Eye Contact - 1
Lesson Plan
Goal: When given five verbal statements or questions, the student will hold eye contact while listening/answering questions 8 out of 10 times, as measured by a teacher assessment tool.
Objectives:
1. Make direct eye contact with a person or people during a conversation.
2. Maintain eye contact with the speaker presenting to a group.
3. Make and Maintain eye contact when you are asking others (peers or adults) a question.
Standards: Click on the appropriate link below to view Language Arts standards included in this lesson.
Definition of Key Terms: Eye contact is what we do when we look directly into someone's eyes. We should look at others when talking to them and when we listen to what they are telling or saying to us.
Discussion Points
- We should make eye contact when we are talking to someone or someone else is talking to us.
- We should make eye contact when we are telling a story.
- We should make eye contact when we ask or answer a question. y
- We should make eye contact when we are asking for help.
- The group should form a circle. Ask a question and allow students to toss a bean bag to those who would like to answer the question.
- Play tic-tac-toe by dividing the group into teams. Write discussion questions on a post-it note and place them on the tic-tac-toe grid. Allow a representative from the team to select a post-it note and as a team develop an answer to the question. If they get it right they may put their team's marker (x or o) on the grid.
Questions:
Discuss with students what eye contact is and why it is important. Review the discussion point questions.
Possible activities to review the discussion point:
Directions for In-Person or Virtual Learning: You have three options for students to complete this lesson.
- Option 1: Print the Student Activity Sheet for each student. Complete the lesson as a group and assign the activity sheet to the students.
- Option 2: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and post to your Learning Management System (if your school has one) or send the link to the student. The student may complete the activity sheet electronically within the classroom on a shared computer or device.
- Option 3: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and send the link to the student. The student may access the link from a home computer, chromebook, iPad or other device.
Activity 1: Story Lines
Assign or allow students to find a partner and distribute Student Activity Sheet A. Allow students time to role play the situations. Once they are finished, gather the students together to discuss how they felt when eye contact was used and when it was not.
- Student Activity Sheet A - 1 per student
Student Activity Sheet A
Directions: With your partner decide who will be student A and who will be student B. Practice the following prompts using good eye contact.
Student A: Hi Chris, do you want to go to the movies tonight?
Student B: Sure Tori. What movie do you want to see?
Now try this prompt with avoiding eye contact.
Student A: Hi PJ, would you like to come to the playground with me?
Student B: Ok but I want to go first on the swings.
Here are some additional prompts to practice.
Hi Silas, do you want to go to the park today?
Hello Dr. Sally, would you like to go to the mall?
Hello Donny, would you like to come over and play?
Activity 2: Circumstances
As a group make a list of circumstances when it is important to maintain appropriate eye contact. Record answers on chart paper or the board.
Examples could include: When you are talking to your mom or when someone is speaking to the group you are a part of.
Ex. When your talking to your mom. Record answers.
- Chart paper or Interactive Board
Activity 3: Comic Strip Worksheet
Review the key points from Activities 1 and 2. Allow students time to complete Student Activity Sheet B. When finished, have students share their answers. Ask them to share any other ways that you can NOT show eye contact.
- Student Activity Sheet B - 1 per student
- Pencil for each student
Student Activity Sheet B
Directions: Study the comic strips below. Next, check or circle the answers that show the characters using good eye contact.
Lesson Extension: Listening Comprehension
Explain that a script is a form of dialogue writing between characters in a movie, play, or broadcast. Utilizing the immersive reader students should listen carefully as the teacher plays the example scripts below. Replay the script if needed. Allow students time to answer the questions on Student Activity Sheet C.
After students have finished, allow those that want to share their comic do so or role play one of the example scripts.
- Student Activity Sheet C - 1 per student
- Pencil for each student
An example of a script with children demonstrating appropriate eye contact:
(Looking at the conversation partner)
Chris: Hi Tori, how are you today?
Tori: I am fine Chris, thank you for asking.
Chris: Would you like to go to the park this afternoon?
Tori: That sounds great!
Read Aloud Recommendations: Completing a read aloud with students is a great way to connect text with lesson content while incorporating reading and language practice. Below are suggested titles including, a YouTube link, Lexile and Grade Level information for books relating to the lesson.
| Book Title | Author | Grade Level | Lexile Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| It Looked Like Spilt Milk | Charles G. Shaw | Pre K-K | 180L |
| I Spy: School Days A Book of Picture Riddles | Jean Marzollo | Pre K-3 | AD670L |
Student Activity Sheet C
Directions: Draw a comic to match the script you listened to.
Application Activity
In small groups, have the students create scripts demonstrating how to appropriately use/maintain eye contact. Use the script sheet to assist the groups in creating scripts.
- Script sheet for each group
- Pencil for each student
Have students record their scripts using the SiLAS software. Remind students to name and save their recordings. Premiere the movies with the group members at the end of each session.
Script Extensions:
Click the following hyperlinks to have students choose their Characters, Background and Props prior to writing scripts. For examples of script writing accommodations, click Here.
Ideas for modifying this activity based on your students’ needs:
- create a script as a class
- pair or group students so that skill levels are varied and assign each a role or task that uses their skill
- create the script by recording the dialog with a phone or other recording device.
An example of a script with children demonstrating appropriate eye contact:
(Looking at the conversation partner)
Chris: Hi Tori, how are you today?
Tori: I am fine Chris, thank you for asking.
Chris: Would you like to go to the park this afternoon?
Tori: That sounds great!
An example of a script with children demonstrating avoiding eye contact:
(Not looking at the conversation partner)
Chris: Hi Tori, how are you today?
Tori: .........
Chris: Why aren’t you looking at me?
Tori: What do you mean?
Chris: When someone talks to you, you should look at them.
Topic Checkout
Review the key points from previous activities with students. Allow students time to work in small groups, with a partner, or individually to complete the Student Topic Checkout. When students are finished, review answers together.
- Student Topic Checkout - 1 per student
- Pencil for each student
Student Topic Checkout
Directions: Complete the following questions.
1. What is eye contact?
2. Should you look at people when you talk to them? Yes or No?
3. Do you feel sad or happy when people don’t look at you when they’re talking to you?