Feeling Friends Session Guide Week 2 • Small Group SEL Duration: 20–30 Minutes
Feeling Friends Facilitator Guide
Session Focus: Understanding Emotions, Body Clues & Respectful Expression (Grades K–5)
Learning Objectives
Identify 5 core emotions & bodily signals
Recognize feelings in self and peers
Use an "I-Statement" or "Bug & Wish" formula
Materials Needed
Feelings Explorer Slides (screen/tablet)
Emotion Detective Activity Sheets (1/student)
Pencils and coloring crayons
Feelings Pocket Cards (pre-cut or student cut)
Session Pacing (25m)
Warm-up & Check-In:4 mins
Body Clues Discovery:6 mins
Expression Formula:6 mins
Activity & Role-Play:6 mins
5-Finger Breathing Wrap:3 mins
1
Welcome Ritual & Feelings Check-in (4–5 Mins)
Slide 1 & 2
Counselor Prompt: "Welcome back to our friendship circle! Last week we learned each other's names and superpowers. Today we are emotion detectives. Every feeling you experience is okay—feelings are messages from our brains and bodies telling us what we need."
Check-In Routine (Thumb Meter): Ask each student: "Show me on your thumb meter: Thumbs up (calm/happy), sideways (neutral/tired), or down (frustrated/worried/sad). In 3 words or fewer, what feeling word matches your weather inside?"
2
Body Clues: Where Feelings Live (6–7 Mins)
Slide 3
Counselor Script: "Before we even say a word, our bodies send siren signals. Let's do a fast body scan together. When feelings show up, what happens to:"
Mad / Frustrated: Clenched fists, tight jaw, stomping feet, fast heartbeat, heated face.
Sad / Disappointed: Heavy shoulders, watery eyes, lump in throat, slumping posture.
Scared / Worried: Butterflies in tummy, shaking knees, tight chest, holding breath.
Calm / Safe: Relaxed shoulders, steady breathing, soft hands, open smile.
Quick Motion Game: "Freeze like a statue showing 'frustrated hands'! Now show 'proud posture'! Now show 'calm breath'."
Feeling Friends • Small Group Curriculum • Week 2 Page 1 of 2
Facilitation Guide: Healthy Expression & Wrap-Up
Session 2 Continued
3
Healthy Expression: The "Bug & Wish" Formula (6–7 Mins)
Slides 4 & 5
Counselor Prompt: "When big feelings strike during recess or class, screaming or shutting down makes friendship feel wobbly. Great friends use words to tell each other what's happening. Here are our two magic friendship formulas:"
Formula A: The "Bug & Wish" (Grades K–3)
"It BUGS me when..." (name action)
"I WISH you would..." (name what you want instead)
Example: "It bugs me when my tower gets knocked over. I wish you would ask before touching it."
Formula B: The 3-Part I-Statement (Grades 3–5)
"I feel..." (specific emotion)
"When you..." (specific behavior, without blaming)
"Can we please..." (respectful request)
Example: "I feel left out when the game starts without me. Can we make teams together?"
4
Workmat & Roleplay (6 Mins)
Distribute the Emotion Detective Activity Sheet . Guide students to complete the 3 sections:
Thermometer: Circle today's emotional temperature.Body Clues: Draw lines from clues to the body.Speech Bubble: Partner up and practice reading their I-statement aloud.
5
5-Finger Breathing Wrap (3 Mins)
Lead the group in a calming somatic cool-down before returning to class:
1. Spread non-dominant hand wide like a star.
2. Trace index finger up thumb (inhale), down (exhale).
3. Trace all 5 fingers slowly together.
Give out Friendship Pocket Cards as their secret mission tool!
Developmental Differentiation Guide
Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Focus on 4 core feelings: Happy, Mad, Sad, Scared.
Use facial mimicry: "Make your face look surprised!"
Stick to the simple "Bug & Wish" phrasing.
Allow drawing pictures instead of writing complete sentences.
3rd Grade – 5th Grade
Introduce nuanced emotion vocabulary: Frustrated, Anxious, Left Out, Misunderstood.
Discuss the difference between intention vs. impact.
Have peers roleplay conflicting playground situations.
Focus on assertive tone of voice and calm eye contact.
Counselor Tip for Shy / Reluctant Participants: If a student hesitates to name their own feeling, offer the third-person option: "How do you think a character in a book would feel if that happened?" This reduces vulnerability while reinforcing perspective-taking.
Feeling Friends • Small Group Curriculum • Week 2 Page 2 of 2
Feelings Explorer Slides Feeling Friends • Week 2
Small Group SEL
Emotion Detectives
How to notice body clues, understand our big feelings, and express them respectfully with friends.
Notice
Body sensations & clues
Name
Identify the feeling message
Share
Speak with calm words
Circle Check-In
What is Your Weather Inside Today?
