Lesson Plan
Your Space, Your Say!
Students will be able to identify various forms of nonverbal communication and articulate the importance of personal boundaries in fostering respectful interactions.
Understanding nonverbal cues and establishing boundaries are essential life skills that empower students to communicate effectively, build healthy relationships, and advocate for their personal space and comfort. This lesson will help them navigate social situations with greater confidence and respect.
Audience
7th and 8th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and practical activities.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Your Space, Your Say! Slide Deck, Boundary Scenarios Worksheet, and Pens/Pencils
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Your Space, Your Say! Slide Deck for familiarity.
- Make copies of the Boundary Scenarios Worksheet for each student.
- Ensure whiteboard or projector is ready.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Guess the Feeling
5 minutes
- Begin with the Warm-Up: Nonverbal Guessing Game activity. The teacher will act out emotions silently, and students guess, focusing on more nuanced feelings.
- Introduce the idea that we communicate a lot without words, often unintentionally.
Step 2
Introduction to Nonverbal Communication
10 minutes
- Use the Your Space, Your Say! Slide Deck (Slides 1-3) to introduce nonverbal communication.
- Discuss examples: facial expressions, body language, eye contact, tone (without words). Focus on how these cues can be intentional or unintentional.
- Ask students: "How do people communicate without talking, and what makes it tricky sometimes?" (Refer to Script: Your Space, Your Say!)
Step 3
Understanding Personal Boundaries
10 minutes
- Transition to personal boundaries using the Your Space, Your Say! Slide Deck (Slides 4-6).
- Explain what a boundary is (physical, emotional, digital, intellectual) and why they are important (comfort, safety, respect, personal well-being).
- Discuss examples of healthy boundaries in school, with friends, and online (Refer to Script: Your Space, Your Say!).
Step 4
Cool-Down: Boundary Scenarios & Reflection
5 minutes
- Distribute the Boundary Scenarios Worksheet.
- Have students read and reflect on the scenarios, considering different ways to communicate and respect boundaries in varied social and digital contexts. Encourage them to write down their thoughts.
- Conclude by emphasizing the importance of actively recognizing and advocating for their own space and others' space, and how this reflection helps solidify their understanding.
Slide Deck
Your Space, Your Say!
Understanding Nonverbal Communication & Boundaries
How do we communicate without using words, and why does it matter even more now?
Welcome students and introduce the day's topic: how we communicate without words, and why understanding both unspoken signals and personal boundaries becomes even more important as they navigate more complex social situations.
What is Nonverbal Communication?
It's how we send messages without talking!
• Facial Expressions (Smiles, frowns, raised eyebrows, subtle eye rolls)
• Body Language (Crossed arms, leaning in, shrugging, fidgeting, posture)
• Eye Contact (Direct, averted, prolonged)
• Gestures (Waving, pointing, subtle hand movements)
• Personal Space (How close or far you stand from someone – changes based on relationship and comfort)
Explain that nonverbal communication includes everything from facial expressions to how we stand. Ask students for examples, but also challenge them to think about subtler cues and how they might differ between people or situations. Discuss how some cues are universal, while others can be cultural.
Why is it important?
Nonverbal cues help us:
• Understand complex feelings (ours and others)
• Identify when someone is uncomfortable or needs space
• Show respect and empathy
• Navigate complex social situations (friendships, groups)
• Build stronger connections
Sometimes, what we don't say is the loudest message, and sometimes, it's misinterpreted!
Discuss how nonverbal cues can sometimes say more than words, or even contradict words. Give an example like someone saying "I'm fine" but having a closed-off expression. Emphasize that paying attention to these cues helps in 'reading' social situations, preventing misunderstandings, and showing empathy.
Your Personal Space & Digital Boundaries
Everyone has a 'personal bubble' or invisible space around them, but it's more than just physical!
• It's your comfort zone: physical, emotional, and even digital.
• It changes depending on who you're with and the situation.
• It's crucial to respect your own comfort zone AND others' zones.
Introduce the idea of boundaries, starting with physical space. Use an analogy like a personal bubble, but expand it to include emotional and digital space. Discuss how this 'bubble' might change with different people (close friends, acquaintances, strangers, teachers) and in different settings (classroom, home, public).
