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What's Your Body Language Saying?

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Lesson Plan

Non-Verbal Signals Handbook

Students will be able to identify and interpret various forms of non-verbal communication (body language, facial expressions, tone of voice) and understand their impact on communication. Students will also practice expressing themselves effectively using non-verbal cues.

Understanding non-verbal cues is crucial for navigating social situations, building strong relationships, and effectively conveying messages. This lesson will equip students with the skills to better read others and express themselves, leading to improved communication in all aspects of their lives.

Audience

9th Grade Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, slide presentation, and hands-on activity.

Materials

Silent Signals Speak Volumes (slide-deck), and Charades of Emotion (activity)

Prep

Review Materials and Setup

15 minutes

  • Review the Silent Signals Speak Volumes slide deck.
    - Review the Charades of Emotion activity instructions.
    - Prepare any necessary physical materials for the Charades of Emotion activity, such as small slips of paper or a whiteboard for writing down emotions/scenarios. Ensure enough space for students to act out.
    - Ensure projector/screen is working for the slide deck presentation.

Step 1

Warm-up & Introduction (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: 'What are some ways we communicate without using words?'
    - Facilitate a brief discussion on initial ideas.
    - Introduce the concept of non-verbal communication and its importance. Use the first few slides of the Silent Signals Speak Volumes to set the stage.

Step 2

Exploring Non-Verbal Cues (15 minutes)

15 minutes

  • Present the main content of the Silent Signals Speak Volumes, focusing on body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
    - Encourage student participation by asking questions and sharing examples.
    - Discuss how different non-verbal cues can impact a message and how they might differ across cultures (briefly).

Step 3

Charades of Emotion Activity (15 minutes)

15 minutes

  • Introduce the Charades of Emotion activity.
    - Divide students into small groups or pairs.
    - Explain the rules and provide them with the prompts.
    - Circulate and observe, offering guidance and encouragement as students act out and interpret non-verbal cues.

Step 4

Debrief and Wrap-up (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Bring the class back together.
    - Facilitate a short debriefing discussion about the activity and key takeaways from the lesson.
    - Ask questions like: 'What was challenging about interpreting non-verbal cues?' and 'How can understanding body language help you in your daily life?'
    - Summarize the main points about the power of non-verbal communication.
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Slide Deck

Silent Signals Speak Volumes!

How do we communicate without using a single word?

Welcome students and introduce the day's topic: communication beyond words. Ask them to think about how much we say without speaking.

What is Non-Verbal Communication?

  • Communication without spoken words
  • Includes body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice
  • Can often say more than words alone!

Explain that non-verbal communication is everything from how we stand to the expressions on our faces. It's powerful!

Body Language Basics

  • Posture: How you hold your body (slumped vs. upright)
  • Gestures: Movements of hands, arms, head
  • Proximity: How close or far you stand from someone
  • Eye Contact: Direct vs. averted gaze

Focus on body language first. Give examples of open vs. closed postures. Ask students for examples.

Faces Tell All

  • Our faces are masters of expression!
  • Happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, disgust
  • Micro-expressions: tiny, fleeting facial movements
  • How does a smile change a conversation?

Transition to facial expressions. Discuss how universal some expressions are (e.g., happiness, sadness) but also how culture can influence others.

Tone of Voice: It's Not What You Say...

  • ...It's how you say it!
  • Pitch: High or low
  • Volume: Loud or soft
  • Rate: Fast or slow
  • Inflection: Changes in your voice that add meaning

Discuss tone of voice. Emphasize that it's how we say something, not what we say. Give examples of saying the same words with different tones.

Why Does This Matter?

  • Better understanding of others
  • More effective self-expression
  • Stronger relationships
  • Helps you read situations and people more accurately

Summarize the key takeaways and bridge to the upcoming activity. Remind students that practice makes perfect in interpreting these cues.

Ready to Practice?

Let's put our non-verbal detective skills to the test with an activity!

Introduce the Charades of Emotion activity. Explain that they will be putting their observation skills to the test.

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Activity

Charades of Emotion: Silent Storytellers

Objective

To practice recognizing and expressing emotions and situations using only non-verbal communication (body language, facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice without words).

Instructions

  1. Form Teams: Divide into small groups of 3-4 students.
  2. The Prompt Bag: Your teacher will provide a list of emotions or simple scenarios. You can write these on slips of paper and place them in a hat or bowl.
  3. Choose a Mime: One person from the group will choose a slip of paper without showing it to their teammates.
  4. Silent Performance: The chosen student will act out the emotion or scenario using only non-verbal cues. No talking, no sounds!
  5. Guessing Game: The rest of the team will try to guess the emotion or scenario being acted out.
  6. Switch Roles: Once correctly guessed, another team member takes a turn.

Example Emotions/Scenarios

  • Happy surprise
  • Deep sadness
  • Frustration with a broken object
  • Confused by directions
  • Excited for a trip
  • Feeling shy
  • Tired after a long day
  • Angry about a lost item
  • Nervous before a test
  • Proud of an accomplishment

Discussion Questions (After the activity)

  1. What was challenging about acting out emotions without words?


  2. What clues did you look for when trying to guess what your teammates were acting out?


  3. Were some emotions or situations easier to convey non-verbally than others? Why or why not?


  4. How does this activity relate to how we communicate in real life, even when we are speaking?


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What's Your Body Language Saying? • Lenny Learning