Display an image or short silent video clip of people interacting (without dialogue).
    * Ask students: "What do you think is happening in this picture/video? What clues are you using to figure it out?"
    * Guide the discussion towards nonverbal cues as initial observations.

Step 2

Defining Nonverbal Cues

10 minutes

  • Use the Secret Language Slides to introduce the concept of nonverbal communication.
    * Define and provide examples of body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
    * Facilitate a brief discussion, asking students for their own examples or experiences.

Step 3

Video/Image Analysis: Decoding the Cues

10 minutes

  • Show 2-3 short video clips (without sound if possible) or a series of diverse images depicting various social scenarios from the Secret Language Slides.
    * Distribute the Observation Checklist Worksheet.
    * Have students work individually or in pairs to identify nonverbal cues and interpret their meaning for each scenario on the worksheet.
    * Discuss their observations as a class, encouraging different interpretations and rationales.

Step 4

Role-Playing Scenarios: Acting It Out

10 minutes

  • Introduce the Charades with Emotions Activity.
    * Divide students into small groups.
    * Each group will act out a short scenario or emotion using only nonverbal cues.
    * Other groups will observe and try to interpret the message, using the concepts learned.
    * Emphasize respectful observation and interpretation.

Step 5

Group Debrief & Reflection

5 minutes

  • Bring the class back together.
    * Ask students: "How challenging was it to interpret nonverbal cues? What did you learn today about how we communicate without words?"
    * Reiterate the importance of paying attention to nonverbal cues in daily interactions. Ask students to share one key takeaway.
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Slide Deck

More Than Words: The Secret Language of Cues

How do we communicate without speaking?

Welcome students and introduce the day's topic: how we communicate without speaking. Briefly explain that much of what we 'say' isn't with words.

What is Nonverbal Communication?

  • Nonverbal Communication: Sending and receiving messages without words.
    • It's how you say it, not just what you say!
    • Often subconscious, but very powerful.

Define nonverbal communication. Emphasize that it's all the ways we send messages without using spoken words. Ask students for initial ideas.

Body Language Speaks Volumes

  • Body Language: How your body communicates.
    • Posture: How you sit or stand (slouching, upright).
    • Gestures: Movements of hands, arms, head (waving, pointing).
    • Proximity: How close or far you stand from someone.

Introduce body language. Provide examples like posture, gestures, and proximity. Ask students to demonstrate a few, e.g., 'bored,' 'confident,' 'nervous.'

Faces Tell Stories

  • Facial Expressions: The look on your face.
    • Can show emotions like happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, disgust.
    • Often the first thing people notice.

Discuss facial expressions. Highlight universal emotions like happiness, sadness, anger. Show images of different facial expressions and ask students to identify the emotion.

It's Not Just What You Say...

  • Tone of Voice: The way your voice sounds.
    • Pitch: High or low.
    • Volume: Loud or soft.
    • Pace: Fast or slow.
    • Emphasis: Which words are stressed.

Explain tone of voice. Stress that it's how something is said, not the words themselves. Give an example: saying 'I'm fine' in a flat vs. sarcastic tone.

Decoding the Cues: Your Turn!

  • Now, let's put on our detective hats.
  • We're going to watch some short clips or look at images.
  • Your job: Identify the nonverbal cues and interpret what they might mean!

Transition to the application phase. Explain that they will now practice observing and interpreting these cues. Prepare to show some short clips or images.

Scenario 1: What's the Message?

(Teacher will show a silent video clip or image here)

What nonverbal cues do you notice?
What do you think is happening? Why?

This slide serves as a placeholder for the video or image analysis. The teacher will play videos/show images here and students will complete the Observation Checklist Worksheet.

Scenario 2: Observe and Interpret

(Teacher will show another silent video clip or image here)

What body language do you see?
What facial expressions stand out?
What message is being sent without words?

Another placeholder for a scenario. Remind students to use their Observation Checklist Worksheet.

Activity: Charades with Emotions!

  • Work in small groups.
  • You'll be given an emotion or a simple scenario.
  • Act it out using only nonverbal cues!
  • Other groups will guess what you're communicating.

(See Charades with Emotions Activity for more details)

Introduce the Charades activity. Explain the rules and encourage students to be creative and thoughtful in their nonverbal communication.

Reflect: Why Does This Matter?

  • Nonverbal cues are powerful!
  • They can confirm, contradict, or add to our verbal messages.
  • Being aware helps us understand others better and communicate more effectively.

What's one new thing you learned about communication today?

Conclude the lesson by summarizing the importance of nonverbal communication. Ask students for one key takeaway.

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Activity

Charades with Emotions: Act It Out!

Objective

To practice identifying, performing, and interpreting nonverbal cues through a fun, interactive game.

Instructions

  1. Divide into Groups: Your teacher will divide you into small groups.
  2. Receive Your Scenario/Emotion: Each group will secretly be given a card with an emotion or a simple social scenario (e.g., Excitement, Confusion, Greeting an old friend, Being late for class).
  3. Plan Your Act: As a group, decide how you will act out your assigned emotion or scenario using only nonverbal communication. Remember to think about:
    • Body Language: How will your posture, gestures, and movement convey the message?
    • Facial Expressions: What look will be on your face?
    • (Optional - if applicable): Consider how tone might be used if you were to speak, but remember, no actual speaking is allowed during the performance!
  4. Perform for the Class: One group at a time will perform their nonverbal act for the rest of the class. The performing group should remain silent.
  5. Observe and Interpret: As an audience, observe the performing group carefully. Look for specific nonverbal cues. After the performance, discuss with your group:
    • What nonverbal cues did you see (body language, facial expressions)?
    • What emotion or scenario do you think they were trying to convey?
    • What clues led you to that interpretation?
  6. Reveal and Discuss: The performing group will then reveal their emotion/scenario. The class will discuss how accurate their interpretations were and what made the nonverbal communication effective (or less effective).

Example Scenarios/Emotions (Teacher will provide cards)

  • Joyful Surprise
  • Deep Sadness
  • Frustration with Technology
  • Greeting a Stranger
  • Confused by Instructions
  • Trying to be Secretive

Remember to be creative and use your whole body to communicate!

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Worksheet

Decoding the Silent Signals: Observation Checklist

Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________

Introduction

During our

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