Role-Play Relay

Objective: Practice decoding and expressing nonverbal social signals in a fun, timed relay format to strengthen peer communication skills.

Materials

• Role-Play Relay Cards (scenario cards)
• Emotion‐Icon Cue Cards (visual supports)
• Timer or stopwatch
• Optional props (hats, scarves, simple objects)

Preparation (2 minutes)

• Arrange students in pairs, seated facing each other.
• Place the Role-Play Relay Cards face-down in the center.
• Make Emotion-Icon Cue Cards easily visible for students who need extra support.

Instructions (10 minutes)

1. Partner A draws a card and reads the scenario silently (e.g., “Your friend looks away and taps their foot when you ask to play”).
2. Partner A has 30 seconds to plan how to act out the nonverbal cues—no words allowed.
3. Partner A role-plays the signal while Partner B watches carefully.
4. Partner B guesses:
   • What type of signal was shown? (facial expression, tone, body language)
   • What emotion or message was the person trying to convey?
5. After guessing, Partner B provides specific feedback: “I saw you … so I thought you felt ….”
6. Switch roles and repeat with a new card until each student has practiced at least two scenarios.

Teacher Tips

• Circulate and note if students identify and use multiple cues (face, tone, posture).
• Prompt with questions: “What did your partner’s eyes or arms tell you?”
• Use Emotion-Icon Cue Cards for students who need a visual prompt to name feelings.

Differentiation & Extensions

• Support: Let students choose from only two cue types (e.g., facial vs. body language).
• Challenge: After two rounds, pairs create and act out their own scenario for the class to guess.

Assessment

• Observe and record which students accurately decode each signal and explain their reasoning.
• Collect quick notes on sticky dots: give a green dot if they guessed correctly with clear explanation, yellow if partial, red if they need more practice.

Signal Sort Chart

Use this chart to record different peer conversation scenarios, identify the type of social signal you notice, and explain what you think the signal means. You can use examples from the Role-Play Relay or situations you’ve observed during class.

After filling in your chart, compare your responses with the Signal Sorting Answers to check your understanding.

Signal Sorting Answers

Use these sample answers to check your work on the Signal Sort Chart. Each entry includes the social signal observed, the type of signal, and the reasoning path from clues to interpretation.

1. “Alex frowns and crosses arms when you talk about recess.”

• Signal Type: Body language & facial expression
• Clues:
  • Frown (facial expression)
  • Crossed arms (body language)
• Interpretation: Alex feels annoyed or defensive about the topic.
• Reasoning:
  1. Frowning usually signals displeasure or frustration.
  2. Crossing arms often indicates a closed‐off or defensive stance.
  3. Combining both clues points to Alex not liking or feeling upset at the mention of recess.

2. “Mia responds ‘Sure…’ in a flat, monotone voice when asked to trade snacks.”

• Signal Type: Tone of voice
• Clues:
  • Monotone pitch (no change in loudness or inflection)
• Interpretation: Mia is uninterested or reluctant to trade.
• Reasoning:
  1. A flat tone usually signals a lack of enthusiasm.
  2. If someone really wanted to trade, their tone would be more varied or excited.
  3. Therefore, Mia is probably not eager and may feel annoyed or bored.

3. “Chris looks down at the floor and shrugs when offered help on homework.”

• Signal Type: Body language
• Clues:
  • Avoiding eye contact (looking down)
  • Shrugging shoulders
• Interpretation: Chris feels unsure or embarrassed and doesn’t want extra help.
• Reasoning:
  1. Looking down often indicates discomfort or lack of confidence.
  2. A shrug can mean “I don’t know” or “I don’t care.”
  3. Together, Chris is signaling uncertainty or reluctance to accept help.

4. “Jordan smiles quickly but taps their foot rapidly while you explain a game.”

• Signal Type: Mixed (facial expression & body language)
• Clues:
  • Quick smile (possible polite agreement)
  • Rapid foot tapping (restlessness or impatience)
• Interpretation: Jordan is pretending to be polite but actually feels impatient or bored.
• Reasoning:
  1. A brief smile can be a social courtesy rather than genuine interest.
  2. Foot tapping suggests they want the conversation to move on or are anxious.
  3. The mismatch between a polite smile and restless body language shows conflicting feelings.

5. “Taylor leans forward, nods, and raises eyebrows when you share your idea.”

• Signal Type: Body language & facial expression
• Clues:
  • Leaning forward suggests engagement
  • Nodding signals agreement or encouragement
  • Raised eyebrows indicate interest or surprise
• Interpretation: Taylor is interested, supportive, and wants you to continue.
• Reasoning:
  1. Forward lean and nodding are positive engagement signals.
  2. Raised eyebrows often mean curiosity or excitement.
  3. Together, these cues show Taylor is actively listening and approving of your idea.

Teacher Tip: Encourage students to cite at least two distinct clues (e.g., one facial, one body) to support their interpretations. This deepens their awareness of how multiple signals combine to convey emotions or attitudes.