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Nonverbal Narratives

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Lesson Plan

Unspoken Language Detective

Students will be able to identify and interpret various nonverbal cues, including body language and facial expressions, and understand their impact on communication. They will also practice intentional nonverbal communication.

Understanding nonverbal communication helps students better interpret social cues, build stronger relationships, and express themselves more effectively without words, leading to improved social navigation and empathy.

Audience

Middle School Students

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussions, visual analysis, and a hands-on activity.

Materials

Body Talk Basics (slide-deck), Guess the Emotion Picture Cards (activity), and My Nonverbal Observations (journal)

Prep

Teacher Preparation

20 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: The Silent Storytellers

10 minutes

  • Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to become detectives of unspoken language. What do you think that means?" (Allow for student responses).
    - Teacher: "Exactly! We'll be exploring how we communicate without using a single word – through our body language and facial expressions. Have you ever noticed someone's face or how they were standing and had a good idea of what they were feeling, even if they didn't say anything?"
    - Introduce the lesson objective using the Body Talk Basics Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).

Step 2

Decoding Body Talk

20 minutes

  • Use the Body Talk Basics Slide Deck (Slides 3-7) to introduce different types of nonverbal cues: facial expressions, gestures, posture, and eye contact.
    - For each type, ask students to demonstrate examples (e.g., show a happy face, a confused posture).
    - Facilitate a brief discussion on cultural differences in nonverbal communication (e.g., thumbs-up meaning in different countries).

Step 3

Guess the Emotion Activity

15 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups.
    - Distribute a set of Guess the Emotion Picture Cards Activity to each group.
    - Teacher: "Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to work with your group to identify the emotion shown in each picture and discuss what nonverbal cues led you to that conclusion."
    - Circulate among groups, providing guidance and prompting deeper observation.

Step 4

Reflecting on Our Observations

10 minutes

  • Bring the class back together.
    - Discuss some of the emotions and cues students identified during the activity.
    - Teacher: "How can being good at reading these unspoken messages help us in our daily lives?" (Encourage sharing personal anecdotes).
    - Introduce the My Nonverbal Observations Journal for individual reflection.

Step 5

Wrap-up: Intentional Communication

5 minutes

  • Teacher: "Just as we can read others' nonverbal cues, we can also use our own body language and facial expressions to communicate intentionally."
    - Ask students for examples of how they can use nonverbal cues to show they are listening, confident, or friendly.
    - Review the key takeaways from the Body Talk Basics Slide Deck (Slide 8).
    - Assign the My Nonverbal Observations Journal as homework or for independent work in class.
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Slide Deck

Unspoken Language Detectives

What is 'Unspoken Language'?

Think about it: Do we always use words to communicate?

Today, we become detectives of nonverbal communication!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of nonverbal communication. Ask them what they think 'unspoken language' means.

Our Mission Today

Objective:

  • Identify and interpret different nonverbal cues.
  • Understand how body language and facial expressions impact communication.
  • Learn to communicate more intentionally without words.

Why it matters:

  • Build stronger relationships.
  • Understand others better.
  • Express yourself effectively!

Explain the objective of the lesson. Emphasize the importance of understanding nonverbal cues in daily life.

Facial Expressions: The Face Tells All

Our faces are powerful communicators!

  • Happiness: Smile, crinkled eyes
  • Sadness: Frown, downcast eyes
  • Surprise: Wide eyes, open mouth
  • Anger: Furrowed brows, tight lips

Can you show me a happy face? How about a surprised face?

Introduce facial expressions as a key nonverbal cue. Ask students to demonstrate different emotions with their faces.

Gestures: Hand It To Me!

What are gestures?

  • Movements of hands, arms, or head.
  • Can emphasize words or replace them entirely.

Examples:

  • Waving hello/goodbye
  • Thumbs up (but be careful, meanings can change in different cultures!)
  • Pointing

What other gestures do you use?

Discuss gestures. Give examples and ask students for their own examples. Briefly mention cultural differences.

Posture: Stand Tall, Sit Strong!

How we hold our bodies speaks volumes.

  • Open posture: Arms uncrossed, relaxed shoulders (shows openness, confidence)
  • Closed posture: Arms crossed, slumped shoulders (can show defensiveness, boredom)

Think about how you sit when you're really interested in something versus when you're tired.

Talk about posture. Explain how standing or sitting can convey confidence, sadness, or boredom.

Eye Contact: The Windows to the Soul

Our eyes communicate a lot!

  • Direct eye contact: Shows engagement, honesty, confidence.
  • Averted gaze: Can indicate shyness, discomfort, or dishonesty (but not always!)

Why is eye contact important when you're talking to someone?

Explain eye contact and its significance. Discuss different types of eye contact (direct, averted).

Quick Review: Unpacking Unspoken Messages

We've learned about:

  • Facial Expressions
  • Gestures
  • Posture
  • Eye Contact

These are all pieces of the 'unspoken language' puzzle!

Provide a quick recap of the nonverbal cues discussed.

Be an Intentional Communicator!

Now you know the secrets of unspoken language!

  • Pay attention to the nonverbal cues of others.
  • Use your nonverbal cues to show what you mean.

Homework/Activity: Complete your My Nonverbal Observations Journal!

Conclude by emphasizing intentional communication and assigning the journal activity.

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Activity

Guess the Emotion: Picture Cards Activity

Instructions: In your groups, look at each picture card. Discuss what emotion you think the person is feeling and what nonverbal cues (facial expression, body language, etc.) led you to your conclusion. Write down your answers.

Picture Card 1

Description: A child with wide eyes, eyebrows raised, and a slightly open mouth, hands covering their mouth in awe.

Emotion:


Nonverbal Cues:





Picture Card 2

Description: A person with a slight frown, arms crossed over their chest, and eyes looking downwards.

Emotion:


Nonverbal Cues:





Picture Card 3

Description: A teenager smiling broadly, eyes crinkled at the corners, giving a thumbs-up gesture.

Emotion:


Nonverbal Cues:





Picture Card 4

Description: An adult with furrowed brows, a tight jaw, and clenched fists.

Emotion:


Nonverbal Cues:





Picture Card 5

Description: A student with slumped shoulders, head down, and a slight pout on their lips.

Emotion:


Nonverbal Cues:





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Journal

My Nonverbal Observations Journal

Instructions: Over the next day or two, pay close attention to the people around you. Observe their nonverbal communication. Choose at least three different people or situations to observe. For each observation, describe what you saw and what you think it meant.

Observation 1

Who/Where: (e.g., a friend at lunch, a teacher in class, someone on TV)



What nonverbal cues did you observe? (Describe facial expressions, body language, gestures, eye contact)






What do you think these cues communicated?






Observation 2

Who/Where:



What nonverbal cues did you observe?






What do you think these cues communicated?






Observation 3

Who/Where:



What nonverbal cues did you observe?






What do you think these cues communicated?






Reflection Question

How has paying attention to nonverbal communication changed the way you understand what people are saying (or not saying)?












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Nonverbal Narratives • Lenny Learning