Teacher Script: Spooky Social Cues

Warm-Up: What's the Vibe? (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, class! As we get closer to Halloween, let's think about some fun, maybe a little spooky, social situations. Imagine you’re at a Halloween party, maybe at a friend's house or a school event. What are some unwritten rules, or expectations, for how people act and talk in a setting like that? Think about what's considered 'normal' or 'polite' versus what might seem a bit... off."

Listen for student responses, prompting with questions like:

"What if someone showed up in their pajamas? Is that okay? Why or why not?"

"What about talking about homework the entire time?"

"How do you know when it's your turn to speak, or if someone is done telling a story?"

"Great examples! You're already thinking about something called 'pragmatic language.'"

Transition to Spooky Social Cues Slide Deck - Slide 1 - 'Spooky Social Cues: Mastering Pragmatic Language'

Exploring Pragmatic Language (10 minutes)

Display Spooky Social Cues Slide Deck - Slide 2 - 'What is Pragmatic Language?'

"So, what exactly is pragmatic language? It's how we use language in social situations to communicate effectively. It's about understanding the 'rules' of conversation, and how context, who you're talking to, and even unwritten rules change what you say and how you say it."

"Think about our Halloween party example. If you say 'Trick or treat!' at someone's door on Halloween, it's perfectly normal. But if you walk into our classroom right now and shout 'Trick or treat!' what might happen?"

Allow for student responses.

"Exactly! The words are the same, but the context changes everything. That's pragmatics in action."

Display Spooky Social Cues Slide Deck - Slide 3 - 'Why Does it Matter?'

"Why is this important? Because life is full of social interactions, and navigating them smoothly is key. Whether you're trying to make new friends, ace a job interview, work on a group project, or just understand if your friend is being sarcastic, pragmatic language is your superpower. It helps you avoid misunderstandings and build better relationships."

"Can anyone share an example from their own life where understanding (or misunderstanding) a social cue made a big difference?"

Allow students to share. Validate their experiences.

Display Spooky Social Cues Slide Deck - Slide 4 - 'Key Elements of Pragmatic Language'

"Let's break down some of the key elements we use every day, often without even thinking about it."

• "Non-Verbal Cues: This is huge! Body language, facial expressions, eye contact. If someone is telling a scary story and they're leaning in, whispering, and making wide eyes, what are they trying to communicate? (Suspense, fear). What if they're slouching, looking at their phone, and yawning? (Boredom, disinterest)."

• "Conversational Turns: How do you know when it's your turn to speak? When someone pauses, makes eye contact, or asks you a question. What happens if two people keep talking over each other? (Chaos, frustration)."

• "Adapting to Audience: We don't talk to our principal the same way we talk to our best friend. Or a five-year-old trick-or-treater versus a group of adult friends. Your words, tone, and even your topics change."

• "Inferring Meaning: This is where we 'read between the lines.' If someone says, 'Oh, that costume is... unique,' what might they actually mean? (It's not very good). How do you know? (Tone, facial expression, choice of word)."

• "Topic Maintenance: Staying on topic is important, but so is knowing how to smoothly change it. Imagine someone is talking about their amazing haunted house experience, and you suddenly interject with, 'I got an A on my math test!' How might that feel to the first person? (Dismissed, rude)."

"These are all skills we use to be effective communicators."

Activity: Halloween Scenario Cards (10 minutes)

Display Spooky Social Cues Slide Deck - Slide 5 - 'Putting It Into Practice: Spooky Scenarios'

"Alright, social detectives, it's time to put your skills to the test! I'm going to divide you into small groups. Each group will receive a set of Halloween Scenario Cards Activity."

"Your task is to choose 1-2 scenarios from the cards. For each scenario you choose, discuss the following:

• What pragmatic language skills are most important in this situation?
• What would be an effective way to communicate and handle this scenario?
• What would be an ineffective or awkward way to communicate in this scenario?"

"You have about 7 minutes for group discussion. After that, we'll come back together, and each group will briefly share their analysis of one of their chosen scenarios. Make sure everyone in your group participates!"

Distribute Halloween Scenario Cards Activity. Monitor groups, offering guidance and prompts as needed.

After 7 minutes, bring the class back together.

"Okay, let's hear from each group. Who would like to share one of their scenarios and discuss effective and ineffective communication?"

Facilitate brief sharing and discussion from each group, reinforcing pragmatic language concepts.

