Lesson Plan
Expression Exploration Plan
By the end of this 25-minute one-on-one session, the student will identify four core facial expressions and two body language cues, map them to emotions and contexts, and accurately interpret nonverbal signals through guided practice and independent exercises.
Interpreting facial expressions and body language equips students with essential social communication skills, boosts confidence in peer interactions, and fosters better understanding of others’ emotions.
Audience
9th Grade Student
Time
25 minutes
Approach
Interactive scaffolded coaching and hands-on practice
Materials
Prep
Preparation and Setup
10 minutes
- Print and prepare multiple copies of Signal Interpretation Sheet
- Review slides in Face & Body Language Deck
- Familiarize yourself with Facial Cue Coaching Script
- Position a small mirror accessible for the student
Step 1
Introduction
3 minutes
- Greet the student and explain today’s goal: interpreting nonverbal cues
- Invite the student to share any recent confusing social interactions involving expressions or body language
Step 2
Guided Practice: Facial Expressions
7 minutes
- Show four images from the Face & Body Language Deck
- Prompt the student to identify the emotion and possible context
- Provide targeted feedback using Facial Cue Coaching Script, highlighting key facial features
Step 3
Activity: Mirror Expression Exercise
8 minutes
- Guide the student through the Mirror Expression Exercise
- Demonstrate an expression; have the student mimic it while observing themselves
- Discuss the muscle movements and emotional context for each expression
Step 4
Assessment: Signal Interpretation
5 minutes
- Distribute the Signal Interpretation Sheet
- Present mixed images/scenarios of facial and body cues
- Student annotates cues and writes likely emotions and contexts
- Review answers and correct misunderstandings
Step 5
Reflection and Wrap-Up
2 minutes
- Ask the student to share one new insight they gained today
- Assign a brief practice: observe a peer’s expressions in a real-life setting and note the inferred emotion before the next session
Slide Deck
Decoding Nonverbal Signals
Today we’ll explore four core facial expressions and two common body language cues to help you read how others feel and respond appropriately.
Introduce the learning goal. Emphasize that we’ll look at key facial expressions and body postures to decode feelings and contexts.
Expression: Happiness
• Mouth: lips curve upward into a smile
• Eyes: ‘crow’s feet’ wrinkles at corners
Context: Celebrating good news, enjoying a joke
Show the image of a happy face. Ask: “What do you notice around the mouth and eyes?”
Expression: Sadness
• Mouth: corners turn downward
• Eyes: droopy eyelids, possible tears
Context: Feeling disappointed or grieving
Display a sad expression. Prompt: “How do the eyelids and mouth look?”
Expression: Anger
• Brows: drawn down and together
• Mouth: lips pressed tight or teeth showing
Context: Experiencing frustration or conflict
Show an angry face. Ask: “What stands out about the brow and jaw?”
Expression: Surprise
• Brows: raised high
• Eyes: wide open
• Mouth: open, relaxed jaw
Context: Encountering unexpected news or events
Present a surprised face. Encourage the student to describe eye and mouth changes.
Body Language Cues
• Crossed Arms
– Features: arms folded over chest
– Signal: defensiveness or discomfort
• Open Posture
– Features: arms relaxed at sides, shoulders back
– Signal: openness, willingness to engage
Introduce two common body postures. Ask student to mimic each posture and describe what it signals.
Practice with Your Mirror
- Choose one expression: Happiness, Sadness, Anger, or Surprise.
- Watch yourself in the mirror and mimic it exactly.
- Note which facial muscles move.
- Repeat with the other expressions and both body postures.
Guide the student into mirror practice. Encourage self-feedback (“What do you feel when you make each expression?”).
Script
Facial Cue Coaching Script
Below is the exact teacher script for guided practice using facial-expression images. Use each prompt, pause for the student’s response, then provide affirmations or corrections as needed.
- Teacher: “Okay, let’s begin our guided practice with the Face & Body Language Deck. I’ll show you each expression, and I want you to identify the emotion and explain which facial features gave you that clue. Ready?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Let’s look at the first slide: Expression: Happiness. What emotion do you see here?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Great, it’s happiness. What do you notice about the person’s mouth?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Exactly, the corners of the lips curve upward into a smile. Now, what change do you see around the eyes?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Yes, you can see small wrinkles at the corners, often called ‘crow’s feet.’ Can you think of a situation where someone might have this expression?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Excellent, celebrations or hearing a funny joke are perfect examples.”
