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Interpreting Body Language |
Educational Objective: The student will Students will understand human body language, including gestures, posture and facial expressions used to communicate countless subtle and complex meanings.
Language Arts Standard: Speaking & Listening
• Introductory Activity
Definition:
Body Language is the unspoken communication that goes on in every Face-to-Face encounter with another human being. It tells you their true feelings towards you and how well your words are being received. Between 60-80% of our message is communicated through our Body Language, only 7-10% is attributable to the actual words of a conversation.
Your ability to read and understand another person's Body Language can mean the difference between making a great impression or a very bad one! It could help you in that job interview, that meeting, that business function, or special date!
Every one of us has experienced that feeling of an instant like or dislike of someone but without necessarily knowing why. We just weren't happy, there was something about them. We often refer to this as a hunch or gut feeling, two descriptions directly relating to our own body's physiological reaction.
Excellent Lesson on the Internet 
• Define Steps and Sequences of Skill
* Use Rubric below to evaluate the each of the pictures of the emotions. Discuss what the students perceived.
* use your local newspaper. Have the students evaluate the body language they see in the photographs you direct them to examine.
Large Body Posture: See material designed by John Mole 
See Pantomime Exercises 
Review Guidelines: Facial Expressions
| Forehead | wrinkles= | anger | |
| Eyebrows | outer edges up= | anger | |
| Eyes | centered= | focused | |
| gazing up= | thinking | ||
| gazing down= | shame | ||
| gaze to side= | guilt | ||
| wandering= | disinterested, bored | ||
| Nose | wrinkled= | disgusted, confused, | |
| pointed up= | arrogant | ||
| Lips | parted, relaxed= | happy | |
| together= | possibly concerned | ||
| wide open= | very happy, very angry | ||
| Arms | crossed= | angry, disapproving | |
| open= | honest, accepting | ||
| Hands | on top of head= | amazement | |
| scratching head= | puzzled, confused | ||
| rubbing eyes= | tired | ||
| rubbing chin= | thinking | ||
| folded= | timid, shy | ||
| Fingers | interlocked | tense | |
| pointing at you | angry | ||
| OK sign | all is fine | ||
| V sign | "peace" | ||
| Affectionate |
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| Attentive |
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| Angry |
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Anxious
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| Ashamed |
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| Bored |
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| Brave |
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| Cheerful |
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| Concerned |
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| Confident |
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| Confused |
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| Cranky |
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| Depressed |
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| Devastated |
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| Eager |
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| Embarrassed |
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| Excited |
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| Fed-Up |
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| Frightened |
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| Frustrated |
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| Goofy |
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| Grieving |
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| Grouchy |
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| Guilty |
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| Happy |
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| Hateful |
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| Hurt |
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| Interested |
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| Irritable |
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| Jealous |
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| Laughing |
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| Lazy |
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| Mean |
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| Peaceful |
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| Proud |
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| Relaxed |
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| Sad |
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| Satisfied |
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| Scared |
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| Selfish |
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| Shocked |
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| Silly |
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| Sorry |
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| Surprised |
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| Tired |
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Uncertain Unsure |
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| Worried |  |
See Card for Bingo or Lotto Games
See lesson plan (grades 6 - 8) by Discovery Channel. Web site includes student rubric . An excellent resource.
See web site about reading body language in business 
See also web site on skills for hearing challenged
See kit available for purchase
Suggestions for Pantomime Games
Refer student to Games Section of this web site for several activities
