Case File Teacher Guide
CONFIDENTIAL // TEACHER ONLY
Social Detective Academy
Weekly Implementation Guide & Daily Pacing Plans
CASE BRIEFING: UNIT OVERVIEW
This 5-day social skills intervention is specifically designed for students who struggle to read peer relationships, boundary cues, and non-verbal communications. Through high-engagement "Detective" themes, this program destigmatizes social-emotional learning by framing skill-building as "solving clues" and "gathering evidence" to make peers feel comfortable.
TARGET SKILL: Reading Social Cues
FREQUENCY: Daily (15 Mins)
FORMAT: Interactive Handouts
DAY 1: Body Language Decoders
15 MINUTES
Focus: Standing postures, shoulder angles, and folded arm boundaries.
🔍 Clue Theory (3 min): Introduce "Body Language". Explain that our bodies "talk" before our mouths do. Show open vs. closed postures using your own body.
🕵️ Case Investigation (7 min): Direct the student to Day 1 of the Field Journal. Guide them to analyze the posture clues and write the physical evidence in the charts.
📣 Teacher Script & Check: "Look at my shoulders right now. Are they facing you, or are they twisted away? What clue does that give you about whether I'm ready to talk?"
DAY 2: Facial Expression Investigators
15 MINUTES
Focus: Eyebrows, forehead, and subtle mouth differences (smile vs. smirk).
🔍 Clue Theory (3 min): Explain that faces have "micro-clues." Sometimes a smile is forced, or eyebrows look tight. We must look at the whole face, not just the mouth.
🕵️ Case Investigation (7 min): Open the Field Journal to Day 2. Examine the sketch diagrams of different facial features. Complete the "Match the Expression" activity together.
📣 Teacher Script & Check: "If someone has a smile on their lips but their eyebrows are pinched together tightly in the middle, are they truly happy, or are they feeling stressed/annoyed?"
SOCIAL DETECTIVE ACADEMY © 2026 PAGE 1 OF 3
CONFIDENTIAL // TEACHER ONLY
Social Detective Academy
Weekly Implementation Guide & Daily Pacing Plans
DAY 3: Personal Space Bubble
15 MINUTES
Focus: Understanding the physical comfort boundary (arm's length) and backing away cues.
🔍 Clue Theory (3 min): Introduce the "Comfort Bubble". This is an invisible shield around everyone. When we stand too close, the bubble pops, and the other person feels nervous.
🕵️ Case Investigation (7 min): Work on Field Journal Day 3. Have the student color and measure the "Comfort Zones" diagram. Practice standing one arm-length away.
📣 Teacher Script & Practice: "Let's stand up. Step forward toward me until I raise my hand to show my 'stop clue'. Notice where my feet are. That's my comfort bubble. Let's practice stepping back a half-step to make me feel safe."
DAY 4: Live Case Scenario Review
15 MINUTES
Focus: Synthesizing multiple cues together under realistic pressure.
🔍 Clue Theory (2 min): Real social interactions don't happen in isolated snapshots. Posture, face, and distance happen all at once. We must compile clues into a complete "Case Profile".
🕵️ Case Investigation (8 min): Use the printed Social Clue Scenario Cards. Read 3 scenarios together. Use the "Detective Evidence Log" on Day 4 of the journal to isolate body, face, and space cues.
📣 Teacher Script: "Look at Scenario Card #2. Ethan is looking at his watch and his feet are turned toward the door. What is his body trying to tell us even if he's nodding his head?"
DAY 5: Case Closed Graduation
15 MINUTES
Focus: Final review, self-reflection, and celebration of the student's detective skills.
🔍 Clue Theory (2 min): A great detective continues practicing their craft every single day. We must observe peers carefully during recess, lunch, and class group projects.
🕵️ Case Investigation (8 min): Complete the final assessment and reflection log on Day 5 of the Field Journal. Review the "Daily Missions Tracker" to see where the student applied lessons in real school environments.
📣 Celebration (5 min): Award the Social Detective Badge sticker (or sign the journal badge area) to signify graduation from the academy!
SOCIAL DETECTIVE ACADEMY © 2026 PAGE 2 OF 3
CONFIDENTIAL // TEACHER ONLY
Social Detective Academy
Intervention Strategies & Rubric Tracking
Differentiated Supports
For ADHD / High Energy: Incorporate movement into Day 3. Physically measure the comfort bubble using pool noodles or hula hoops. Use roleplay to keep them active.
For Autism Spectrum (ASD): Avoid relying on intuitive reading of expressions. Focus on physical descriptors (e.g., "Look at eyebrows forming a V-shape means anger" rather than "Does this face look mad?").
Red Flags & Crisis Plans
If the student is highly defensive during boundary correction, avoid framing it as "rules they broke." Instead, frame it objectively as: "We are gathering clues together. This keeps everyone comfortable." If conflict escalates, return to Day 3 Bubble definitions.
Observational Tracker Rubric
Use this simple grading rubric during natural recess and classroom interactions to measure skill transfer.
1. POSTURE DECODING 1 / 2 / 3
Student correctly names and adjusts to peer posture shifts (open/closed angles).
2. FACIAL SENSITIVITY 1 / 2 / 3
Student notices signs of annoyance or boredom on a peer's face and pauses talking.
3. COMFORT BUBBLE 1 / 2 / 3
Student maintains 1 arm-length distance when conversing with peers without prompt.
4. BOUNDARY RESPECT 1 / 2 / 3
Student gracefully steps back or wraps up conversation when peer shows exit cues.
