Emotion Detectives Lesson Plan
Emotion Detectives
Lesson Plan • Tier 1 SEL
Duration 45 MIN
Why This Lesson?
Understanding and naming our feelings helps us manage big emotions, communicate better with friends and teachers, and feel more in control of ourselves. It's like having a superpower for your feelings!
Learning Objective
Students will be able to identify and label at least five different emotions, explain how emotions can feel in their body, and use emotion words to express themselves.
Materials
- Smartboard/Projector
- Faces of Feelings Presentation
- Emotion Cards (for Charades)
- Markers or Crayons
- Feeling Thermometer Sheet
Teacher Preparation (15 Minutes)
- Review the lesson plan and all linked materials (Slides, Charades Game, Thermometer).
- Print and cut out emotion cards for the Emotion Charades Game (1 set per 4-5 students).
- Make copies of the My Feeling Thermometer Worksheet for each student.
- Ensure projector/smartboard is set up for the presentation.
Instructional Steps
05
Min
Warm-Up: Feeling Check-In
- Begin by asking students to think about how they are feeling at this moment.
- Teacher Note: Encourage them to use words beyond "good" or "bad".
- Invite a few students to share one feeling word and why they feel that way.
10
Min
Introduction: What Are Emotions?
- Present the Faces of Feelings Presentation (Slides 1-3).
- Discuss what emotions are and emphasize that all emotions are okay to feel.
- Introduce the "Emotion Detectives" concept – students who observe and identify feelings.
- Discuss physical sensations of emotions (e.g., "butterflies in my stomach" for nervous).
15
Min
Activity: Emotion Charades
- Explain rules for the game using provided emotion cards.
- Divide students into small groups (4-5 students per group).
- Students take turns acting out an emotion while group members guess.
- Encourage observation of body language and facial expressions.
10
Min
Worksheet: My Feeling Thermometer
- Introduce the "Feeling Thermometer" concept (Slide 4).
- Distribute the worksheet and explain intensity levels (1-5).
- Guide students through labeling emotions at different levels.
- Students draw/write emotions and physical sensations for each level.
05
Min
Cool-Down & Wrap-Up
- Ask students to share one new emotion word they learned.
- Ask how they can use the thermometer at home or school.
- Reiterate that identifying emotions is a superpower skill!
Faces of Feelings Presentation
Emotion Detectives
How do you really feel right now?
What are feelings?
Why do we have them?
Teacher Notes: Welcome students and introduce the topic of feelings. Ask them to share how they are feeling today.
Meet the Feelings!
😊
Happy
When do you feel happy?
😢
Sad
When do you feel sad?
😡
Angry
When do you feel angry?
😟
Scared
When do you feel scared?
Teacher Notes: Introduce different basic emotions. Talk about what each emotion means and ask students for examples.
Feelings in Our Bodies
😊
Happy: Light, bouncy, warm, or bubbly?
😢
Sad: Heavy, watery eyes, slow, or tired?
😡
Angry: Hot, tight muscles, clenching, fast heartbeat?
😟
Scared: Jumpy, cold, butterflies in stomach, trembling?
Teacher Notes: Discuss how emotions are felt physically. Ask students to share their own physical signals for these feelings.
The Feeling Thermometer
Level 5: Hot! 🔥
SUPER STRONG (Out of control, huge feeling)
Level 3: Warm
MEDIUM STRONG (Big but manageable)
Level 1: Cool ❄️
VERY SMALL (Just a tiny bit)
This helps us understand how big our feelings are!
Teacher Notes: Introduce the intensity scale. Explain that all emotions can be at different levels (e.g., "a little mad" vs "raging").
My Feeling Thermometer Worksheet
My Feeling Thermometer
Name:
Date:
Sometimes our feelings are really big, and sometimes they are small. Let's use a thermometer to show how strong our feelings are! For each level, write or draw an emotion and explain how it feels in your body.
5
4
3
2
1
Level 5 - Boiling Hot! 🔥 (SUPER INTENSE FEELING)
What emotion makes you feel like you're boiling? How does it feel in your body?
Level 4 - Warm! (STRONG FEELING)
What emotion makes you feel warm and strong? How does it feel in your body?
Level 3 - Just Right (MEDIUM FEELING)
What emotion makes you feel just right, not too big, not too small?
Level 2 - Cool ❄️ (A LITTLE FEELING)
What emotion feels a little cool or light? How does it feel in your body?
Level 1 - Chilly! (VERY SMALL FEELING)
What emotion makes you feel chilly or very small?
Detective Reflection
Which level on the thermometer do you find yourself on most often during the school day? Why?