Human Variables Teacher Guide
Teacher Resource
HUMAN VARIABLES
FACILITATION GUIDE
A 15-lesson SEL sequence for Grade 9 Math students with ASD and LD. Focused on high-impact, 15-minute interventions.
Program Goals
- • Decode hidden social rules in high school settings.
- • Develop proactive self-advocacy for math needs.
- • Regulate emotional "heat" before sensory overload.
- • Gamify social interactions through math analogies.
Lesson Structure
- 1. Input (3m): Visual Slide intro & concept.
- 2. Variable (7m): Kinesthetic Activity.
- 3. Output (5m): Workbook reflection/log.
Unit 1: Social Logic & Nuance
1. Room Scan (Reading the Vibe)
Objective: Evaluate social cues to determine the 'safety' of entering a conversation.
Activity: Heat Map Scan. Place Green, Yellow, and Red tape in corners of the room. Show scenarios (e.g., Two friends whispering in the hall). Students walk to the corner that matches the "vibe" (Green = Go, Yellow = Wait, Red = Stay Away).
2. Setting Shift (Hidden Rules)
Objective: Contrast rules between social and academic environments.
Activity: Context Sorting. Using Task Cards, students sort behaviors (eating, shouting, whispering) into buckets labeled "Math Lab" and "School Hallway." Focus on rules that aren't on posters.
3. Silent Signals (Non-Verbal Cues)
Objective: Identify cues like eye gaze and body orientation during math partner work.
Activity: Body Sculpting. In pairs, one student is the "sculptor" and the other is the "clay." Sculptor poses the partner to show "Boredom" or "Deep Interest." Class guesses the state.
4. Sarcasm Sort (Tone & Irony)
Objective: Detect when words do not match facial expressions or tone.
Activity: The Tone Lever. Read: "I LOVE doing long division." Use a flat tone (literal), then a high-pitched tone (excited), then a slow, eye-roll tone (sarcastic). Students hold up 1, 2, or 3 fingers to identify the tone.
Unit 2: Interpersonal Dynamics
5. Start Point (Topic Initiation)
Objective: Initiate conversation without overpowering peers with special interests.
Activity: Conversation Launchers. Practice "The Follow-Up" game. A partner says a sentence about their weekend. The student must ask ONE follow-up question before stating their own fact.
6. Fair Share (Social Battery)
Objective: Practice 50/50 input/output in collaborative math tasks.
Activity: Block Talk. Give each pair 4 building blocks. Each time a student speaks, they must place a block. Once their 2 blocks are gone, they MUST listen until the partner uses theirs.
7. Phone Trap (Digital Cues)
Objective: Self-monitor the physical "itch" to check social media.
Activity: The Phantom Buzz. Students place phones on desks (screen down). Set a timer for 3 minutes. Discuss the "dopamine itch" and how it affects math concentration.
8. Off Grid (Transition Strategies)
Objective: Implement a phone-storage routine for class time.
Activity: The Pocket Routine. Race to see who can perform the "Transition Steps" fastest: (1) Silence phone, (2) Place in designated spot, (3) Clear desk for math.
Unit 3: Self-Regulation & Advocacy
9. Heat Check (The Melt)
Objective: Identify internal physical signals before emotional overflow.
Activity: Sensor Mapping. Students use the Workbook body map to mark where they feel "heat" (hands, head, stomach) when a math task feels too difficult.
10. Ask Power (Proactive Advocacy)
Objective: Use scripted language to request accommodations.
Activity: The Script Race. Students practice the 3-part script:
1. Feeling: "I'm feeling overwhelmed by this noise."
2. Need: "I need to work in the hall for 10 minutes."
3. Result: "This will help me finish the math problems."
11. Plan Play (EF Anxiety)
Objective: Manage the social stress of forgotten materials.
Activity: The Recovery Playbook. Roleplay: You forgot your calculator. Practice asking a peer politely vs. getting upset or quitting. Focus on "Problem Solving" as a social skill.
12. Space Buffer (Proprioception)
Objective: Respect physical boundaries during lab rotations.
Activity: Hula Hoop Radius. Students use hoops or string to visualize their "radius." Practice navigating a crowded math lab without touching hoops.
Unit 4: Social Solutions
13. Screen Logic (Digital Permanence)
Objective: Understand that digital tone is easily misinterpreted.
Activity: Text Translation. Show a text that says "Sure." Students list 3 different meanings based on the situation (Angry, Happy, Bored). Discuss "The Ink Rule" (Digital texts don't erase).
14. Intent Check (Interpreting Errors)
Objective: Distinguish peer accidents from intentional slights.
