Introduction

As educators, we understand the importance of nonverbal communication in our interactions. One key aspect of nonverbal communication is eye contact. However, making eye contact can be challenging and uncomfortable for some students. To address this, we can teach the skill of visual referencing, which is a more comfortable alternative to direct eye contact. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity to teach visual referencing, followed by discussion questions and related skills.

No-Prep Activity: The “Look and Share” Game

The “Look and Share” game is a simple activity that requires no preparation or materials. It helps students practice making eye contact or using visual referencing in a fun, comfortable setting. Here’s how it works:

1. Have students sit in a circle.
2. Choose one student to start the game by sharing something they like or dislike (e.g., “I like pizza”).
3. Before sharing, the student should make eye contact or use visual referencing with the person next to them.
4. After sharing, the next student in the circle will do the same, continuing around the circle until everyone has participated.

Encourage students to practice using visual referencing by looking in the general direction of the person they are sharing with, taking breaks as needed, and checking the listener’s face occasionally.

Discussion Questions

After completing the “Look and Share” activity, use these discussion questions to stimulate further conversation:

• How did it feel to make eye contact or use visual referencing during the activity?
• Why do you think eye contact or visual referencing is important in conversations?
• Can you think of a time when someone made eye contact or used visual referencing with you, and it made you feel heard or understood?
• What are some challenges you might face when trying to make eye contact or use visual referencing?
• How can we support each other in practicing these skills in our daily interactions?

Related Skills

In addition to visual referencing and eye contact, there are other relevant skills that can help students improve their social-emotional abilities. These include:

• Active listening: Paying attention to the speaker, asking questions, and providing feedback.
• Nonverbal communication: Understanding and using body language, gestures, and facial expressions.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Respecting personal space: Recognizing and maintaining appropriate physical boundaries.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about visual referencing and the “Look and Share” activity, it’s time to put these skills into practice with your students. To explore more social-emotional learning activities and resources, we encourage you to sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech. Discover a wide range of materials designed to help educators teach valuable social-emotional skills to their students.