Warm-Up: Guess the Feeling!

Instructions: Look at the images or read the short scenarios below. Without using any words, try to guess what emotion or message the person is conveying. Write your answer in the space provided.

1. Image 1: A person with wide eyes, slightly raised eyebrows, and an open mouth.
   What emotion do you think they are showing?
   
   
   
   

2. Scenario: A student is sitting hunched over their desk, with their head resting on their arms. They aren't looking at anyone.
   What might their body language be telling you?
   
   
   
   

3. Image 2: Someone crossing their arms tightly and looking away.
   What non-verbal message might this send?
   
   
   
   

4. Scenario: A teacher is nodding slowly and smiling gently as a student speaks.
   What non-verbal cue is the teacher using, and what does it mean?
   
   
   
   

Discussion Prompts: Reading Between the Lines

Let's talk about how we observe and interpret non-verbal social cues in different situations.

1. Imagine your friend walks into class with their shoulders slumped, not making eye contact, and they quickly sit down without saying hello. What non-verbal cues are you noticing, and what do you think they might be feeling?
   
   
   
2. You're telling a story to a group of friends, and one of them keeps looking at their phone and tapping their foot. What message are their non-verbal cues sending to you? How does that make you feel?
   
   
   
3. Someone is speaking to you, and they have a big smile, their eyes are crinkling at the corners, and their hands are open. What are these cues telling you about how they feel about what they're saying or about you?
   
   
   
4. Think about a time someone misunderstood you because of your body language or facial expression. What happened, and how could you have communicated more clearly, non-verbally?
   
   
   
5. Why do you think it's important to pay attention to both what people say and how their bodies are communicating?
   
   
   

Activity: Cue Card Charades

Objective: To practice recognizing and expressing emotions and situations using only non-verbal cues.

Instructions:

1. Divide into small groups or pairs.
2. One person from the group will pick a "Cue Card" (provided by the teacher) without showing it to their group.
3. The person will then act out the emotion or situation described on the card using only their body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and gestures. No talking or sounds are allowed!
4. The rest of the group will try to guess what emotion or situation is being acted out.
5. Once guessed correctly, another person takes a turn.

Examples of Cue Cards (Teacher to prepare on separate slips of paper):

• Happy Surprise: (e.g., finding money, seeing an old friend)
• Confused: (e.g., trying to understand a difficult math problem, reading a confusing sign)
• Frustrated: (e.g., a pen not working, a tangled shoelace)
• Excited: (e.g., going on a trip, receiving a gift)
• Sad/Disappointed: (e.g., losing a game, a favorite toy breaking)
• Bored: (e.g., waiting in a long line, listening to a very long speech)
• Angry: (e.g., someone taking your turn, unfair treatment)
• Shy/Nervous: (e.g., meeting new people, giving a presentation)
• Proud: (e.g., finishing a big project, winning an award)
• Thoughtful/Pondering: (e.g., trying to solve a puzzle, deep in thought)

Cool-Down: My Non-Verbal Takeaway

Instructions: Take a moment to think about what we discussed and practiced today. In your own words, answer the question below.

What is one new thing you learned about non-verbal social cues, or one non-verbal cue you will try to pay more attention to in the future?