Cool Down: Pragmatic Ponderings (5 minutes)

"Excellent work analyzing those tricky social situations! To wrap up, I want you to take a moment for some 'Pragmatic Ponderings.' Please take out a piece of paper or open a document."

Distribute or display the Cool Down: Pragmatic Ponderings.

"Think about what we discussed today. Answer these two questions:

1. Describe one pragmatic language skill you feel confident using and provide a Halloween-themed example of when you would use it.
2. Describe one pragmatic language skill you want to improve, and how you might practice it during the Halloween season or in everyday life."
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

"This reflection will help you solidify what you've learned. You can submit these as an exit ticket, or we can briefly share before the bell if time allows."

"Remember, being a great communicator isn't just about what you say, but how you say it, and how you understand others. Keep practicing those spooky social cues!"

Halloween Scenario Cards: Pragmatic Language Challenge

Instructions:

Work with your group to choose 1-2 scenarios from the cards below. For each chosen scenario, discuss and be prepared to share:

1. What pragmatic language skills are most important in this situation? (e.g., non-verbal cues, adapting to audience, inferring meaning, turn-taking)
2. What would be an effective way to communicate and handle this scenario?
3. What would be an ineffective or awkward way to communicate in this scenario?

Scenario Card 1: The Confused Costume

Scenario: You are at a Halloween party, and someone is wearing a costume that you completely don't understand. It looks like a pile of mismatched clothes, but they seem really proud of it. They ask you, enthusiastically, "So, what do you think of my alien robot astronaut costume? Isn't it amazing?" You can't figure out what they are.

Discussion Prompts:

• How do you respond without being rude or dishonest?
• What non-verbal cues might you use?
• How does the speaker's enthusiasm influence your response?

Scenario Card 2: The Overly Enthusiastic Trick-or-Treater

Scenario: You're handing out candy. A group of excited 8-year-olds comes to your door. One child, dressed as a very chatty vampire, starts telling you an incredibly long, detailed story about their entire trick-or-treating route, how much candy they already have, and what their dog ate for dinner. Meanwhile, the other kids are getting restless and just want their candy.

Discussion Prompts:

• How do you politely guide the conversation back to the task (getting candy) without being dismissive of the child?
• What verbal and non-verbal cues indicate the other children's impatience?
• How would your tone of voice change when speaking to an 8-year-old versus a peer?

Scenario Card 3: The Silent Haunted House Guide

Scenario: You and your friends are walking through a local haunted house. The person dressed as a ghost is supposed to be guiding you through a particularly dark and confusing section, but they only point silently with one finger. Your friends are getting nervous and can't tell if they're supposed to go left or right, or if the ghost is just part of the scare.

Discussion Prompts:

• What verbal and non-verbal communication is missing here?
• How might you (or your group) try to elicit clearer instructions?
• What assumptions are being made about your understanding?

Scenario Card 4: The Sarcastic Sibling

Scenario: You are showing off your elaborate Halloween decorations to your younger sibling. You spent hours setting up a spooky graveyard scene. Your sibling looks at it, rolls their eyes, and says, "Wow, super scary. I'm terrified." in a very flat, unenthusiastic tone.

Discussion Prompts:

• How do you infer the true meaning of your sibling's words?
• What non-verbal cues are important here?
• How might you address their sarcasm effectively?

Scenario Card 5: The Costume Party Invitation Mix-Up

Scenario: You receive a text invitation to a Halloween party that simply says, "Costume Party at my place! 8 PM." You're not sure if it's a casual dress-up or a formal, elaborate costume required event. You also don't know if you should bring anything, or if it's okay to bring a friend.

Discussion Prompts:

• What important pragmatic information is missing from the invitation?
• How would you politely ask for clarification without sounding demanding?
• Why is understanding the host's expectations (audience) crucial here?

Cool Down: Pragmatic Ponderings

Take a few moments to reflect on today's lesson about pragmatic language and social cues. Please answer the following questions thoughtfully:

1. Confidence in Cues: Describe one pragmatic language skill you feel confident using in social situations. Provide a Halloween-themed example of when you would effectively use this skill (e.g., understanding a joke about a ghost, politely declining extra candy).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Growth in Ghoulish Gatherings: Describe one pragmatic language skill you would like to improve. How might you practice or pay more attention to this skill during the upcoming Halloween season, or in your everyday interactions?