What are Boundaries?
Boundaries are like invisible lines that protect our physical space, feelings, belongings, and online presence.
• They show what we are comfortable with and what we are not.
• They help us feel safe, respected, and maintain our well-being.
• They also help us respect others and understand their needs!
Explain that boundaries aren't just physical. They can be about feelings, thoughts, time, and online interactions. Give examples of respecting emotional boundaries (e.g., not forcing someone to share if they don't want to) and digital boundaries (e.g., not posting someone's picture without permission). Discuss how boundaries are about setting clear expectations for how we interact.
Examples of Healthy Boundaries
• Saying 'no' to something you genuinely don't want to do or feel uncomfortable with.
• Asking permission before touching someone's belongings or taking their picture.
• Giving someone space when they ask for it, even if you want to talk.
• Not sharing someone's personal information or secrets, especially online, without their consent.
• Managing expectations around texting or social media response times.
• Respecting someone's choice not to engage in gossip or a particular activity.
Provide clear examples relevant to 7th and 8th graders, encouraging them to brainstorm other examples. Focus on real-world scenarios they might encounter, including digital interactions.
Space & Say: Key Takeaways
• Pay active attention to nonverbal clues – they tell a big story.
• Understand, communicate, and advocate for your own boundaries.
• Respect the boundaries of others, even if they're different from yours.
• These skills are essential for healthy friendships, communication, and navigating the social world!
Summarize the key takeaways and emphasize that practicing these skills helps everyone feel more comfortable, respected, and safe, both in person and online. Highlight that these are ongoing life skills.
Script
Your Space, Your Say! Script
Warm-Up: Guess the Feeling (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon everyone! Let's kick off with a quick activity. I'm going to act out some emotions or simple reactions without saying a single word, and your job is to guess what feeling or message I'm trying to convey. Think about how much information we get without words. Ready?"
(Teacher acts out 2-3 more nuanced emotions/reactions: skeptical, confused, indifferent, intrigued, overwhelmed, annoyed. Encourage students to guess and explain what nonverbal cues they observed that led to their guess.)
Teacher: "Excellent observations! What did you notice about how I showed those feelings? Did I use my voice? No, right? We were using something called nonverbal communication! Today, we're going to dive deeper into how much we communicate without even speaking, and then we'll discuss something incredibly important for all our interactions: personal boundaries."
Introduction to Nonverbal Communication (10 minutes)
(Display Your Space, Your Say! Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Nonverbal Communication?)
Teacher: "So, as we just experienced, nonverbal communication is all about sending messages without using words. It's how our bodies, facial expressions, eye contact, and even the space we keep around us 'talk.' Can anyone give me an example of how someone might communicate something nonverbally, perhaps even without meaning to?"
(Allow a few student responses. Guide them to examples like subtle facial changes, shifts in posture, fidgeting, avoiding eye contact, or a change in proximity. Discuss the difference between intentional and unintentional nonverbal cues.)
(Display Your Space, Your Say! Slide Deck - Slide 3: Why is it important?)
Teacher: "Why do you think it's so important to understand these nonverbal messages, especially as you navigate middle school? How can being aware of them help you in school, with your friends, or even online?"
(Facilitate a discussion. Highlight points like understanding how others truly feel, recognizing discomfort, showing respect and empathy, navigating group dynamics, and avoiding misinterpretations. Ask about situations where verbal and nonverbal messages might contradict each other.)
Teacher: "Sometimes, what we don't say, or how we say it, sends a louder message than our words. Paying active attention to these unspoken signals can really help us connect and avoid misunderstandings."
Understanding Personal Boundaries (10 minutes)
(Display Your Space, Your Say! Slide Deck - Slide 4: Your Personal Space & Digital Boundaries)
Teacher: "Now, let's connect nonverbal communication to something crucial for healthy interactions: personal space and boundaries. Think about it like this: everyone has a 'personal bubble,' but it's not just physical space. It includes emotional space, digital space, and even intellectual space. How big do you think your personal bubble is? Does it change depending on who you're with, where you are, or even what you're doing online?"
