Body Signals Slides Body Detectives Mission
AAC Core: LOOK • FEEL • HELP
How Does My Body Feel?
Our body gives us clues before we feel upset, mad, or tired.
1. Notice Clues
What is happening?
2. Check Inside
Heart, tummy, hands
3. Use a Strategy
Feel calm and safe
Your Body Has an Alarm
AAC Focus: STOP • LISTEN
Before big feelings come out...
Your body whispers first!
It tells you: "Hey, I need a break or a coping tool right now."
Listening to body clues keeps you in control.
Calm Zone
Body feels soft, slow, and relaxed
Warning Clues!
Time to use a coping tool!
Overwhelmed
Very hard to think and talk
AAC Prompt: Point to "BODY" and "TELL" Catch the warning early!
4 Common Body Clues
Which one does your body do?
AAC Core: MY • BODY • FEELS
Fast Heart
Thump... thump... thump!
AAC: HEART FAST
Tight Hands
Squeezing tight into balls
AAC: HAND TIGHT
Hot Face
Cheeks feel warm and red
AAC: FACE HOT
Tummy Butterflies
Twisting or nervous rumble
AAC: TUMMY HURT
Touch your chest Squeeze your fists Touch your cheeks
Video Spotlight: Body Signals in Action
Watch how characters notice body clues
AAC: LOOK • WATCH • SAME
Class Video Exploration
Watch the teacher's selected video clip. Notice what happens to the character's breathing, face, and hands before they use their coping tool.
Step 1: Watch
Eyes on the screen
Step 2: Spot Clue
Point to the body part
Step 3: Tell on AAC
Select "FAST" or "TIGHT"
Teacher prompt: "Did you see their fast breath?" Students respond with: YES / NO / SAME
Match the Clue to the Coping Tool
What helps your body feel good again?
AAC Core: I • NEED • HELP
Fast Heart / Fast Breath
Racing inside chest
Slow Deep Breaths
Smell flower, blow candle
Tight Hands / Shoulders
Fists squeezed hard
Squeeze Fidget / Stress Ball
Release hand tension
Hot Face / Loud Room
Overheating, buzzing
Cold Water & Quiet Break
Cool down sensory system
Model on AAC: "I WANT BREAK" or "I WANT WATER" Every clue has a helpful tool!
Detective Check-In Time!
Matching Activity Next
How does your body feel RIGHT NOW?
CALM
Body feels relaxed
A CLUE!
Fast, tight, or warm
TIRED
Heavy and slow
👉 Tap your AAC button or point to your communication board!
Great job, Detectives! You are learning your body's superpowers. Ready for matching cards!
Body Clues Matching Activity Body Clue Detectives
Part 1: Match the Body Part to the Clue
Name:
Date:
Instructions: Look at the body part on the left. Find and match the correct body clue on the right! AAC: "I FEEL"
Body Zone
My Chest
Inside ribs
Body Clue
Tight Squeezed Fists
Hard, clutched tight
Body Zone
My Hands
Fingers and palms
Body Clue
Tummy Butterflies
Twisting or nervous feel
Body Zone
My Face
Cheeks and forehead
Body Clue
Fast Heartbeat
Thump-thump-thump!
