Lesson+3

Session 3: Understanding Body Language


 * Goals:**

//ASCA Personal/Social Standard A//: Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.


 * Objective:** Students will be able to effectively demonstrate and describe positive and negative body language and relate these skills to friendship enhancement.


 * Materials:** Body Language in Communication handout


 * Procedure:**

//Homework Review://


 * Use the “go around” method and ask students to share conversation experiences. Were they able to initate conversations? What was difficult about it? What was easy? Did they learn anything?

//Transition to new topic://


 * Explain the importance of body language for communicating.
 * Pass out Body Language in Communication worksheet and discuss body language “dos” and “don’ts” and review worksheet. Practice body language styles on sheet, and encourage students to have fun with it, especially the “don’ts” category.
 * Have students get into pairs. One pair at a time, have student briefly talk about any topic. One person should talk and the other should demonstrate body language “don’ts”. Have partners switch roles but now have the listener demontrate body language “dos”. After each group has gone have students go around the room and discuss behaviors that they noticed and how it made them feel (as the listener and talker).
 * Did members notice any ways that they (or others) use body language effectively in the group? Go around and ask people how they think their body language impacts how peers view them. How can body language impact friendship?


 * Evaluation:** Students are evaluated based upon their ability to effectively describe and demonstrate appropriate and negative body language and discuss the importance of body language to friendship enhancement.

Brigman, G. & Goodman, B. E. (2001). Communicating with body language. //Group// //Counseling for School Counselors: A Practical Guide// (pp. 167-168).Portland,ME: J. Weston Walch. Author Emily Worsnopp ||
 * Adapted from: