Slide Deck
What Do You See?
Look closely at the image. What emotion do you think this person is feeling? How can you tell?
Display this slide. Ask students to observe the image and describe what they think the person is feeling and how they can tell. Encourage a variety of observations and explanations.
What Are Social Cues?
Social cues are like secret codes! They are signals people give off about what they're thinking or feeling.
Why are they important?
- Help us understand others
- Help others understand us
- Make conversations smoother
Introduce the concept of social cues. Emphasize that these are signals we send and receive.
Verbal Cues: It's How You Say It!
These are clues from what people say and how they say it.
- Tone of Voice: Is it happy, sad, angry, surprised?
- Example: Saying "Great!" in a cheerful voice vs. a sarcastic voice.
- Word Choice: What words are they using?
- Example: "I'm fine" vs. "I'm feeling a bit down."
Explain verbal cues. Provide simple examples of how tone or specific words change meaning.
Non-Verbal Cues: Face Facts!
These are clues from what people do with their bodies, not just what they say.
Facial Expressions: Our faces show a lot!
- Happy: Smile, crinkled eyes
- Sad: Frown, droopy eyes
- Angry: Furrowed brows, tight lips
- Surprised: Wide eyes, open mouth
Introduce non-verbal cues related to the face. Ask students to try making different facial expressions to feel the difference.
Non-Verbal Cues: Body Talk!
Body Language & Gestures: How we hold ourselves speaks volumes.
- Open Body Language: Arms uncrossed, facing the person (shows interest, openness)
- Closed Body Language: Arms crossed, turned away (might show disinterest, defensiveness)
- Eye Contact: Looking at someone when they speak (shows you're listening)
- Personal Space: How close or far you stand from someone (shows respect, comfort level)
Continue with non-verbal cues, focusing on body language and gestures. Demonstrate a few examples if appropriate.
Video Analysis: Be a Social Cues Detective!
Now, let's watch a short video clip.
Your mission: Be a social cues detective!
- Watch for both verbal and non-verbal cues.
- What do you notice about how the people are communicating?
This slide is a placeholder for the video. Explain to students that they will watch a short video clip and act as 'social cues detectives'.
Activity: Social Cues Detective Work
Time to put your detective skills to the test!
- Use your Social Cues Detective Activity worksheet.
- We'll rewatch parts of the video to find clues.
- Then, you'll work in pairs or small groups to finish the activity.
This slide is for the activity. Explain that they will use the worksheet to identify cues from the video and then practice with scenarios.
Time for a Social Cues Check-Up!
You've done great work being social cues detectives!
Now, let's see what you've learned with a quick Social Cues Check-Up Quiz.
Transition to the quiz. Explain it's a quick check for understanding.
Keep Practicing!
Understanding social cues takes practice. Keep observing, keep listening, and keep trying to read those social signals!
Great job, everyone!
End the lesson with a positive and encouraging message.
Activity
Social Cues Detective Activity
Name: ____________________________
Part 1: Video Clues
Watch the video clip and write down any social cues you observe. Think about what people say and what they do!
What verbal cues did you notice? (How people spoke, what words they used, tone of voice)
What non-verbal cues did you notice? (Facial expressions, body language, hand gestures, eye contact, how close they stood)
Part 2: Match the Cue
Read each social situation. Draw a line to match the situation to the most likely social cue or meaning.
| Situation | Social Cue / Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Someone is smiling and laughing. | They are confused or unsure. |
| 2. Someone has their arms crossed and is frowning. | They are happy or enjoying themselves. |
| 3. Someone looks away and fidgets when you talk. | They might be sad or upset. |
| 4. Someone has wide eyes and a slightly open mouth. | They might be feeling angry or defensive. |
| 5. Someone is speaking in a quiet, slow voice. | They are surprised or shocked. |
| 6. Someone nods along as you speak. | They are listening and engaged. |
Part 3: What Should You Do?
Read each scenario. What is a good way to respond based on the social cues you noticed?
-
Scenario: Your friend tells you about their weekend, but they are looking down at their shoes and speaking very softly.
