Feelings Safari Plan Feelings Safari Plan
SEL Tier 1 Lesson | 1st Grade | 30 Minutes
Objective
Students will embark on a Feelings Safari to identify, label, and discuss emotions through interactive story cards, movement, and art, building self-awareness and empathy.
Why This Matters
Recognizing and expressing feelings lays the foundation for strong social-emotional skills, helping first graders understand themselves and others.
Prep (10 mins)
• Print & cut Emotion Safari Story Cards
• Display Safari Map Poster
• Print Reflection Pages (1 per student)
• Gather headbands or explorer hats
• Set up art supplies (crayons/markers)
Materials
• Story Cards & Map Poster
• Reflection Worksheets
• Safari Headbands/Hats
• Chart Paper & Markers
• Art Supplies
Instructional Steps
1
Safari Welcome
5 Minutes
Gather students in a circle and have them put on their safari headbands. Introduce the Feelings Safari and show the Safari Map Poster . Use the first Story Card (Elephant) to model: "What emotion is this animal feeling?" Discuss how we can spot emotions in faces and body language.
2
Safari Exploration
20 Minutes
Divide students into small groups. They will "travel" along the map, stopping at numbered stations.
One student draws a card and acts it out silently.
Peers guess the emotion based on body language.
After guessing, the actor says: "I feel ___ when ___" to provide context.
Rotate roles so everyone gets a turn to act.
Teacher Note: Circulate to support students with labeling and noting accurate identification.
3
Reflecting at the Campfire
5 Minutes
Gather at the "campfire" on the map. Distribute the Feelings Safari Reflection Page . Ask students to draw their favorite safari emotion and write its label. Invite volunteers to share their drawings and explain their choices. Praise empathy and participation.
Assessment
Collect reflection pages to check if students can accurately label and describe an emotion. Use group observations to identify students who may need additional support with emotion recognition.
Feelings Detectives Lesson Plan Feelings Detectives Plan
SEL Tier 1 Lesson | 1st Grade | 30 Minutes
Objective
Students will become ‘Feelings Detectives’ by identifying, labeling, and expressing four core emotions in themselves and others through interactive activities.
Why This Matters
Building emotion recognition fosters self-awareness and empathy, laying the foundation for strong peer relationships and school success.
Prep (10 mins)
• Print/cut Feelings Detective Cards
• Print Reflection Worksheets
• Print/prep Detective Badges or stickers
• Create chart: Happy, Sad, Angry, Surprised
Evidence Kit
• Detective Cards
• Reflection Worksheets
• Detective Badges
• Chart Paper & Markers
Investigation Steps
1
Emotion Check-In
5 Minutes
Gather detectives in a circle. Show the emotion chart. Hold up a Feelings Detective Card and ask: "What emotion is this? What clues do you see?" Go around the circle: each student names their current feeling and points to it on the chart.
Observe: Can they label the feeling correctly?
2
Detective Investigation
20 Minutes
Divide students into pairs or trios. Give each group a set of Feelings Detective Cards .
Detectives take turns drawing a card.
The drawer silently acts out the emotion (using clues like eyes, mouth, hands).
Peers guess the emotion.
After guessing, the actor says: "I feel ___ when ___."
3
Reflection & Award
5 Minutes
Hand out the Feelings Reflection Worksheet . Prompt detectives to draw a face showing a feeling they had today and write its label. Invite volunteers to share. Award each detective their official Feelings Detective Badge for successful identification!
Case Closed
Collect worksheets to assess understanding. If a student struggles to identify "Angry" vs "Sad," plan a follow-up mini-session focused on facial cues.
Feelings Safari Slides SEL Small-Group Lesson | 1st Grade
Feelings Safari
Adventure
Exploring our emotions through the wild world of animals.
Welcome everyone to our Feelings Safari! Today we’ll explore emotions like real safari explorers. Introduce the lesson objective: identifying, labeling, and discussing feelings through a fun adventure.
Warm-Up: Safari Welcome
1
Sit in a circle and don your safari headband.
2
Explore the Safari Map Poster.
3
Look at the first Story Card.
“What emotion do you see?”
Our Safari Map
Follow the path on the map from Start to Campfire.
Stop at each numbered animal station to discover a new feeling!
1
2
3
4
5
6
The Trail Awaits!
Safari Exploration
One student acts silently.
Peers guess the emotion.
Rotate roles so everyone gets a turn.
Modeling Labeling:
“I feel ______ when ______.”
Emotion Examples
Happy Monkey
How does it look?
Sad Zebra
How does it look?
Angry Lion
How does it look?
