LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Read opposing viewpoints and take a side; evaluate the importance of physical contact in casual and professional greetings 

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 4: Use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks.

 

CASEL COMPETENCY: Relationship skills

KEY VOCAB

clammy, nonverbal, sanitary, vigilant 

Lesson Plan: Are Handshakes and High Fives Over?

Is it time to wave good-bye to handshakes and high fives? Two Choices advisers weigh in. 

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

What are the benefits and drawbacks of using physical contact during a greeting?

 CLOSE-READING QUESTIONS

  1. According to the article, what did a recent poll reveal about the majority of people? The poll revealed that most people would prefer to never shake someone’s hand again, even after the pandemic is over. 
  2. Describe at least one reason that Kyla prefers not to shake hands or give high fives. Accept any of the following: Knowing she has to shake hands with someone makes Kyla worry her hands will be clammy; Kyla finds high-fiving to be cringey and unnecessary; she says that shaking hands and giving high fives can be gross and potentially dangerous. 
  3. Which personality traits does Daniel believe you can communicate via handshakes and high fives? Daniel says that these small acts of physical touch say a lot about your friendliness and confidence.

 CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS

  1. Did you use physical touch when greeting friends and family before the pandemic (handshakes, high fives, hugs, kisses on the cheek, etc.)? Did you value physical touch in greetings, like Daniel, or did you feel it was sometimes cringey or gross, like Kyla? Explain. Answers will vary.
  2. Which no-touch greetings did you adopt after the pandemic started? Possible answers: Shoe taps, elbow/fist bumps, air fives, air hugs, peace signs, smiling, waving, saying “hi,” etc.
  3. Do you know about any other common greetings used in countries or regions outside of the U.S. that were not mentioned in the article? Explain. Possible answers: In Tibet, people stick their tongues out at each other; men in some Arab countries like Qatar and Yemen touch noses together in a gesture known as a “nose kiss”; people in Greenland sniff one another’s faces.
  4. In your personal opinion, are handshakes and high fives over? Why or why not? Use a mix of your own ideas and ideas from the article in your response. Answers will vary.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

DIGGING DEEPER

NHES 1

CASEL Competency: Relationship skills

After a year of distancing, some students might be wondering why we ever shook hands or high-fived in the first place. Give them the opportunity to find out in this activity, THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN GREETINGS. Direct students to work in pairs or small groups and research the origin of either handshakes or high fives. Then, have them share the most interesting facts they found out, and take a final position in the debate. If students struggle to find resources, you can point them toward this video from Mental Floss on the origin of the high five, or this newscast from NBC News on the history of handshakes. (Click here to find this Skill Builder.)

CLASS DEBATE

NHES 4

CASEL Competency: Relationship skills 

Get ready to decide the fate of handshakes and high fives once and for all in a TAG TEAM DEBATE, where every voice gets heard! Divide your class into small groups, and assign them a side in the debate regardless of how they actually feel on the topic. In groups, students should prepare their arguments. Then, take the “stage” individually for 30 seconds to a minute before tagging the next person in their group to speak, switching until everyone has had a turn to speak. Once all the groups have finished, have the class vote on which group was most convincing. (Click here to find this Skill Builder.)

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