Introduction

As educators, one of our goals is to help students develop effective communication skills. A vital aspect of communication is understanding others’ feelings. However, it isn’t always easy to know how someone else is feeling. This blog post will discuss the concept of the “Big Three” – eyes, eyebrows, and mouth – which are the facial features that convey emotions the most. By teaching students to observe these features, we can help them better understand others’ feelings and respond appropriately in various social situations.

No-Prep Activity: Big Three Charades

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. It is designed to help students practice observing the Big Three facial features and guessing emotions. Here’s how it works:

1. Divide students into pairs or small groups.
2. Ask one student in each pair or group to think of an emotion and demonstrate it using only their eyes, eyebrows, and mouth.
3. The other students should observe the facial expression and try to guess the emotion being portrayed.
4. After everyone has had a turn to guess, the student who was demonstrating the emotion reveals the correct answer.
5. Rotate roles, so each student gets a chance to demonstrate an emotion and guess others’ emotions.

This activity helps students practice observing the Big Three and understand the importance of these facial features in conveying emotions.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to stimulate further discussions about the importance of the Big Three and understanding others’ emotions:

1. Why is it important to understand others’ feelings in social situations?
2. How can looking at the Big Three help us respond appropriately to others’ emotions?
3. What are some challenges you might face when trying to read someone’s facial expression?
4. How can practicing observing the Big Three help improve our communication skills?
5. Can you think of a situation where you used the Big Three to understand someone’s emotions? How did it help you in that situation?

Related Skills

Teaching students to observe the Big Three is just one aspect of developing effective communication skills. Other relevant skills for students include:

• Active listening
• Empathy
• Non-verbal communication
• Assertiveness
• Conflict resolution

By helping students develop these skills, we can empower them to navigate various social situations with confidence and understanding.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources to help develop your students’ communication skills and understanding of the Big Three, we encourage you to sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech. You’ll find a wealth of materials designed to support students in their social-emotional learning journey.