Reflection at the Campfire
Gather around the campfire. It's time to think about our journey!
Draw your favorite emotion.
Write the label.
Share with a friend.
Complete your
Congratulations,
Feelings Explorers!
Fantastic job spotting emotions today! Remember: naming our feelings helps us connect with ourselves and others.
Keep Exploring Every Day!
Emotion Safari Story Cards Emotion Safari Story Cards
Cut along the dotted lines to create your adventure kit!
1
Happy Elephant
"The elephant splashes joyfully in a cool watering hole after a long, hot walk across the savannah. Its trunk lifts high, and it trumpets loudly in celebration."
Prompt for Explorers:
What emotion do you see? Act like this elephant—use your face and body to show happiness. Say, “I feel happy when ______.”
2
Sad Rhino
"The young rhinoceros stands alone under a baobab tree, head drooped, because its friend has wandered off after dinner. Small tears glisten in its eyes."
Prompt for Explorers:
What emotion is this rhino feeling? Show sadness with your facial expression and body language. Say, “I feel sad when ______.”
3
Angry Lion
"The lion roars fiercely, mane bristling, because another lion cub took its favorite stick. It paws at the ground and bares its teeth."
Prompt for Explorers:
Which feeling do you think this lion has? Pretend to be this angry lion—roar or stomp to express anger. Then say, “I feel angry when ______.”
4
Surprised Giraffe
"The giraffe pauses mid-bite, eyes wide and ears perked, after spotting an unexpected rainbow above the treetops. Its mouth forms an ‘O’ of astonishment."
Prompt for Explorers:
What emotion is this giraffe showing? Show surprise: open your eyes wide and cover your mouth. Say, “I feel surprised when ______.”
5
Fearful Zebra
"The zebra peers nervously from behind tall grass, hooves trembling, after hearing a sudden rustle in the bushes. It glances over its shoulder, ready to run."
Prompt for Explorers:
What do you think this zebra feels? Use a frightened expression and pretend to look around carefully. Say, “I feel scared when ______.”
6
Calm Hippo
"The hippo lies peacefully in the muddy water under a shady tree, eyes half-closed, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Its breathing is slow and steady."
Prompt for Explorers:
Which emotion is this hippo showing? Show calmness by relaxing your shoulders and taking deep breaths. Say, “I feel calm when ______.”
Safari Map Poster Feelings Safari Expedition Map
From Start to Campfire Reflection
Start
1
Elephant
Happy Waters
2
Rhino
Lonely Tree
3
Lion
Brave Roar
4
Giraffe
High View
5
Zebra
Tall Grass
6
Hippo
Muddy Peace
Campfire Reflection
Teacher Tips:
• Place cards at each station.
• Use string to show the path.
• Encourage quiet exploration.
• Lament for durability.
Feelings Safari Reflection Page Feelings Safari Reflection
My Exploration Log
Name:
Date:
1
Draw Your Favorite Safari Emotion
Draw the animal and the feeling you liked most today.
2
What Emotion Did You Choose?
The feeling is:
3
Complete the Sentence
Tell about a time you felt this way.
“I feel
when
4
Helping a Friend
How could you help a friend who feels this emotion?
Feelings Detective Cards Feelings Detective Cards
Gather your clues and crack the case of the hidden emotions!
Happy
Detective Clues:
• Wide, bright eyes
• Big smile or laughing mouth
• Reaching arms or jumping body
"I feel happy when ______."
Sad
Detective Clues:
• Looking down at the ground
• Corners of mouth turned down
• Shoulders hunched or drooping
"I feel sad when ______."
Angry
Detective Clues:
• Squeezed, lowered eyebrows
• Tightened jaw or bared teeth
• Crossed arms or stomping feet
"I feel angry when ______."
Surprised
Detective Clues:
• Eyes wide like circles
• Mouth open in an 'O' shape
• Hands jumping up to face
"I feel surprised when ______."
Feelings Detective Badge Template Feelings Detective Badges
Award your detectives for their stellar investigation!
Official
Feelings
Detective
Name
Official
Feelings
Detective
Name
Official
Feelings
Detective
Name
Official
Feelings
Detective
Name
Official
Feelings
Detective
Name
Official
Feelings
Detective
Name
Cut out badges after students complete their reflection and identify their emotions correctly.
Feelings Reflection Worksheet Detective's Case Report
Investigation: My Emotions
Detective:
Date:
1
Clue: How I Feel Today
Draw a face that shows a feeling you had today.
2
Label the Evidence
Case Feeling:
3
Explain the Clues
“I felt this way because
4
Case Solved!
When I feel this way, I can help myself by...
