Length
1 - 1.5 hours
Materials
- Copies of the quiz, one for each student
- Access to technology
Key Vocabulary
- Non-verbal communication
- Pacifying behaviors
Curriculum Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1
Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.4
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.
Instructions
- Start class by demonstrating some clear non-verbal behaviors your students may be aware of, such as shaking your fists or slamming a book on your desk.
- Ask students to briefly write what they think you're displaying, then have them share their ideas with a partner.
- Share and discuss as a class, letting students in on the fact that you just exhibited non-verbal communication, and they (likely) were able to decode it.
- Have students work in their small groups to brainstorm a list of non-verbal communication and behaviors.
- Start the lesson video Non-Verbal Communication: Examples, Types & Definition and pause at 5:45.
- Instruct students to create categories for the list of their non-verbal communication, such as 'fight or flight,' 'pacifying' or 'anger.'
- Share group work and discuss:
- Why do humans use non-verbal communication?
- Do other animals have non-verbal communication?
- How often do you think about another person's non-verbal communication?
- How do you think non-verbal communication impacts interactions?
- Play the remainder of the lesson video, answering any questions.
- Now, have students take the quiz to assess understanding.
Activity
- Instruct students to work in their small groups to create a short skit in which the characters use several forms of non-verbal communication.
- Allow students to do research online to add to their list of non-verbal communication. Have them work together to write and rehearse their skits.
- When students are ready have them perform their skits. Instruct the remainder of the class to observe closely and write a list of non-verbal communication they see.
- Share and discuss non-verbal communication after each skit.
Extensions
- Instruct students to research non-verbal communication for the next 24 hours. Have them watch others and keep a list of people they see communicating non-verbally and bring to class. Break them into small groups and allow them to discuss and guess what the person was feeling or communicating.
- After a week, have students reflect on how their understanding of non-verbal communication has impacted their own behaviors. Have they been more aware of their non-verbal communication? What have they noticed about non-verbal communication in others?
- Teach students about other forms of communication.
