Feeling Detectives Teacher Guide
Feeling Detectives
Teacher Instruction Guide
Grade Level KINDERGARTEN
Learning Objectives
- Identify Happy, Sad, Mad, and Excited using facial clues.
- Practice simple calming strategies for big feelings.
- Understand that all feelings are okay.
Materials Needed
- Feeling Detectives Slides
- "Emotion Evidence" Worksheets
- Magnifying glasses (optional toy props)
- Mirror for student use
Detective Briefing (10 mins)
1
The Hook
Put on your "detective hat" (imaginary or prop). Tell the students that today, we have a very important case: The Mystery of the Missing Moods.
"Detectives, our faces and bodies give us CLUES about how we feel inside. Sometimes our hearts feel fast, sometimes our mouths go up, or our eyes go down. Let's find the evidence!"
2
Case Introduction
Explain that feelings are like weather—they come and go, and all are allowed! Show the first two slides of the presentation to set the scene.
Detective Strategy: Look, Think, Move
For each feeling, ask: What does their mouth do? When do you feel this? Can you show me with your body?
Feeling Detectives Guide Page 2: Lesson Delivery
Evidence Collection (20 mins)
Happy & Excited
Focus on upward movements (smiles, wide eyes, jumping). Practice a "Victory Dance" for excitement.
Sad & Mad
Focus on tight or downward clues. Crucial: Practice "Detective Deep Breaths" (Smell the flower, blow the candle).
Video Investigation
Play an emotions-themed video (e.g., search YouTube for "Sesame Street Name that Emotion" or "Inside Out Guess the Feeling").
Action Report Activity:
"Pause the video at 3 different spots. Ask detectives to call out the 'Face Clues' they see on screen. Are the eyebrows up or down?"
Independent Case Work
Emotion Evidence Worksheet
Students draw their own face clues and match detective labels to expressions. Walk around and ask: "What clue told you this was a MAD face?"
Closing: Case Closed (5 mins)
Gather back on the rug. Ask for one "Detective Tip" for what to do when they feel MAD or SAD. Remind them that a good detective always knows their own heart.
Success Criteria
Students can name all 4 feelings and 1 calming strategy.
Differentiation
Encourage students to use the classroom "Calm Down Corner" mirrors.
Feeling Detectives Slides
FEELING DETECTIVES
Top Secret Case File #001
Detectives: Today we hunt for clues in our hearts!
The Big Question
How do we know how someone is feeling?
"We look for CLUES on their faces and in their bodies!"
🤔
😊
HAPPY
Case Clue: The Upward Curve
EYES
Crinkled and bright
MOUTH
Corners turn UP
BODY
Relaxed and wiggly
😢
SAD
Case Clue: The Heavy Feeling
EYES
Look down, maybe tears
MOUTH
Corners turn DOWN
BODY
Small and quiet
😠
MAD
Case Clue: The Hot Spark
EYES
Eyebrows pulled down
MOUTH
Tight and squeezed
BODY
Stiff and strong
DETECTIVE TOOL: Take a Deep Breath!
🤩
EXCITED
Case Clue: The Super Energy
EYES
Wide and sparkling
MOUTH
Open big or grinning
BODY
Jumping or dancing
Video Investigation
Watch the clues in action!
Video Placeholder
Teachers: To use a video here, provide Lenny with a YouTube URL to embed it directly in this slide!
CASE CLOSED
Great work, Detectives! You identified all the clues. Remember to check your heart every day!
😊 😢 😠 🤩
Emotion Evidence Worksheet
Emotion Evidence
Case Report
Detective:
1 Case Study: Me!
Draw your face clues for one feeling below.
Happy Sad Mad Excited
2 Clue Match-Up
Match the word to the clues. Draw a line to connect them.
HAPPY
SAD
MAD
EXCITED
Wide eyes and open mouth
Tight mouth and cranky eyes
Big smile and crinkly eyes
Down mouth and quiet body
Official Evidence Report
Mood Check Exit Ticket Sheet
Mood Check
Detective Case Report
How do you feel right now?
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😠
Mad
🤩
Excited
Detective Name:
Mood Check
Detective Case Report
How do you feel right now?
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😠
Mad
🤩
Excited
Detective Name:
Mood Check
Detective Case Report
How do you feel right now?
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😠
Mad
🤩
Excited
Detective Name:
Mood Check
Detective Case Report
How do you feel right now?
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😠
Mad
🤩
Excited
Detective Name:
✂️ Cut along dashed lines to create 4 Detective Badges ✂️