Nonverbal Communication Unit Pacing Calendar

Day 1: Introduction

Day 2: Voice tone

and volume

Day 3: Gestures

Day 4: Eye Contact

What is nonverbal communication?

Brainstorm.
Share ideas (PPT slide)
Why is nonverbal communication important?
Discuss (PPT slide)
Watch Pixars For the Birds (on YouTube). Discuss
what we can learn from body and paralanguage
(i.e. with no words).
Exit slip: Name two kinds of nonverbal communication.
(Students can verbalize with teacher writing notes if
needed.)
Tone of voice (with PPT slides):
Discuss: What is it? Why is it important?
Model mad, happy, bored, surprised, interested.
tones of voice.
Have students practice with a given phrase (ex/ I
have homework)
Voice volume (with PPT slides):
Brainstorm: what is it?
Discuss three basic voice volumes and settings in
which each is appropriate.
Work together on Shapiros Activity 12 (exercise to
identify which voice volume is appropriate for
different settings).
Discuss: why is volume important?
What is a gesture?
Brainstorm and discuss (PPT slide).
Complete Shapiros Activity 15 (examine gestures,
identify what they mean, and a time the gesture
might be used)
Read scenarios and discuss what is being
communicated by the gestures? (Scenarios from
Mannixs Worksheet 27)
Watch Learn Body Language to Understand the
Story (short movie). Discuss: how do the
characters use gestures to communicate?
What is eye contact? (PPT slide)
Discuss and model examples and non-examples .
Watch Hidden Rules-Making Eye Contact (TED Ed
resource). Complete the accompanying online test
together. Reiterate point that we have alternatives
ex/(looking at eyebrows, looking away briefly,
explaining discomfort with eye contact, etc.)

Nonverbal Communication Unit Pacing Calendar

Day 5: Facial
Expressions

Day 6 (Optional):
Personal Space

Day 7: Putting It All

Together

Why is eye contact important?

Brainstorm and discuss.
Practice using eye contact as directed (see Shapiro s
Activity 13). After each scenario, write down feelings on
the experience. Discuss.
Brainstorm together: what do facial expressions tell
us?
Look at PPT slides with photographs of different
expressions. Discuss interpretations.
Have students work on Shvapiros Activity 14
independently. Discuss as a group.
Watch the video Personal Space (on YouTube).
Have students fill in blanks on graphic organizer.
Have students fill out Shapiros Activity 16 /space
zones visual as we talk about the zones (intimate,
personal, social, public). Ask students to consider
who they would place in each zone.
Possible extension: have students watch scenarios
of space invaders and suggest fix-ups.
Whole Unit Assessment:
Have students write down responses to the prompt
What are some ways people can communicate
without using words?(Alternative: have students
respond verbally with the teacher as scribe.)
Look at Shapiros Activity 19 and discuss: How do
the kids feel? Did their body language give you any
clues?
Watch video The Social Express: Hidden Social
Cues (min: 1:26 -2:21) and discuss same prompts.