- What cue do you notice?
- What do you think it means?
- What could you say or do?
- What cue do you notice?
-
Scenario: Your teacher asks a question, and another student raises their hand quickly and has a big smile on their face.
- What cue do you notice?
- What do you think it means?
- What could you say or do?
- What cue do you notice?
Quiz
Social Cues Check-Up Quiz
Answer Key
Social Cues Check-Up Quiz Answer Key
Question 1: Which of these is a verbal social cue?
- Correct Answer: C) The tone of someone's voice
- Reasoning: Verbal cues relate to what is spoken or how it is spoken. Tone of voice is how words are delivered.
Question 2: If someone's eyes are wide and their mouth is slightly open, what emotion might they be showing?
- Correct Answer: B) Surprise
- Reasoning: Wide eyes and an open mouth are classic facial expressions associated with surprise.
Question 3: Which of these is an example of open body language?
- Correct Answer: C) Facing the person you are talking to
- Reasoning: Open body language generally indicates engagement and willingness to communicate, like facing the speaker. Crossed arms or avoiding eye contact are often signs of closed or disengaged body language.
Question 4: Your friend says, "I had a really fun time!" but their voice is flat and they aren't smiling. What social cues do you notice, and what do you think they really mean?
- Example Answer: I notice that their voice is flat (verbal cue) and they aren't smiling (non-verbal cue/facial expression). This probably means they didn't actually have a fun time, even though their words said they did. Their non-verbal cues are different from their verbal cues, so it's important to pay attention to both.
- Reasoning: This question assesses the student's ability to identify conflicting cues and infer meaning, which is a higher-level social cue interpretation skill.
Question 5: Why is it important to pay attention to social cues?
- Example Answer: It's important to pay attention to social cues because they help us understand what other people are thinking and feeling, even when they don't say it directly. This helps us have better conversations, build stronger friendships, and know how to act in different social situations.
- Reasoning: This question checks the student's understanding of the purpose and importance of interpreting social cues.
Lesson Plan
Reading Social Signals
Students will be able to identify and interpret various social cues (verbal and non-verbal) to improve their social interactions and communication skills.
Understanding social cues is vital for effective communication, building relationships, and successfully navigating everyday social situations. This lesson equips students with practical tools to better understand others.
Audience
12th Grade Students with Cognitive Impairment
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Direct instruction, video analysis, and interactive activities.
Materials
Reading Social Signals Slide Deck, Social Cues Detective Activity, and Social Cues Check-Up Quiz
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Print copies of the Social Cues Detective Activity (one per student or pair).
- Print copies of the Social Cues Check-Up Quiz (one per student).
- Ensure access to a projector or interactive whiteboard for the slide deck and video.
- Prepare a short, age-appropriate video clip (1-2 minutes) depicting a social interaction for analysis (e.g., two people having a conversation, someone expressing an emotion).
Step 1
Warm-Up: What Do You See?
5 minutes
* Ask students: "What do you think this person is feeling? How can you tell?"
* Facilitate a brief discussion to activate prior knowledge about recognizing emotions.
Step 2
Introduction to Social Cues
5 minutes
* Explain both verbal cues (tone of voice, choice of words) and non-verbal cues (facial expressions, body language, gestures, personal space).
* Provide clear, simple examples for each type of cue.
Step 3
Video Analysis: Becoming a Social Cues Detective
8 minutes
* Distribute the Social Cues Detective Activity worksheet.
* Play the video clip again, pausing as needed. Guide students to identify and jot down verbal and non-verbal cues they observe using their worksheets.
* Discuss their findings as a class, pointing out specific examples from the video.
Step 4
Practice Activity: Match the Cue
7 minutes
* Have them complete the remaining sections of the Social Cues Detective Activity, matching scenarios to appropriate social cues or identifying expected behaviors.
* Circulate to provide support and clarification.
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Assessment
5 minutes
* Distribute the Social Cues Check-Up Quiz.
* Allow students to complete the quiz individually as a quick check for understanding.
* Collect quizzes for review.