(Allow student responses. Explain that the bubble might be smaller with close friends/family and larger with acquaintances or strangers, and that digital interactions also have their own 'bubbles' of privacy and comfort.)
(Display Your Space, Your Say! Slide Deck - Slide 5: What are Boundaries?)
Teacher: "This personal bubble is part of a bigger idea called boundaries. Boundaries are like invisible lines that protect our physical space, our feelings, our belongings, and our privacy, especially online. They show what we are comfortable with and what we are not. Why do you think having clear boundaries is so important, not just for you, but for everyone around you?"
(Facilitate discussion, focusing on safety, comfort, respect, self-care, and maintaining healthy relationships. Ask about the consequences of not having or respecting boundaries.)
(Display Your Space, Your Say! Slide Deck - Slide 6: Examples of Healthy Boundaries)
Teacher: "Let's look at some examples of healthy boundaries. These include things like saying 'no' to something you don't want to do, asking before touching someone's things, or respecting someone's privacy online. Can anyone think of another example of a healthy boundary, perhaps one you've experienced or seen, either for yourself or for respecting someone else?"
(Encourage a few more nuanced examples, including those related to social media, personal information, and peer pressure. Emphasize that boundaries are about mutual respect and open communication.)
Cool-Down: Boundary Scenarios & Reflection (5 minutes)
(Display Your Space, Your Say! Slide Deck - Slide 7: Space & Say: Key Takeaways)
Teacher: "For our cool-down, I'm going to give you a Boundary Scenarios Worksheet. Read each scenario and think critically about how you would communicate your boundary or respect someone else's boundary. Take a few minutes to write down your thoughts and reflections on each scenario. This helps us practice recognizing and responding to these situations in real life, which often aren't simple."
(Distribute the worksheet. Give students a few minutes to start. If time allows, discuss one or two scenarios briefly as a whole class, inviting different perspectives.)
Teacher: "Fantastic work today, 7th and 8th graders! Remember, paying attention to how people communicate without words, clearly and respectfully communicating your own boundaries, and actively respecting others' boundaries, helps everyone feel safer, more comfortable, and more respected in all your interactions – in person and online. These are super important skills for building strong, healthy relationships and navigating the complex social world around you."
Teacher: "Hold onto your worksheets, we can continue to discuss these scenarios and more next time!"
Activity
Warm-Up: Nonverbal Guessing Game
Instructions for the Teacher:
- Explain the Game: Tell students you will act out different emotions or simple actions without speaking, and their goal is to guess what you are communicating.
- Demonstrate: Act out 2-3 emotions clearly (e.g., happy, sad, confused, surprised, angry).
- Engage Students: Encourage students to raise their hands and guess the emotion. Ask how they knew (e.g., "What did my face tell you? What about my body?").
- Connect to Lesson: Briefly state that this is an example of nonverbal communication, which is what the lesson will be about.
Worksheet
Boundary Scenarios: Your Space, Your Say!
Instructions:
Read each scenario below. Think about what a healthy boundary might look like in that situation, considering both verbal and nonverbal communication. Write down what you would say or do to communicate or respect a boundary.
Scenario 1: Your friend wants to constantly text you, even late at night, and you need quiet time for homework or sleep.
What would you say or do to set a boundary?
Scenario 2: A classmate keeps trying to look over your shoulder at your phone or computer screen, and it makes you feel uncomfortable and like your privacy is being invaded.
What would you say or do?
Scenario 3: A friend shares a personal story with you and asks you not to share it, but later, another group of friends starts gossiping about something similar and pressures you for details.
What would you say or do to respect the boundary?
Scenario 4: You don't feel comfortable participating in a specific group activity or trend that your friends are all excited about, and they keep trying to convince you to join.
What would you say or do?
Scenario 5: You see a friend looking visibly upset, and another student keeps trying to cheer them up by giving unwanted hugs or touching their hair, even though your friend is clearly pulling away and showing discomfort.
What would you say or do to respect the upset friend's boundary or help them?
Scenario 6: Someone posts a picture of you online that you don't like or didn't give permission to be shared, and you want it taken down.
What would you say or do to communicate your boundary and get the picture removed?