Lesson Plan

Understanding Nonverbal Messages

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

The Overcoming Obstacles course for middle schoolers continues with a unit module on communication. In the first lesson, participants engage in a series of activities that help them recognize nonverbal clues and the importance of making sure their body language matches their verbal message.

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Instructional Ideas
  • Remind participants that some gestures are interpreted differently in different cultures
  • Ask a class member familiar with American Sign Language to sign a message for the class 
  • A variety of silent film clips are available on the internet; end class with a clip that includes exaggerated gestures
Classroom Considerations
  • First of five lessons in the Communication Module
  • Links to an overview of the module and a glossary of terms may are provided
Pros
  • The seven-page resource includes lesson extensions, a homework assignment, and suggestions for addressing multiple learning styles
Cons
  • None