Activity: The Bump Replay. Roleplay a peer bumping a desk while walking. Practice two interpretations: "They are mean" (Incorrect) vs. "The aisle is narrow" (Correct Logic).
15. Team Build (Sustainable Friends)
Objective: Identify the traits of a reliable friend/math partner.
Activity: The Friend Portfolio. Students fill out their "Ideal Partner" sheet in the workbook. Discuss "Variable Matching": Finding friends who share your values (honesty, help, humor).
Implementation Tips for ASD/LD:
- • Visual Consistency: Use the same "Vibe Meter" icons throughout the semester.
- • Literal Instruction: Avoid idioms (e.g., "cool your jets"). Use sensory language instead ("Notice your breathing").
- • Choice: Allow students to observe first before participating in physical activities.
Human Variables Presentation Slides
Social Lab Program
HUMAN
VARIABLES
15 Sessions for Success in Math & Beyond.
UNIT 1:
SOCIAL LOGIC
Understanding the Constants and Variables of human behavior in school.
Lesson 1-4
- • Room Scanning (Vibes)
- • Setting Shifts (Hidden Rules)
- • Silent Signals (Body Language)
- • Sarcasm Sort (Tone Check)
L1: ROOM SCAN
THE VIBE
CHECK
"Stop, Look, and Process before you enter."
GREEN
Open & Ready
YELLOW
Busy/Focused
RED
Do Not Enter
MATH SCENARIO:
"Your teacher is grading papers and has their headphones in. You want to ask about a grade."
Scanning Vibe: YELLOW
TONE CHECK
L4: Sarcasm
The Formula:
Words + Tone = Meaning
If the words are positive but the tone is flat or sharp, it's Sarcasm.
"Great... another math sheet. My favorite."
Tip: Look for the eye-roll or the flat voice.
UNIT 2:
DYNAMICS
Managing the Input/Output of peer conversation.
L5: Topic Initiation
Don't hijack the talk!
L6: Fair Share
The Social Battery balance.
L7-8: Phone Habits
The math concentration trap.
ASK POWER
L10
The Success Script
1. THE FEELING
"I'm feeling overwhelmed."
2. THE NEED
"I need a quiet space."
3. THE WHY
"So I can finish this test."
UNIT 3:
REGULATION
L9: The Melt
Spotting the heat before it boils over.
L11: Anxiety
Managing disorganized materials.
L12: Space
The 3-foot personal radius.
HEAT CHECK
"What does your body tell you?"
1
Tightly clenched jaw
2
Fast heart rate
Action Required:
"Stop the math. Take 3 deep breaths. Use your advocacy script."
Human Variables Lab Manual Workbook
Human Variables
Student Lab Manual
Investigator Name
Date
LAB 01: Room Scan
SCANNER MODE
Activity: Evaluate the Vibe
Scan the classroom right now. What color is the "vibe"?
OPEN
BUSY
STOP
Social Proof:
Why did you pick that color? What did you see (eyes, faces, phones)?
LAB 09: Heat Check
Internal Sensor Map:
Mark the areas where you feel "heat" (tension, sweat, racing) when math class feels too loud or hard.
Stage 1: WARM
Example: My hands are tapping.
Stage 2: HOT
Example: I'm getting annoyed.
Stage 3: MELTING
ACTION: USE ADVOCACY SCRIPT NOW.
LAB 10: Ask Power
The Script
The 3-Part Advocacy Formula:
1
I am feeling...
2
I need...
3
This will help me because...
"Teachers prefer it when you ask for what you need before the melt happens. It shows you are in control of your variables."
Human Variables Activity Cards & Visuals
Variable: Setting
ACTION: EATING A BURGER
Where is this "Logic Error"?
Cafeteria
Math Lab
Variable: Tone
"GREAT JOB."
The student rolls their eyes and looks at their shoes.
A) LITERAL B) SARCASTIC
Variable: Space
RADIUS CHECK
You are standing so close to a peer that your shoulders touch. Are you in their "Radius"?
YES
NO
Variable: Focus
PHANTOM BUZZ
You feel your phone vibrate, but you left it at home. This social variable is called:
A) Digital Itch
B) Phone Logic
Variable: Talk
TOPIC HIJACK
Your friend is talking about their cat. You start talking about Minecraft. Is this a "Fair Share"?
YES
NO
Variable: Help
ADVOCACY SCRIPT
Which one is the best way to ask for help?
A) "This is too hard."
B) "I'm feeling lost, can you show me Step 1?"
Lab Visuals
Cut and post in the Math Lab
The Vibe Meter
GREEN Open / Go
YELLOW Busy / Wait
RED Stop / Closed
Advocacy Equation:
Feeling + Need = Success
