Complex Emotion Visual Cards SLP Emotion Toolkit • Part 1
Exaggerated Emotion Clue Cards
🔍 Focus: Eyebrows & Mouth
Steep V-Brow
Clenched Line
Frustrated Blocked / Stuck
Tension in face & body
Exaggerated Clues:
• Eyebrows: Pulled down hard into a sharp inward V
• Mouth: Clenched jaw, lips pressed in rigid flat bar
• Forehead: Vertical creases squeezed between brows
Body & Signals:
• Hands clutched on head or fists squeezed tight
• Loud sigh, groaning sound, or held breath
• Inside: Hot cheeks, tightness in chest
SAY: "I feel frustrated because this is stuck. Can we reset?"
Take 3 Breaths
One High / One Low
Tilted Smirk
Confused Unclear / Puzzled
Processing mismatch
Exaggerated Clues:
• Eyebrows: Uneven! One shoots high up, one dips low
• Mouth: Lips pursed or pulled crooked to one side
• Head: Tilted at an angle with squinted eyes
Body & Signals:
• Hand scratching back of head, chin, or cheek
• Motionless pause while trying to understand
• Inside: Brain feels tangled like spaghetti
SAY: "I'm confused about step 2. Could you explain that differently?"
Ask Clarification
Raised Centers
Lip Biting
Nervous Anxious / Jittery
Anticipating trouble
Exaggerated Clues:
• Eyebrows: Inner corners pulled up into a worried curve
• Mouth: Teeth biting down on lower lip or trembling
• Eyes: Wide and darting around quickly
Body & Signals:
• Fidgeting fingers, tapping shoes, swallowing hard
• Tense, raised shoulders held high
• Inside: Butterflies fluttering inside stomach
SAY: "I'm feeling nervous about speaking. Can I practice with you first?"
5-4-3-2-1 Ground
SLP Emotion Toolkit • Part 2
Exaggerated Emotion Clue Cards
🔍 Focus: Eyebrows & Mouth
High Arches
Wide 'O' Gasp
Surprised Shocked / Sudden
Unexpected event
Exaggerated Clues:
• Eyebrows: High curved rainbows raised up to hairline
• Mouth: Dropped open wide into a vertical oval 'O'
• Eyes: Wide open, showing white all around the iris
Body & Signals:
• Quick step backward or quick freeze in place
• Both hands fly up to cover open mouth or chest
• Inside: Quick sharp intake of breath
SAY: "Whoa! That surprised me! Give me a second to catch my breath."
Pause & Check
Shy Soft Brow
Cringe Smile
Embarrassed Self-Conscious / Shy
Spotlighted after error
Exaggerated Clues:
• Eyes & Cheeks: Looking down away; bright pink/red flushed cheeks
• Mouth: Awkward cringe half-smile or biting inside of cheek
• Head: Chin tucked down into chest
Body & Signals:
• Hand covering face, forehead, or rubbing back of neck
• Shoulders hunched inward to look smaller
• Inside: Face feels on fire, wishing to disappear
SAY: "I felt embarrassed when that happened, but everybody makes mistakes!"
Self-Compassion
Master Eyebrow & Mouth Clue Decoder
Cheat Sheet
Emotion Eyebrows Clue (The Top Signal) Mouth Clue (The Bottom Signal) One-Second Memory Trick Frustrated Sharp V-pulled down hard Clenched flat bar / grinding jaw "V-Brows & Flat Teeth" Confused Uneven: one high arch, one low Crooked smirk or tilted pursed lips "Tilted Brow & Crooked Lip" Nervous Inner corners pulled up & tight Top teeth biting bottom lip "Worried Arch & Lip Bite" Surprised High rainbows near hairline Dropped wide open into round 'O' "Sky-High Brows & 'O' Mouth" Embarrassed Softened downward / avoiding gaze Awkward cringe smile, cheeks pink "Looking Down & Pink Blush"
Complex Emotion Detective Worksheet Emotion Detective Lab
Name: ___________________________
Date: ______________
Part 1: Eyebrow & Mouth Clue Investigation
Look closely at each person's real face, especially their exaggerated eyebrows and mouth shapes.
Word Bank Frustrated • Confused • Nervous • Surprised • Embarrassed
V-Brows
Tight Lip
Case File #1 Clue: Steep V-Brow & Clenched Jaw
1. Identify the emotion:
Frustrated Confused Nervous Surprised Embarrassed
Eyebrow Clue description:
Mouth & Jaw Clue description:
High / Low
Tilted Lip
Case File #2 Clue: Uneven Brow & Crooked Lip
2. Identify the emotion:
Frustrated Confused Nervous Surprised Embarrassed
Eyebrow Clue description:
Mouth & Head Clue description:
Arches
'O' Mouth
Case File #3 Clue: Arched Rainbow Brows & Wide 'O'
3. Identify the emotion:
Frustrated Confused Nervous Surprised Embarrassed
Eyebrow Clue description:
Mouth & Eye Clue description:
Emotion Clue Detectives • Page 1 of 2 • Continue to Part 2 for Scenarios & Communication Scripts
Emotion Detective Lab
Name: ___________________________
Date: ______________
Part 2: Real Scenarios & Communication Scripts
Connect each situation's eyebrow and mouth clues to the emotion, then practice self-advocacy scripts.
Match the Scenario to the Face Clue Write the letter of the matching emotion in the blank box
Leo's eyebrows pulled up in the center and his teeth were biting down hard on his lower lip as his name was called.
Maya's eyebrows squeezed into a sharp V and her jaw clenched into a tight, rigid bar when her project file disappeared.
Kevin's eyebrows arched up high to his hair and his mouth dropped into a wide oval 'O' when his team won at the buzzer!
Marcus glanced down at the floor with hot pink cheeks and gave a nervous cringe smile after his books clattered down.
Complex Emotions Presentation Slides Speech-Language Pathology Unit
🔍 Eyebrow & Mouth Focus
Emotion Clue Detectives
Decoding complex emotions using real-person facial clues, exaggerated eyebrow and mouth signals, and speech scripts.
• Frustrated • Confused • Nervous • Surprised • Embarrassed
Look for exaggerated clues on the eyebrows, eyes, and mouth Slide 1 of 7
Emotion #1
FRUSTRATED
Key Signal: Sharp V-Brows & Clenched Mouth
Sharp V-Brows
Clenched Flat Lip
Exaggerated Facial Clues:
• Eyebrows: Pulled down hard into an angry, steep V shape
• Mouth: Clenched jaw, lips locked into a tense flat bar
• Body: Hands clutched on head, fists balled up, loud sigh
Self-Advocacy Speech Script:
"I feel frustrated right now because this is stuck. Can we reset?"
SLP Strategy: Stop, take 3 deep belly breaths, ask for another method Slide 2 of 7
Emotion #2
CONFUSED
Key Signal: Uneven Brows & Tilted Mouth
One High / One Low
Crooked Smirk
Exaggerated Facial Clues:
• Eyebrows: Asymmetrical! One arches way up, one pushes down
• Mouth: Lips pursed or pulled crookedly to one side
• Head & Body: Head tilted to the side, scratching chin or head
Self-Advocacy Speech Script:
"I'm confused about the directions. Can you explain that another way?"
SLP Strategy: Ask clarifying questions without embarrassment Slide 3 of 7
Emotion #3
NERVOUS
Key Signal: Raised Center Brows & Biting Lip
Worried Centers
Biting Lower Lip
Exaggerated Facial Clues:
• Eyebrows: Inner corners pulled up and pinched in worry