- Teacher: “Now, move to the next slide: Expression: Sadness. What feeling do you think this person is showing?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Right, sadness. Describe what you see at the corners of the mouth.”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Correct, the corners of the mouth turn downward. How do the eyes look in this expression?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Yes, the eyelids appear droopy and there might even be tears. In what kind of situation might someone look like this?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Good thinking—when someone is disappointed or grieving, for example.”
- Teacher: “Let’s check out the Expression: Anger slide. What emotion is this?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Exactly, anger. What stands out about the person’s eyebrows?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Right, the brows are drawn down and together. What do you notice about the mouth and jaw?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Yes, the lips are pressed tight or the teeth may be showing. When might someone display this expression?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “That’s correct—during conflict or when they feel frustrated.”
- Teacher: “Finally, look at the Expression: Surprise slide. What emotion do you see?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Yes, surprise. Describe what happens with the eyebrows.”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Exactly, they are raised high. What do you notice about the eyes and mouth?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Right, the eyes are wide open and the mouth is open with a relaxed jaw. Can you give a scenario where someone might look surprised?”
(Pause for response) - Teacher: “Perfect, seeing unexpected news or an unanticipated event could cause that look.”
Activity
Mirror Expression Exercise
Objective: Help the student observe and reproduce facial expressions and body postures to deepen understanding of nonverbal cues.
Materials: Handheld mirror or tabletop mirror for the student.
Steps:
- Set Up: Have the student hold the mirror at eye level so they can see their full face and upper torso. Explain that they’ll both mimic and observe expressions and postures.
- Demonstrate Happiness:
- Teacher models a happy expression: raise cheeks, smile broadly, notice crow’s feet around eyes.
- Student watches the teacher, then looks in the mirror and mimics the same expression.
- Student notes which muscles moved (lips, cheeks, eyes) and describes how it feels.
- Practice Sadness:
- Teacher shows a sad face: corners of the mouth turn down, eyelids droop.
- Student copies the expression in the mirror.
- Discuss: “What changed around your mouth? Your eyes?”
- Try Anger:
- Teacher models anger: brows drawn together, lips pressed or teeth showing, jaw tight.
- Student mirrors the posture and facial tension.
- Question: “How does your forehead feel? Where is the tension?”
- Show Surprise:
- Teacher demonstrates surprise: eyebrows raised, eyes wide, mouth open.
- Student replicates and then describes the sensation: “What happened to your jaw?”
- Body Posture Practice:
a. Crossed Arms: Student crosses arms over chest and notes how it feels when interacting.
b. Open Posture: Student drops arms to sides, straightens shoulders.For each posture, ask: “What message might someone send when they stand like this?” - Reflection:
- Ask the student to choose one expression or posture that felt most natural and one that felt hardest to hold.
- Discuss why some expressions are easier to mimic and how they relate to real emotions.
- Extension:
- Encourage the student to practice these in front of a mirror at home and notice their own emotional changes.
Note: Provide immediate feedback and corrections throughout to ensure accurate muscle movement and emotional context.
Worksheet
Signal Interpretation Sheet
Instructions: For each scenario below, observe the nonverbal cues (facial expression or body posture) and complete the questions. Use images from the Face & Body Language Deck or teacher-provided photos.
Scenario 1: Facial Expression (Happiness)
Image 1: Person smiling broadly
- Observations: What facial cues do you notice? (e.g., mouth, eyes, cheeks)
- Inferred Emotion:
- Possible Context: What might be happening to cause this expression?
Scenario 2: Facial Expression (Sadness)
Image 2: Person with downturned mouth
- Observations:
- Inferred Emotion:
- Possible Context:
Scenario 3: Facial Expression (Anger)
Image 3: Person with furrowed brows
- Observations:
- Inferred Emotion:
- Possible Context:
Scenario 4: Facial Expression (Surprise)
Image 4: Person with wide eyes and open mouth
- Observations:
- Inferred Emotion:
- Possible Context:
Scenario 5: Body Posture (Defensiveness)
Image 5: Person standing with crossed arms
- Observations: What posture cues do you notice?
- Inferred Emotion or Attitude:
- Possible Context: What situation might lead to this posture?
Scenario 6: Body Posture (Openness)
Image 6: Person standing with arms relaxed at sides
- Observations:
- Inferred Emotion or Attitude:
- Possible Context:
Reflection Questions
- Which scenario was easiest for you to interpret and why?
- Which scenario was most challenging and why?
- How can you use what you learned today to better understand people’s feelings in real life?