Social Cues Activities | Body Language | Nonverbal Communication Activities | SEL
Social Cues Activities | Body Language | Nonverbal Communication Activities | SEL
About This Resource
**★ Topic: **Social Cues | Nonverbal Communication | Body Language
★ 62 pages
**★ Resource Type – **Activity Worksheets
**★ **Print and Digital (PDF and Google Slides - Text Boxes Already Created!)
**★ **Excellent for Grades 8-12
**★ **Google Slide Link
★ Detailed Answer Keys | Sample Responses
Items Included:
**★ 33 **Social Cues Activity Worksheets
**★ **Detailed Answer Keys | Sample Responses
**★ **Google Slide Link
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✨ This resource is included in the discounted Social Emotional Learning Activity Worksheet Mega Bundle!
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**Social cues **—both verbal and nonverbal— and body language are everywhere we look—often communicating more than words ever could. A raised eyebrow, crossed arms, a quick glance, or even silence can completely change the meaning of what’s being said. Sometimes, people need to “read between the lines” to fully understand the message. For students, the ability to recognize and correctly interpret both spoken and unspoken signals is an essential life skill. It helps them respond appropriately in conversations, build stronger relationships, and avoid misunderstandings.
This resource was designed to help middle and high school students strengthen their social awareness by identifying, interpreting, and responding to both verbal and nonverbal social cues in real-world situations. Whether it’s noticing sarcasm, decoding body language, or navigating subtle emotional signals in conversations or texts, these activities teach students to look beyond the words and understand the why behind them.
Students are also learning how to read between the lines, pick up on implied meaning, and understand the intent behind words, tone, and reactions.
With each worksheet, students build emotional intelligence, communication skills, and relationship awareness—tools that support not only social-emotional growth but also classroom success and conflict resolution.
Key Themes Students Will Explore in These Social Cues Activities:
▶ Reading Between the Lines
(Interpreting subtle messages that aren’t directly stated)
▶ Tone and Meaning
(How tone changes the meaning of a sentence in conversation or text)
▶ Recognizing Sarcasm and Passive Aggression
(Spotting when someone says one thing but means another)
▶ Identifying Emotional Clues
(Frustration, jealousy, discomfort, and more—without saying it outright)
▶ Cultural Awareness and Differences
(How people from different backgrounds use and interpret social cues)
▶ Text Message Interpretation
(Picking up on emotional tone and intent through written messages)
▶ Self-Expression and Misunderstanding
(How students communicate their own feelings—and what they want others to understand)
▶ Responding with Empathy
(Using social awareness to build trust and avoid conflict)
▶ Building Stronger Relationships
(Recognizing the power of nonverbal communication in friendships and group dynamics)
Covers topics such as:
**▶️ **Social cues and nonverbal communication
**▶️ **Body language and facial expressions
**▶️ **Tone of voice and emotional meaning
**▶️ **Eye contact and personal space
**▶️ **Recognizing sarcasm and mixed signals
**▶️ **Reading between the lines in conversation
**▶️ **Understanding cultural differences in communication
**▶️ **Interpreting text messages and digital tone
**▶️ **Emotional awareness and empathy
**▶️ **Responding to subtle social signals
**▶️ **Friendship, exclusion, and group dynamics
**▶️ **Miscommunication and conflict resolution
**▶️ **Self-expression and being misunderstood
**▶️ **Identifying emotions through behavior
**▶️ **Building respectful, socially aware responses
Activity Worksheet Topics include:
★ Social Cues Anticipation Guide (2 variations)
★ Social Cues Self-Assessment
★ Understanding Social Cues using Real-Life Examples
★ Reading Between the Lines
★ It's Not What You Say, . . . It’s How You Say It!
★ Rewriting Tone: One Sentence, Three Ways
★ Social Cues: How Would You Respond
★ Social Cues Check-In: Reflecting on How You Read the Room
★ Online or Offline? Understanding Social Cues Beyond the Screen
★ Can You Catch the Sarcasm?
★ When Sarcasm Sends Mixed Signals
★ Meaning Behind the Sarcasm
★ Text Message Conversation: Reading Between the Texts: Social Cues in Conversations
★ Text Message Conversation: Left Out but Not Saying It
★ Text Message Conversation: Hidden Jabs: When Sarcasm Crosses the Line
★ Responding to Social Cues in Texts (2 Worksheets)
★ The Unspoken Message: Recognizing Social Signals
★ Social Cue Spotter: Real-Life Examples
★ Quiet Clues: Recognizing When Someone Needs Support
★ Body Language Speaks: Understanding Social Cues
★ Social Cues in Action: What Do You Notice?
★ What's Behind That Look? Reading Facial Expressions and Body Language
★ Reading Reactions Through Social Cues
★ What Do They Really Mean? Interpreting Social Cues and Hidden Messages
★ Between the Lines: What Are They Really Saying?
★ Team Tension: Reading the Room in Group Work
★ Here's What I Really Mean . . . Exploring Your Own Social Cues
★ Signals of Stress: How We Show Discomfort Through Words and Actions
★ Culture and Cues: How Culture Shapes the Way We Communicate
★ How Culture Shapes Social Cues
★ Culture in Context: Reading Social Cues Across Cultures
**Answer keys | Sample Responses **are included to help you guide discussions, provide feedback, and ensure students are on the right track as they work through the activities. These keys offer clear examples and solutions to support both understanding and skill development.
Formats Included:
- PDF (printable)
- Google Slides (digital)
Perfect for:
✔️ High School SEL
✔️ Middle School SEL
✔️ Social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons
✔️ Communication and relationship skills practice
✔️ English Language Arts tone and inference mini-lessons
✔️ Advisory, homeroom, or morning meetings
✔️ Counseling groups or individual reflection
✔️ Special education or speech/language sessions
✔️ Conflict resolution or behavior support lessons
❤️ Why You'll Love It:
These activities go beyond surface-level conversations about body language and tone. Students are encouraged to reflect on real-life interactions, recognize subtle emotional signals, and consider how social cues impact communication, friendships, and conflict. From decoding sarcasm to interpreting text messages and reading between the lines, each worksheet promotes thoughtful discussion, emotional awareness, and practical skill-building.
The included **sample responses **make it easy to model critical thinking, support deeper reflection, and guide students through challenging social situations with confidence.
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This resource is also included in Google Slides! Text boxes have already been created to make it easier for you and your students! Each slide includes two instruction solution tabs for when students accidentally delete text boxes and when they want to zoom in (to enlarge worksheets). It's super helpful for students who are not that familiar with how to use Google Slides or need the extra assistance.
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❌ Lesson plans are not included. This product can be used in addition to your own lesson plans and in such a way that best meets the needs of your students.
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Created by © Queen's Educational Resources | All Rights Reserved
Your purchase includes one copy to be used in a single classroom. If you are looking for multiple copies, please be sure to purchase additional licenses.
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Please feel free to email me if you have any questions!