Warm-Up: Mirror Movements

Time: 5 minutes

• Have students find a partner and stand facing each other, about an arm’s length apart.
• Explain that one partner will lead simple, slow movements (raising an arm, tilting the head, shrugging shoulders) while the other mirrors exactly, matching posture, speed, and facial expression.
• After two minutes, cue students to swap roles so both practice leading and mirroring.
• Encourage partners to focus on small details: eyebrow raises, subtle shifts in weight, and breathing patterns.
• To wrap up, rotate partners one or two times so students experience different leading styles and note how attention to nonverbal cues changes with each new partner.

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Activity: Silent Scene Act-Out

Time: 10 minutes

1. Form Groups:

   • Divide the class into groups of 3–4 students.
   • Assign each group a brief scenario card (examples below).

2. Scenario Options (write on index cards or display on screen):

   • Greeting a friend you haven’t seen in months
   • Frustration about a missed bus
   • Excitement at receiving good news
   • Nervousness before a big exam

3. Act It Out — No Words:

   • One at a time, each group silently performs their scenario for 2 minutes.
   • Actors focus on posture, facial expressions, gestures, and personal space.
   • Observing classmates take notes on specific cues (e.g., crossed arms, pacing, smiles).

4. Debrief Observations:

   • After each performance, allow 1–2 minutes for observers to share quick notes:
     • What body language stood out?
     • How did facial expressions shape your interpretation?

5. Prepare for Discussion:

   • Collect observations to use in the Cue Interpretation Discussion.
   • Encourage students to focus on both clear and mixed signals.

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Cue Interpretation Discussion

Time: 8 minutes

As we return from the Silent Scene Act-Out, use these prompts to guide a focused class conversation. Remind students to listen respectfully, build on each other’s ideas, and cite specific observations.

1. Group Recap

• Each group names their scenario and shares one key nonverbal cue they observed.

2. Discussion Prompts

1. What did the actor’s posture convey in your scene?
   
   
   
2. How did specific gestures reinforce or change the intended message?
   
   
   
3. Did you notice any mixed signals—when one cue conflicted with another? Describe one example.
   
   
   
4. How did personal space or proximity influence your interpretation of the interaction?
   
   
   
5. In what ways might cultural or individual differences affect how these cues are read?
   
   
   

3. Deeper Reflection & Feedback

• If you were the actor, how would you adjust your nonverbal cues to make the message clearer?
  
  
  
• How could misinterpreting these signals lead to real-life misunderstandings?
  
  
  

After this discussion, transition to the Signal Analysis Chart Worksheet to capture personal insights and interpretations.

Signal Analysis Chart Worksheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: _______________

Instructions: During the Silent Scene Act-Out, you observed groups acting without words. Use this chart to record two nonverbal cues you noticed, your interpretation of each cue, and the context in which it appeared.

Cue 1

Nonverbal Cue (what you saw):

Possible Meaning (what it might convey):

Context (when and how it appeared):

Cue 2

Nonverbal Cue (what you saw):

Possible Meaning (what it might convey):

Context (when and how it appeared):

(Optional) Cue 3

Nonverbal Cue (what you saw):

Possible Meaning (what it might convey):

Context (when and how it appeared):

Cool-Down: Nonverbal Notebook

Time: 2 minutes

In your Nonverbal Notebook, respond to the prompts below:

1. One personal nonverbal habit I noticed about myself today is:
   
   
   

2. My goal to make my nonverbal communication clearer is:
   
   
   

(Optional) 3. One situation this week where I will practice this goal is:

Thank you! Please close your notebooks and get ready to head to your next class.