Emotion Detectives Lesson Plan Confidential
Case File: Emotion Detectives
Subject: Social-Emotional Learning • Grade 7
Duration 30 Minutes
Target Audience 7th Grade Students
Strategy Interactive & Reflective
Mission Objective
"Students will become ‘Emotion Detectives’ by recognizing, labeling, and discussing five basic emotions in themselves and others, then reflecting on triggers and healthy responses."
The "Why"
Developing emotion awareness and empathy supports self-regulation, positive social interactions, and communication skills—foundational for academic and personal success.
Preparation (10 mins)
Print and cut out all Emotion Cards .
Print and cut each Emotion Scenario Strip .
Make copies of the Reflection Worksheet for each student.
Draw a two-column T-chart on the board (Emotion | Trigger).
Evidence Kit (Materials)
Emotion Cards
Emotion Scenario Strips
Reflection Worksheet
Whiteboard and Markers
Field Procedures
01
5 MIN
Introduction and Emotion Brainstorm
Welcome students and introduce the term Emotion Detective .
Ask: “What is an emotion? Why is noticing it important?”
Present five basic emotions on the whiteboard: Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Surprise.
Briefly define each and invite volunteers to share an example.
02
10 MIN
Emotion Card Sorting
Distribute one set of Emotion Cards per pair.
In pairs, students sort cards into two piles: "Times I’ve Felt This" and "I’ve Seen Others Feel This" .
For each card, partners discuss a quick personal or observed example.
Circulate and prompt deeper thinking: “What did you notice about your partner’s examples?”
03
8 MIN
Scenario Strip Role-Play
Give each pair an Emotion Scenario Strip .
Students read their scenario, assign roles, and act it out for the class.
After each role-play, the class labels the emotion and identifies the trigger, adding it to the whiteboard T-chart.
Ask: “How might someone respond positively in this situation?”
04
5 MIN
Reflection and Share
Hand out the Emotion Reflection Worksheet .
Students complete: choose one emotion, describe a recent trigger, and list one healthy response strategy.
Invite 2–3 volunteers to share their reflections with the class.
Conclude by reinforcing the role of Emotion Detectives in everyday life.
Emotion Detectives Slides Top Secret Mission
Emotion Detectives
Today’s Mission: Spot, name, and understand the signals of our feelings.
Case #7-SEL-001
Mission Briefing
01
Identify
Spot the five basic emotions in yourself and others.
02
Investigate
Discuss real-life examples of how these feelings show up.
03
Respond
Discover healthy ways to handle triggers and reactions.
The Investigation: What is an Emotion?
The Definition
"An internal signal that tells us how we're feeling about what's happening around us."
The "Big Five" Suspects
😊 Happiness
😢 Sadness
😡 Anger
😨 Fear
😲 Surprise
Activity: Evidence Sorting
1 Sort the Cards
📂 Times I've Felt This
📂 I've Seen Others Feel This
2 Share the Evidence
Tell your partner one specific time or example for each card.
😡
ANGER
😢
SADNESS
Work together in pairs!
Field Exercise: Role-Play
01
Select Your Scenario
Each pair picks one situation from the strip list.
02
Act It Out
Show the situation to the class without naming the emotion.
03
The Debrief
Class identifies the Emotion and the Trigger.
Case Reflection
Choose One Emotion
Pick a "suspect" from our Big Five list.
Describe a Trigger
What caused this feeling for you recently?
Identify a Healthy Response
How did (or could) you handle it well?
Detective's Log
Open your Reflection Worksheet and start your entry now.
Mission Accomplished
You are now Emotion Detectives!
Keep spotting, naming, and responding to emotions at school, at home, and with friends.
Class Dismissed
Emotion Reflection Worksheet Case File Log
Emotion Detective Reflection
Official Evidence Collection Journal
Agent:
Date:
Big Five Emotions:
😊 Happiness 😢 Sadness 😡 Anger 😨 Fear 😲 Surprise
1. Which emotion did you choose to investigate?
2. Describe a recent time when you felt this emotion.
3. What triggered this emotion? (What happened to cause it?)
4. How did your body feel when you experienced this emotion?
(Think about: heart rate, stomach, muscles, face...)
5. What is one healthy response strategy you could use or did use in that situation?
6. Why do you think noticing your emotions early can help you in everyday life?
Property of Emotion Detective Agency
Emotion Cards Emotion Cards
Cut out these evidence cards to use during the sorting activity.
Happiness 😊
Definition
A feeling of joy, contentment, or pleasure.
Evidence Example
"Smiling when you get a good grade on a hard test."
Agency ID: CASE-001
Sadness 😢
Definition
A feeling of sorrow, unhappiness, or loss.
Evidence Example
"Feeling down after saying goodbye to a friend."
Agency ID: CASE-002
Anger 😡
Definition
A feeling of frustration or annoyance when something feels unfair.
Evidence Example
"Getting upset when someone interrupts you mid-sentence."
Agency ID: CASE-003
Fear 😨
Definition
A feeling of being scared or worried about something.
Evidence Example
"Feeling nervous before speaking in front of the whole class."
Agency ID: CASE-004
Surprise 😲
Definition
A feeling of shock or astonishment when something unexpected happens.
Evidence Example
"Being startled by a surprise gift or an unexpected visitor."
Agency ID: CASE-005
Instructions
Cut along the solid borders. Use these cards for the sorting activity in pairs. Discuss your findings!
Emotion Scenario Strips Emotion Scenario Strips
Field Exercise: Evidence Reconstruction
Cut out these scenario strips. Each pair selects one strip, assigns roles, and acts out the situation for the class. The class must identify the Emotion and the Trigger .
1
You’ve been practicing your lines for the school play. During the performance, you suddenly forget your lines in front of the audience.
2
Your best friend tells you they can’t come to your birthday party because they’re sick.
3
You’re walking home and hear a loud crash coming from the dark garage next door.
4
Your teacher announces there will be a surprise quiz in the next period.
5
You finish a difficult assignment and the teacher calls you up to praise your work in front of the whole class.
6
You spill juice on your new school shirt right before picture day.
7
Your younger sibling wins an award at a family gathering—an award you thought you would get.
8
You find a wrapped gift from your parents on your desk one morning, but you have no idea what it’s for.
Emoji Check-In Warm-Up Warm-Up: Emoji Check-In
Pre-Investigation Assessment
Time Allocation:
5 Minutes
Mission: Quickly gauge and share your current emotions to build self-awareness and community before we begin our official investigation.
😊 Happy
😢 Sad
😡 Angry
😨 Fearful
😲 Surprised
1
Choose the emoji that best matches how you feel right now .
2
Complete your check-in sentence below using this format:
"I feel _______ because _______."
Agent's Notes:
Turn to a partner and share your sentence. This fosters an empathetic classroom atmosphere as we begin our Emotion Detectives mission!
Case Closed Exit Ticket Case Closed Exit Ticket
Agent:
Date:
1. What is one skill or strategy you learned as an Emotion Detective today?
2. Why do you think noticing and naming your emotions early can help you in everyday life?
Thank you for being an attentive detective!
Case Closed
Case Closed Exit Ticket
Agent:
Date:
1. What is one skill or strategy you learned as an Emotion Detective today?
2. Why do you think noticing and naming your emotions early can help you in everyday life?
Thank you for being an attentive detective!
Case Closed