A comprehensive expressive language lesson designed for autistic students and language learners who excel at using Disney and Thomas & Friends movie quotes. This lesson bridges these strengths into functional, complete-sentence communication about feelings, needs, and storytelling, featuring visual sentence frames, interactive slides, task cards, and a Pixar Planes storyboarding activity.
Need Sentence: He needs ________________________________________.
3 Sadness is trying a hard task 🎈 Inside Out
Sadness is holding core memories but drops them. She says: "Everything is ruined." How can she express her need directly?
Complete Sentence: "I feel ________________________, so I want ________________________."
Social Goal: Help the student connect character scripts to their own lives. If they ever get stuck, ask: "Are you feeling like Gordon or Percy right now?"
YES! STILL WORKING
Printable Cutouts Page 3 of 3
Script Bridge Task Cards (B)
Four MORE Disney favorites! Keep expanding your sentence library with Elsa, Woody, Stitch, and Sadness!
Overwhelmed Card ❄️
If you are upset and saying...
"Swirling storm inside!"
I can say: "I feel overwhelmed and I need some quiet space."
Cut along lines ✂️
Cooperation Card 🤠
If you want to play and say...
"You've got a friend in me."
I can say: "I feel happy / safe and I want to play together."
Cut along lines ✂️
Belonging Card 👽
If you want to be included and say...
"Ohana means family."
I can say: "I feel left out / lonely and I want to sit near you."
Cut along lines ✂️
Comfort Card 🌧️
If you feel down and say...
"Crying slows me down."
I can say: "I feel sad and I need a hug / break."
Cut along lines ✂️
Disney Deck Integration: These cards feature universal themes of connection, family, self-regulation, and friendship. Perfect for inclusive group circles and social-emotional modeling!
Sad/Overwhelmed
Frustrated/Annoyed
Page 1, Part B:
1. Buzz feels excited... When I say "To infinity and beyond!", I feel excited / ready to play.
2. Gordon is frustrated... When I feel frustrated, I can say "I need a break / quiet space."
Page 3 Scenarios (Sample answers):
1. Percy feels scared / overwhelmed. He needs the lights on / some quiet time.
2. Dusty feels nervous / scared. He needs help / to practice with Skipper.
Pixar Planes Storyboard Setup & Task Cards
Page 1 Challenges:
1. "...so he needs Skipper to teach/coach him."
2. "...so he wants to coach him to fly high / fast."
Task Cards Key Bridges:
• Elsa ("Storm inside"): Feels overwhelmed, needs quiet space.
• Woody ("Got a friend"): Feels happy / safe, wants to play together.
💬 Group Discussion Prompt:
Gather students. Ask: "When you get overloaded like Gordon, is it easier to say 'Oh, the indignity!' or 'I need a break'? Why?" Help them understand both work, but telling friends what we need helps them help us!
