B. Foundations of Language · Reading Words: Sounds, Patterns and Meaning

Expression, Body Language and Word Choice

B1.4 B1.5 B1.3About 35 minutes

Learning goals

I can use my voice, face, hands and body to help show what I mean.
I can tell how someone feels from their expression and body language.
I can choose good words, including new words, when I speak.
I can use linking words like first, next, because and so to join my ideas.

Words to know

expression
How your voice and face show feelings, like happy, sad, surprised or worried.

gesture
A movement of your hands or head that sends a message, like a wave or a nod.

body language
What your whole body shows, like standing tall, slumping, or leaning in.

tone of voice
How your voice sounds: loud or soft, fast or slow, high or low, happy or grumpy.

linking words
Words that join ideas so they make sense together, like first, next, then, because, so and but.

Same words, different message

Say these words in a happy voice: "It's snowing."

Now say them in a grumpy voice: "It's snowing."

Now say them in a surprised voice: "It's snowing!"

The words were the same, but the message changed! Your voice, your face and your body help tell people what you really mean.

The words are almost the same in all three faces. The face and voice change the message: happy, grumpy or surprised.

Tool	What it can show	Example
🗣️ Voice (tone)	Loud or soft, fast or slow, happy or sad	A whisper for a secret
😀 Face (expression)	Feelings	Raised eyebrows for surprise
👋 Gestures	A quick message without words	A wave for hello, a thumbs-up for "good job"
🧍 Body language	How you feel or how much you care	Standing tall shows confidence

Tools for sharing meaning

Worked example

Let's read the body language

Ava stands with her arms crossed, frowns, and looks at the floor. She says, "Fine. I'll clean my room."

Does Ava really feel fine?

Look at her words: "Fine." That sounds okay.
Look at her body: arms crossed, looking down. That often means upset or not happy.
Look at her face: a frown. That means unhappy.
When the words and the body don't match, the body often tells more of the truth.

Ava probably does not feel fine. Her face and body show she is unhappy about cleaning her room.

Gestures can be different

Not everyone uses the same gestures. Families and cultures can use different hand signals or show respect in different ways. For example, in some families, looking down while an elder speaks is a way to show respect. If you are not sure what a gesture means, it's okay to ask kindly.

Choosing good words

Good speakers choose words that help the audience understand. Try to use exact words and new words you have learned.

Instead of "The dog was big," say "The dog was huge."
Instead of "I went to the hill," say "I raced to the hill."
Instead of "the thing," name it: "the toboggan."

Linking words join ideas

When you tell a story or explain something, linking words help your ideas stick together, like links in a chain.

To show order: first, next, then, after that, finally
To give a reason: because
To show what happened as a result: so
To show something different: but

Worked example

Let's make our sentences stick together

Jack explains how to build a snowman: "Roll a big ball. Roll a medium ball. Put it on top. Roll a small ball. Add a carrot nose."

How can Jack make it easier to follow?

Add order words: First, Next, Then, Finally.
Use exact words: bottom, middle, head.
Join ideas with because or so where it helps.

"First, roll a big ball for the bottom. Next, roll a medium ball and put it on top. Then roll a small ball for the head. Finally, add a carrot nose so your snowman can smell the cold air!"

Order words link the steps of an explanation.

Match your talk to your purpose

Telling a scary story? Use a slow, quiet voice. Giving instructions? Speak clearly and point. Sharing exciting news? Let your voice sound excited! Your voice, body and words should all work together for your purpose and audience.

Just for fun

Try this: say "I love broccoli" in a bored voice, then in a super-excited voice. 🥦 Which one would make the broccoli feel better?

Hands-on activity

Feelings charades and the mystery-object talk

Part 1: Feelings charades. Write these on scraps of paper: happy, sad, scared, surprised, bored, proud, worried, excited. Take turns picking one and saying "I have a new backpack" with that feeling, using only your voice, face and body. The others guess the feeling.

Part 2: Mystery object. Put a household object in a bag (a whisk, a mitten, a spoon). Without showing it, describe it using exact words and linking words: "First, I notice it's soft. It's made for your hand because... It keeps you warm, so..." Can your family guess?

What to look for: matching voice and face to the feeling, and using exact describing words instead of "thing".

Your turn

Say "I lost my tooth!" in an excited voice. What does your face do?

What message does a thumbs-up gesture usually send?

Ben slumps in his chair with his head on his hand and sighs. How might he feel?

Choose a more exact word for said in: "'Help!' he said."

Fill in a linking word: "I wore my snow pants ___ it was cold."

Fill in a linking word: "I wanted to go sledding, ___ the hill was closed."

Put these in order with linking words: eat the cereal, pour the milk, get a bowl.

More practice: warm-up

What does a wave usually mean?

Is a frown a happy or unhappy expression?

Name one order linking word.

Should you use a loud voice or a whisper to tell a secret?

Which is a more exact word: thing or mitten?

More practice: on your own

Say "We have a spelling test today" in a worried voice. Then in a happy voice. What changed?

Make this more exact: "The bear was big and it went into the cave."

Join these with so: "It was raining. We played a board game inside."

Your friend's words say "I'm not scared," but they are hiding behind you. What does their body language tell you?

You are telling your little cousin (age 3) a story. Name two things you might change about how you talk.

Challenge

Explain how to brush your teeth in 4 steps, using four different linking words.

Why might a speaker lean forward and speak softly when telling the scariest part of a story?

Tell your news about a weekend activity in 3 sentences. Use one new word, one because and one gesture.

Check your understanding

Quiz

Which of these is a gesture?

Sam says "Great..." slowly, with a frown and a sigh. How does Sam probably feel?

Which word is a linking word that gives a reason?

Which sentence uses the most exact words?

You are giving instructions to your class. What helps them understand?

Why can the same words have a different meaning?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Grade 2 students learn that expression, gestures and body language add meaning to spoken words (B1.4), and they practise choosing precise words, new vocabulary and linking words so listeners can follow their ideas (B1.5). These oral skills support reading with expression and later writing.

How to help at home:

Talk about feelings you see in picture books: "Look at her shoulders. How do you think she feels?"
When your child tells about their day, gently prompt order words: "What happened first? Then what?"
Celebrate new words. If your child uses a word like enormous, notice it out loud.

Common difficulties:

Run-on retellings ("and then... and then... and then"). Offer a few other linking words: next, after that, because, so, finally.
Flat voice when presenting. Practise once in a "robot voice" and once in a "storyteller voice" and compare.
Reading body language. Some children find faces and body cues harder to read. Name the cue and the feeling directly ("Crossed arms and a frown often mean upset"). If this is a big challenge, talk with the teacher.

Note that gestures and eye contact norms differ across families and cultures; teach that asking kindly is always okay.