Objective: Have students realize differences in personal preferences. Notice that they can tell how friendly people are by how they stand, and how close.
 

Materials: Proxemics worksheet.
 

Preset Activity: Have students discuss the distance they stand when talking to people. Do they notice difference in where and how people stand when talking. Are there people who they feel stand to close or to far away? Do they stand in different fashions when talking to different people? What if they don't want others to join their group? Have groups demonstrate their findings.
 

Lesson: People stand at different distances depending of who they are talking to. There are four different distances that we associate with communication. These distances are referred to as proxemics.
 

Proxemics:

1) Public distance - 15-25 feet or more.
2) Social or formal distance - 7-12 feet.
3) Personal distance - 3 ½-4 feet.
4) Intimate distance - 6-8 inches apart.

Discuss about how they argue with different people. Besides the distance they stand from these people, what are some other differences. For example, do they use the same argument with their mom as they use with their friends? What are the differences in how they argue with these different people?
 

Argument Spheres - Three different realms of participating in arguments.

1) Personal sphere - when arguing with friends and family.
2) Technical - Arguing in scholastic or work environment.
3) Public - Arguing in front of a crowd for their approval.

Nonverbal aspects of the different spheres.

Discuss how they would dress in each of the situations. For example, in an interview they would dress differently then they would when trying to convince their friend to go to a party. They will have different facial expressions when wanting to express a certain point, for example they wouldn't smile when talking about death. Their nonverbal behavior must suggest that they know how to act within the context of their argument, and the sphere they are communicating in.

Body position to let others know if they are invited to the group.
Blocking is when you stand so that there isn't a space for others to move into. With three people this would be a triangle form.

Reflection: Proxemics, Spheres and Nonverbal worksheet.