SCORING KEY:
1: Prompt-dependent (Requires teacher help)
2: Independent in sessions, weak in field
3: Consistently independent in peer play
💡 Educator Preparation Checklist
- Print out the Social Detective Field Journal (one for the student).
- Cut and laminate the Social Clue Scenario Cards (highly reusable).
- Coordinate with other school support staff (paraeducators, recess monitors) to support the daily missions.
SOCIAL DETECTIVE ACADEMY © 2026 PAGE 3 OF 3
Social Detective Field Journal
Classified File
FIELD JOURNAL: CASE S-402
PROPERTY OF THE SOCIAL DETECTIVE ACADEMY
DETECTIVE NAME:
DATE:
MISSION 1 BODY LANGUAGE DECODERS
🕵️♂️ Briefing: A good social detective doesn't just listen to words. Our bodies send silent signals! Today, we are decoding Posture Clues. Look at the positions below and label the clues.
POSTURE A: THE "READY" LOOK
🙋♂️
Physical Evidence:
- Shoulders facing directly toward you
- Hands relaxed at sides or gesturing
- Eye contact is gentle and direct
WHAT IT MEANS:
POSTURE B: THE "NOT TODAY" LOOK
🙅♀️
Physical Evidence:
- Arms crossed tightly over the chest
- Body turned sideways or angled away
- Eyes looking down or at an exit
WHAT IT MEANS:
DAILY FIELD MISSION: THE RECESS OBSERVER
During lunch or recess, observe two peers talking. Write down your body clues:
I saw an OPEN posture:
I saw a CLOSED posture:
SOCIAL DETECTIVE ACADEMY DAY 1 // PAGE 1
MUGSHOT LAB
CASE FILE DECODERS // FACIAL CLINIC
DAY 2 // SESSION
MISSION 2 FACIAL EXPRESSION DECODING
🕵️♂️ Briefing: Small changes in eyebrows, eyes, and mouth tell us exactly what someone is feeling internally. Look at the mini-clue diagrams below and label the social emotions correctly.
🤨
EYEBROWS: One raised, one lowered
MOUTH: Slightly tight line
THE RATING:
😠
EYEBROWS: Pulled down and angled (V)
MOUTH: Tight, turned down lips
THE RATING:
🙄
EYES: Looking up / away from you
MOUTH: Flat neutral line
THE RATING:
🔍 THE SILENT CONVERSATION LAB
Draw a line matching the facial expression clue to what the student might say inside their head!
1. Tight brows & tight jaw ●
2. Loose cheeks & open smile ●
3. Eyes darting past you ●
● A. "I am enjoying talking to you!"
● B. "I am in a rush. I need to leave."
● C. "I am feeling really annoyed."
DAILY FIELD MISSION: THE FACE DETECTIVE
Find a classmate or teacher today who is showing an "I need space" expression. Describe the clues without mentioning names.
Social Clue Scenario Cards
PRINT & CUT SCENARIO PACK
CASE FILE EVIDENCE CARDS
SOCIAL DETECTIVE ACADEMY // DAILY EXERCISES
PAGE 1 OF 2
✂️ Teacher Instructions: Print this pack, cut along the dashed lines, and laminate. Use these cards on Day 4 to help students practice analyzing real social cues and choosing appropriate social responses.
CASE FILE #001 BODY CLUE
The Reading Runner
Scenario: Lucas is sitting at the library desk reading. Clara walks over to show him her new sticker book. Lucas keeps his nose in his book and shrugs his shoulders forward.
SOCIAL CUES LOGGED:
Shoulders hunched over book, eyes looking down, flat mouth expression.
👉 QUESTION: Does he want to chat or read?
CASE FILE #002 SPACE ALERT
The Crowded Cafeteria
Scenario: Ethan is eating lunch. Ben sits down right next to him, with their elbows brushing. Ethan leans back, crosses his arms tightly, and looks at his tray with a small frown.
SOCIAL CUES LOGGED:
Arms crossed tightly, torso leaning away, brows pinched tight.
👉 QUESTION: What should Ben do to fix this?
CASE FILE #003 READY TO PLAY
The Recess Rally
Scenario: Maya is standing by the swing set. Her shoulders face directly toward Sam, she is smiling warmly, and her arms are relaxed by her sides, waving him over.
SOCIAL CUES LOGGED:
Open shoulders, happy relaxed face, hand beckoning/waving.
👉 QUESTION: Is Maya ready to talk or play?
CASE FILE #004 FACE CLUE
The Tight Teacher
Scenario: Ms. Davis is typing an email. Leo walks up to her desk and asks for help. Ms. Davis looks up, her eyebrows are furrowed tightly together, and she takes a deep breath.
SOCIAL CUES LOGGED:
Tight vertical forehead line, eyebrows pinched, long sigh.
👉 QUESTION: Is this the best moment to ask?
SOCIAL DETECTIVE ACADEMY // LEVEL 1 CASE STUDIES PAGE 1 OF 2
PRINT & CUT SCENARIO PACK
CASE FILE EVIDENCE CARDS
SOCIAL DETECTIVE ACADEMY // DAILY EXERCISES
PAGE 2 OF 2
🛡️ Advanced Training: These cases combine multiple categories of clues. The student must search for body, facial, and physical boundary cues all at once.
CASE FILE #005 MIXED CLUES
The Exit Glancer
Scenario: Daniel is showing Tyler his basketball cards. Tyler is looking at his wrist-watch, shifting his feet toward the classroom doorway, and nodding his head up and down quickly.
