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Reading Social Cues

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Lesson Plan

Reading Social Cues

Students will be able to identify and interpret common non-verbal cues (body language, facial expressions, tone of voice) and understand how they contribute to social awareness in various situations.

Understanding non-verbal cues is essential for effective communication and building strong relationships. This skill helps students better understand others' feelings and intentions, leading to more positive social interactions and reduced misunderstandings.

Audience

7th Grade Small Group (2 Students)

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and practical examples.

Materials

Reading Social Cues Slide Deck, Non-Verbal Cues Activity, and Reflection Journal

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the topic: 'Today, we're going to become detectives of communication! We'll explore how much we can learn from people without them even saying a word.'
    - Ask: 'What does 'non-verbal communication' mean to you?' Allow for brief discussion.
    - Transition to the slide deck.

Step 2

Understanding Non-Verbal Cues

10 minutes

  • Present the Reading Social Cues Slide Deck, focusing on facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.
    - Use examples from the slides to discuss how different cues convey different emotions or intentions.
    - Encourage students to share their own observations or experiences related to non-verbal cues.
    - Facilitate a brief discussion on why these cues are important in daily interactions.

Step 3

Non-Verbal Cues Activity

10 minutes

  • Introduce the Non-Verbal Cues Activity.
    - Explain the scenarios and instruct students to analyze the hypothetical non-verbal cues.
    - Have students complete the activity individually or collaboratively, discussing their interpretations.
    - Review answers together, discussing different perspectives and the nuances of interpreting cues.

Step 4

Reflection and Wrap-Up

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Reflection Journal.
    - Ask students to briefly reflect on one thing they learned about non-verbal communication and how they might use this skill in the future.
    - Conclude by emphasizing the importance of social awareness and practicing these skills in real-life interactions.
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Slide Deck

Welcome, Communication Detectives!

What does 'talking without words' mean?

Welcome students and briefly introduce the idea of communicating without words. Ask a quick question to activate prior knowledge.

What is Non-Verbal Communication?

  • Communication without words!
  • It's what your body, face, and voice sound like (not what they say) tell others.
  • It's often unconscious – we do it without thinking!

Explain that non-verbal communication is everything we convey without speaking. Give simple examples like waving hello or a thumbs-up.

Your Face: A Window to Feelings

  • Eyes: Wide, narrowed, looking away?
  • Eyebrows: Raised, furrowed, relaxed?
  • Mouth: Smile, frown, tight lips, open mouth?
  • Our faces can show joy, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust!

Focus on facial expressions. Discuss how different parts of the face contribute to expressing emotions. Ask students to demonstrate a few common emotions.

Body Talk: More Than Just Words

  • Posture: Slumped, upright, leaning in?
  • Gestures: Hand movements, fidgeting, pointing?
  • Distance: How close or far you stand from someone.
  • Open vs. Closed: Arms crossed? Shoulders relaxed?

Discuss body language, emphasizing posture, gestures, and personal space. Give examples like crossed arms vs. open arms, or tapping foot vs. relaxed stance.

Tone of Voice: The Sound of Emotion

  • It's how you say something, not what you say.
  • Pitch: High or low?
  • Volume: Loud or soft?
  • Pace: Fast or slow?
  • Can show excitement, boredom, anger, sadness, sincerity, or sarcasm.

Explain how tone, pitch, and volume affect how a message is received, even if the words are the same. Give an example like saying "I'm fine" in a flat tone versus a cheerful one.

Why Does This Matter?

  • Non-verbal cues help us understand others' true feelings.
  • They can tell us if someone is interested, bored, upset, or happy.
  • It helps us respond appropriately in social situations.
  • It makes us more socially aware!

Summarize why non-verbal cues are important for social awareness. Emphasize that paying attention helps them understand others and be understood themselves.

Time for Detective Work!

  • We're going to look at some scenarios.
  • Your mission: Identify the non-verbal cues.
  • Your challenge: What do those cues tell you about the person's feelings or thoughts?
  • Get ready to discuss your findings!

Introduce the activity. Explain that they will be given scenarios and need to identify possible non-verbal cues and what they might mean. Encourage discussion.

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Activity

Non-Verbal Cues Activity: Social Detectives

Instructions: Read each scenario below. Imagine you are observing the person described. What non-verbal cues might they be showing, and what could those cues tell you about their feelings or thoughts? Write down your observations and interpretations.

Scenario 1: The Group Project

You are working on a group project. One of your group members, Alex, is sitting slightly apart from the rest of the group. They are looking down at their notes, occasionally sighing quietly. When someone asks their opinion, they give a very short, mumbled answer and quickly look back at their notes.

Observed Non-Verbal Cues:







What these cues might tell you:







Scenario 2: Lunchroom Conversation

During lunch, you see two friends, Ben and Chloe, talking. Ben is leaning in, nodding his head frequently, and has a small smile. Chloe is speaking with a slightly faster pace than usual, and her hands are animatedly gesturing as she talks.

Observed Non-Verbal Cues (Ben):




What these cues might tell you (Ben):




Observed Non-Verbal Cues (Chloe):




What these cues might tell you (Chloe):




Scenario 3: After the Test

You just finished a challenging math test. You see your classmate, David, walking out of the classroom. His shoulders are relaxed, he's walking at a normal pace, and he has a calm expression on his face. He even gives a small, relaxed stretch.

Observed Non-Verbal Cues:







What these cues might tell you:







Scenario 4: Presenting an Idea

Your teacher is presenting a new idea for a class fundraiser. She is standing tall, making eye contact with students around the room, and speaking with a clear, steady voice. She occasionally smiles as she explains the benefits.

Observed Non-Verbal Cues:







What these cues might tell you:







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Journal

Reflection Journal: My Social Awareness Journey

Instructions: Take a few minutes to reflect on today's lesson about non-verbal communication. Write your thoughts and feelings in the space provided.

Prompt 1: What I Learned Today

What is one new thing you learned or realized about non-verbal communication today? How might this knowledge change the way you observe or interact with others?













Prompt 2: Putting It Into Practice

Think about a recent situation where understanding non-verbal cues could have helped you. Describe the situation and how you might have approached it differently with your new understanding. Or, think about how you can use this skill in an upcoming situation.













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