Body Zone
My Tummy
Belly / stomach area
Body Clue
Hot Warm Cheeks
Red, burning sensation
AAC Device Model:
MY BODY TELLS ME
Page 1 of 2
Body Clue Detectives
Part 2: Match the Clue to the Coping Strategy
Name:
Date:
Instructions: Look at the body clue on the left. Find and match the calming coping strategy on the right! AAC: "I NEED"
Warning Clue
Fast Heartbeat
Racing chest
Coping Strategy
Drink Cold Water
Cool sensory reset
Warning Clue
Tight Hands
Clenched fists
Coping Strategy
Quiet Break Corner
Low noise, calm space
Warning Clue
Hot Warm Face
Feeling overheated
Coping Strategy
Slow Deep Breaths
In through nose, out slow
Warning Clue
Tummy Butterflies
Nervous or uneasy
Coping Strategy
Squeeze Fidget Toy
Stress ball or putty
My Best Coping Tool:
BREATHE SQUEEZE WATER QUIET
Page 2 of 2
Body Signals AAC Board Body Signals AAC Communication Board
Modified Fitzgerald Color Coding • Core & Sensory Vocabulary
5th Grade SEL / Interoception
Aided Language Sentence Frame (Touch in Order): Model 1 or 2 words above student level
1. PRONOUN ("I")
2. ACTION ("FEEL")
3. SENSATION ("FAST / TIGHT")
➔
4. TOOL ("BREATHE")
I / ME
Pronoun
FEEL
Action
STOP
Pause
HELP
Request
FAST
Heart / Breath
TIGHT
Hands / Muscle
HOT
Face / Cheeks
HURT / ACHE
Tummy / Head
HEART
Chest Zone
HANDS
Fingers / Fists
FACE
Head / Cheeks
TUMMY
Stomach
BREATHE
Calm breath
SQUEEZE
Fidget ball
WATER
Cool drink
QUIET BREAK
Calm space
SLP & Facilitator Tips: Compatible with TouchChat, LAMP, Proloquo, Tobii Dynavox
1. Point & Speak: Press symbols while verbalizing naturally.
2. Honor All Modes: Accept pointing, device clicks, or eye gaze.
3. Wait Time: Give 5-10 seconds processing time before prompting.
Body Clues Facilitator Guide Body Clue Detectives: Facilitator Guide
30-Minute Structured Lesson • 3 Non-Verbal 5th-Grade AAC Communicators
Interoception & SEL
Learning Objective
Students identify at least 1 internal body clue (heart, hands, face, stomach) and match it to a calming coping strategy via AAC or pointing.
Materials Needed
Student AAC devices, 3 printed Matching Worksheets, 3 laminated AAC Boards, tangible sensory props (squeeze ball, cool cup, paper fan).
Group Dynamics
Small group (3 students) seated semi-circle facing slides; devices mounted or angled at midline with physical access clearance.
30-Minute Lesson Timeline
0 - 5 min
Warm-Up & Body Check
Display Slides 1-2. Greet each student. Facilitator models on AAC: "LOOK" and "FEEL". Invite students to touch chest or hands.
5 - 12 min
Explicit Clues & Video
Slides 3-4. Review the 4 main clues (fast heart, clenched fists, warm cheeks, tummy rumble). Play preferred video clip (or model scenarios). Students confirm: "SAME" / "LOOK".
12 - 22 min
Guided Matching Practice
Distribute Body Clues Matching Activity . Work together on Part 1 (Body Parts), then Part 2 (Coping Tools). Allow students to point, draw, or place tokens on cards.
22 - 27 min
Sensory Tool Simulation
Pass real tactile tools: squeeze ball, cold water cup, deep breath visual. Each student selects their favorite coping tool on their AAC device: "I NEED [TOOL]".
27 - 30 min
Detective Badge Wrap-Up
Slide 6. Final individual body check: Is your body CALM, ALERT, or TIRED? Praise detective participation.
Aided Language Stimulation (ALgS)
• Model Without Demands: Speak words while pointing to symbols without forcing student to repeat.
• Target Core Words: Focus on FEEL, FAST, TIGHT, HELP, NEED, STOP .
• Honor Multi-Modal Output: Accept eye gaze, vocalizations, body gestures, and AAC activations equally.
Least-to-Most Prompt Hierarchy
1. Wait Time: Provide 8-10 seconds uninterrupted pause.
2. Visual / Gestural: Point toward the slide clue or worksheet column.
3. Verbal Indirect: "Where does our fast heart live?"
4. Direct Model: Model the selection on the companion board first.