1. Non-verbal Communication
 Here is a link to a Grade 7&8 lesson that could be modified to meet the outcomes of other grades.
What we say when we aren’t
“saying” anything.

2. How do I know that the students aren’t interested?
- Cue Students: As you watch the video clip, ask yourself: How do I know that the students aren’t interested?
Students watch the video clip and jot down signals that show the students are not interested in the teacher’s lecture.
2 minutes – students share their list with an elbow partner, and then share best ideas with the class.

3. Why should we care about non-verbal communication?
Brainstorm a few ideas about the focus question as a class.
Teacher explains: Good group work skills require a high level of self-awareness. By understanding your personal style of communicating, you will go a long way towards creating good and lasting impressions with others.

4. Respectful Body Language Disrespectful Body Language
How can I use body language to show respect during a group discussion?
Respectful Body Language
Disrespectful Body Language
Students create this t-chart on a piece of paper and sit with an elbow partner.
Student partners view the compilation of images following this slide and come up with criteria for respectful and disrespectful language.

5. Facial Expressions
Teacher Background Information (do not share with students – wait and let them develop their ideas first through the criteria-building process):
The human face is able to express countless emotions without saying a word.
It is easy to zone out as a listener, but when you do you can give a blank, open-mouthed look that resembles the face of a kid after five hours of cartoons.

10. Sounds
Teacher Background Information (do not share with students – wait and let them develop their ideas first through the criteria-building process):
- Things we do subconsciously (without realizing) can distract a speaker.
Tapping your pencil, drumming your fingers, and even flipping through a book can make it difficult for the other members in your group to share, or to not get distracted by you!
Fidgeting is usually a sign of boredom, nervousness or impatience. Is that the message you want to send to your group?

13. Attention Focus
Teacher Background Information (do not share with students – wait and let them develop their ideas first through the criteria-building process):
- What message is this man portraying with his eyes?
-lying, hiding something, uninterested, checking phone, etc.
A listener should give more eye contact than the speaker. This shows that you really care about what the other person has to say.
Research suggests that if you want to have good communication you should maintain eye-contact 60 to 70 percent of the time that someone is speaking to you.

17. Posture
Teacher Background Information (do not share with students – wait and let them develop their ideas first through the criteria-building process):
- Research shows that in a seated conversation, a backward lean communicates that you are dominant. A forward lean shows interest.
Proximity, that is, being physically close, signals your desire to be emotionally or physiologically close.
Don’t get in their face, but merely lean in toward the speaker.
To communicate you are an open, confident speaker and listener, you need to show your heart (the front of your body).
Sit with your back straight and head held high and look into people’s eyes when you talk to them.
If you droop while sitting, keep your head bent downwards or look at the floor all the time, you would be sending the wrong signal to your group. People are more likely to ignore you than take you seriously.
To send a positive message, keep a more relaxed posture with your elbows opened out, knees a little spaced out and the arms a bit away from the body.
Make sure you turn towards the speaker. Even a quarter turn away signals a lack of interest and makes the speaker shut down.

23. Physical Distance
Teacher Background Information (do not share with students – wait and let them develop their ideas first through the criteria-building process):
Who seems isolated from the group (the girl on the left). Why?
Sitting/standing at a different level from your group members can isolate you and/or make you feel at a different level to them. Ex. Standing higher and looking down at your group members might give them the impression that you think you are supervising them, rather than working with them as an equal.

26. How can I use body language to show respect during a group discussion?
After students have finished creating a list of criteria for respectful and disrespectful body language, share ideas as a class to create a short master list of criteria. This criteria can be used later as a self-assessment checklist.
During this process, teacher helps to narrow ideas down to cover the BIG ideas of non-verbal communication
Ex. Show you’re listening (eye contact, lean forward)
Avoid creating distractions (finger tapping, paper shuffling, ect.)
If you’re feeling frustrated, avoid disrespectful signals (eye-rolling, yawning, closed posture, turning your back)