Lesson Plan

Reading Social Signals

Students will analyze facial expressions, body language, and tone to interpret emotions and adapt communication. Through discussions and role-plays, they’ll practice detecting social cues and responding appropriately.

Understanding social signals helps students navigate peer interactions, build empathy, and improve communication skills essential for positive relationships in and out of the classroom.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Lesson Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Emoji Mood Check

5 minutes

Step 2

Slide Deck Presentation

10 minutes

Step 3

Guided Practice: Identify and Discuss

10 minutes

Step 4

Independent Practice: Role-Play Stations

15 minutes

Step 5

Cool-Down: Reflection Exit Ticket

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Detecting Emotions in Context

Welcome the class and introduce today’s topic. Say: “Today we’re going to learn how to read social cues—like facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice—to understand how other people are feeling.”

Lesson Objectives

Read the objectives aloud and briefly explain each. Emphasize why these skills matter in everyday interactions.

Facial Expressions

Show the first image of a person smiling. Ask: “What emotion do you see?” After discussion, show the second image of a person frowning and ask the same question.

Body Language

Display the images one at a time. For the arms-crossed image ask students what feeling it suggests. Then show the open-arms image and discuss.

Play the audio clip. Ask students to listen carefully to the speaker’s tone. Then pause and ask: “What feeling do you hear?”

Mixed Practice

Introduce the mixed‐cues video. Ask students to work with a partner to note the facial expression, body language, and tone of voice. Then have a few pairs share.

Reflection Exit Ticket

Explain the exit ticket prompts. Distribute slips and ask students to complete them quietly before they leave.

Slide Deck

Detecting Emotions in Context

Lesson Objectives

Facial Expressions

Body Language

Mixed Practice

Reflection Exit Ticket

Warm Up

Activity

Cool Down

Can You Read the Room?

Paul Tentindo