Feeling Toolbox Lesson Plan My Feeling Toolbox
Tier 3 Social-Emotional Learning • 1st Grade
30 Minutes
Individual Student
Why This Lesson?
Understanding and managing emotions is a foundational life skill. For students, especially those with autism or neurodivergence, explicitly learning these skills can significantly improve their ability to navigate social situations, reduce anxiety, and feel more in control of their reactions.
Learning Objective
The student will be able to identify and name at least three common emotions and practice one simple regulation strategy.
Materials Needed
Whiteboard or Chart Paper & Markers
My Feeling Faces Slide Deck
Feelings Reading: "Puffy's Big Feelings"
Emotion Matching Activity
My Regulation Strategies Worksheet
Prep (10 mins)
Review all generated materials.
Print the Reading, Matching Activity, and Worksheet.
Gather drawing supplies and access a digital display.
Approach: Interactive discussion, visual aids, and hands-on practice.
Instructional Steps
1
Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling?
5 mins
Greet the student and ask, "How are you feeling right now?" Encourage them to use words or point to a feeling face. Validate their emotion: "That's okay to feel that way. Let's learn about feelings!"
2
Introducing Feelings with Slides
10 mins
Present the Feeling Faces Slide Deck . Go through each slide, naming the emotion and discussing what it might look like or feel like in their body. Ask the student to mimic the faces.
3
Reading: Exploring Feelings
5 mins
Read "The Little Cloud's Big Feelings" together. Pause to discuss emotions. Ask: "How did Puffy feel when the wind blew him away?" or "What did Puffy do when he felt scared?"
4
Activity: Emotion Matching
5 mins
Introduce the Emotion Matching Activity . Guide the student to draw faces for emotion words and write words for emoji faces. Provide positive reinforcement.
5
Worksheet: My Regulation Strategies
5 mins
Discuss simple strategies like deep breaths, counting, or the "lemon squeeze." Help the student choose one strategy to draw/write on their My Regulation Strategies Worksheet .
Feeling Faces Slide Deck My Feeling Faces
Let's learn about our feelings!
Teacher Note
Welcome the student and explain that today we will talk about feelings. Read the title together.
😊
Happy!
When you feel good, joyful, or excited.
Your face might smile!
Your body might feel light.
Teacher Note
Ask the student: "What makes you feel happy?" Encourage them to make a happy face.
😥
Sad
When you feel blue, upset, or disappointed.
Your eyes might water.
Your body might feel heavy.
Teacher Note
Ask the student: "What makes you feel sad?" Emphasize that it's okay to feel sad sometimes.
😠
Angry
When you feel mad, frustrated, or annoyed.
Your eyebrows might scrunch.
Your body might feel hot or tense.
Teacher Note
Discuss what anger feels like. Ask: "What makes people angry?" How we act is important.
😟
Scared
When you feel afraid, worried, or nervous.
Your eyes might open wide.
Your body might want to hide.
Teacher Note
Ask: "What might make someone scared?" Reassure them that everyone gets scared.
All Feelings Are Okay!
😊 😥 😠 😟
We all have different feelings every day.
Learning about feelings helps us stay in control!
Teacher Note
Recap the feelings. Transition to the story about Puffy the Cloud.
Feelings Reading The Little Cloud's Big Feelings
A story about Puffy
Once there was a little cloud named Puffy. Puffy loved to float in the big blue sky. But sometimes, Puffy had big feelings.
☁️
One morning, Puffy saw a field of bright, colorful flowers. "Oh, how pretty!" Puffy giggled, feeling happy and light. Puffy made a happy face, like this:
😊
☀️
Then, a big, dark cloud zoomed by and bumped Puffy! Puffy tumbled and felt a little shaky. A tiny tear droplet fell. Puffy felt sad. Puffy made a sad face, like this:
😥
💧
Later, a strong wind blew Puffy far away from the flowery field. Puffy huffed and puffed! "I wanted to stay there!" Puffy grumbled. Puffy felt angry. Puffy made an angry face, like this:
😠
💨
Suddenly, Puffy heard a loud clap of thunder! BOOM! Puffy shrunk a little, feeling a shiver. "What was that?" Puffy whispered. Puffy felt scared. Puffy made a scared face, like this:
😟
What did Puffy learn?
Puffy learned that all feelings come and go. When Puffy felt a big feeling, Puffy could take a deep breath to help feel calm again. It was okay to feel them all!
😌 ✨ 🌈
Emotion Matching Activity My Feeling Faces
Draw and Write!
Name:
Date:
1
Part 1: Draw the Face!
1. Happy
2. Sad
3. Angry
4. Scared
2
Part 2: Write the Feeling!
😊
This cloud feels...
😥
This cloud feels...
😠
This cloud feels...
😟
This cloud feels...
Bonus Challenge!
Listen to your teacher say a feeling. Can you make that face with your own face and body? Try to hold it for 3 seconds!
My Regulation Strategies Worksheet My Feeling Toolbox
What helps me feel calm?
NAME:
It's okay to have big feelings like angry or scared. Everyone does! When you have a big feeling, what can you do to help your body and mind feel calm again?
Try these ideas!
🌬️
Take a Deep Breath
Breathe in slowly like smelling a flower, then breathe out like blowing out a candle.
🔢
Count to Five
One... two... three... four... five. Take your time!
🍋
Lemon Squeeze
Squeeze your hands into tight fists like you're holding lemons, count to 5, then let go!
💬
Talk to a Grown-Up
Tell your teacher or a parent how you feel. They are here to help!
My Top Strategy!
Draw or write about one special way you can help yourself feel calm.
I use my strategy when I feel:
(Draw a face)
It helps me feel:
(Draw a calm face)