Materials:  Video clip from I Love Lucy where she is stomping grapes, post it notes, construction paper, glue, scissors, magazines.  (Check with our school librarian for magazine.  They usually clean out their supplies at the first of school so they might be able to give you all you need.)

Hook:  Show the students the "I Love Lucy" video with the volume turned off.  Ask them to watch her facial expressions to determine how she is feeling about the job she is doing.  Briefly discuss.

Lesson:  Give each student a copy of the handout on the elements of nonverbal communication.  (See Nonverbal Elements in Documents.)  Have a brief discussion over each element. Show a video clip to demonstrate each element. Have them describe what the person is doing as well as what it communicates. (For example: Use the opening introduction scene of the movie Saturday Night Fever, found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0FphcAh3T8. Have students describe John Travolta's posture and gestures--swinging his arms, taking big steps, bounce in his step, shoulders back, chin up, etc. and then what they are communicating.) 

Guided Practice:  Divide the class into groups of 2-3 and assign them the Nonverbal Picture Dictionary.  (See Nonverbal Dictionary in Documents.) Or have students complete the Nonverbal Communication in Action assignment in Documents.

Independent Practice/Assessment:  See nonverbal painting activity in Documents

Closure:  Ask each student which nonverbal element they are most aware of on a daily basis.  Put that answer on a post it note and as they leave the classroom at the end of the unit, place their post it on a poster board labeled Nonverbal Communication. See also the Nonverbal 3-Line Writing in Documents