Sunny
Happy & Energetic
Ready to play, laughing, excited
Clear Sky
Calm & Peaceful
Comfortable, relaxed, listening
Rainy
Sad or Tired
Low energy, quiet, needing comfort
Stormy
Mad or Frustrated
Rumbling, heated, tightly wound
Group Prompt: Show your thumb meter & share one feeling word!
Every feeling is welcome
Body Clue Detectives
Your Body Sends Clues First!
1. Face & Jaw
Are teeth clenched tight? Is your brow crinkled or relaxed? Are cheeks feeling warm and flushed?
2. Heart & Breath
Is your heartbeat racing like a drum? Is your breathing quick and shallow, or deep and gentle?
3. Tummy Signals
Fluttering butterflies when nervous? A tight knot when worried? Or a calm, settled stomach?
4. Hands & Shoulders
Are fists clenched ready to squeeze? Are shoulders up to your ears, or relaxed and loose?
Quick Action: Place your hand on your heart right now. Is it beating fast, medium, or slow?
Friendship Communication
How to Share What You Feel
Formula 1 The "Bug & Wish"
"It BUGS me when..."
Name the action clearly without calling names.
"I WISH you would..."
Tell your friend what to do next time.
✨ Great for recess, lines, and shared toys!
Formula 2 The 3-Part I-Statement
"I feel..." [emotion word]
"When you..." [describe what happened]
"Can we please..." [positive solution]
🎯 Super clear, respectful, and powerful!
Friendship Rule: Speak about the action, not the person!
"You are mean!" ❌ → "I felt hurt!" ✅
Role-Play Challenge
Detective Scenario: The Stolen Ball
What Happened:
You were practicing four-square, and a classmate runs over, grabs your ball, and starts playing somewhere else.
Emotion Detective Activity Sheet Feeling Friends • Small Group
Emotion Detective Mission
Name:
Date:
1
Emotion Weather Check-In: How do you feel right now?
Circle your feeling today
☀️ Calm Peaceful & ready
😄 Happy Smiling & excited
🌧️ Sad Down or tired
⚡ Mad Frustrated or upset
🌪️ Worried Nervous or scared
2
Body Clue Map: Check the clues your body sends you!
Face & Head
Tight jaw / teeth Hot cheeks / red face Crinkled forehead
Heart & Breath
Heart beating fast Short, quick breaths Slow, calm breathing
Tummy
Butterflies flutter Tight, hard knot Calm and relaxed
Hands & Body
Squeezed fists Shaky or fidgety Soft, open hands
3
Friendship Words: Build Your 3-Part I-Statement
The 3-Part I-Statement
Feeling Word Bank: frustrated • left out • worried • sad • overwhelmed • upset • proud • excited
1. I feel... (name your specific emotion)
2. When you... (describe what happened without blaming or yelling)
3. Can we please... (suggest a calm, fair solution together)
Partner High-Five Challenge:
Read your 3-part I-statement aloud to your group partner using a calm, strong voice.
Partner Sign-off:
Feeling Friends Curriculum • Emotion Detective Mission Sheet Keep this in your friendship folder!
Friendship Feelings Pocket Cards Cut & Keep • Pocket Resource
Friendship Feelings Pocket Cards
Cut out these 4 pocket cue cards to keep in your pocket, desk, or backpack!
My Calm Down Menu
Card 1
5-Finger Breathing: Trace fingers slowly.
Hand on Heart: Feel 3 slow beats.
Count Backwards: 10 down to 1 slowly.
Get a Drink: Reset with cool water.
"I pause before I choose my words!"
Body Clues Radar
Card 2
Face & Jaw: Clenched teeth? Red cheeks?
Chest: Fast heartbeat? Quick breath?
Tummy: Fluttering butterflies or knots?
Hands: Tight fists or shaking?
"My body tells me how I feel!"
The Bug & Wish Script
Card 3
"It BUGS me when..."
Tell what action happened (no yelling or name-calling).
"I WISH you would..."
Tell what you want to happen instead.
"Speak clearly, calmly, and kind!"
The 3-Part I-Statement
Card 4
1. I feel: [Name the emotion]
2. When you: [Describe the action]
3. Can we: [Offer a team solution]
Example: "I feel left out when the game starts without me. Can we play together?"
"I-Messages keep friendships strong!"
Cut along dotted line to take home
My Reflection Tonight
One feeling I noticed in my body today was:
One kind friendship phrase I used was:
My Signature:
Family Connection Note
Today in Friendship Small Group, we practiced recognizing body sensations when big feelings happen, and using "I-Statements" and "Bug & Wish" formulas instead of yelling.
Ask at dinner: "What was your emotional weather today? Did you feel any body clues?"
Parent / Caregiver Initial:
Feeling Friends • Week 2 Take-Home Resource Keep practicing with your friends and family!
