My Feeling Toolbox Lesson Plan My Feeling Toolbox
8-Week Individualized Lesson Plan (Tier 3 Support)
Why This Matters
Learning to identify and manage emotions is critical for a 3rd-grade scholar with autism. It enhances self-awareness, improves social interactions, and reduces feelings of overwhelm. This lesson provides foundational skills for navigating daily emotional experiences.
Learning Objective
The student will identify at least three different emotions, understand their physical manifestations, and apply one coping strategy to manage a strong emotion by the end of the 8-week program.
Target Audience
3rd Grade (Individualized Support)
Duration
30 Minutes / Session (8 Weeks)
Approach
Direct Instruction & Visual Aids
Prep Checklist (15 Minutes)
Review all generated program materials.
Print student worksheets, activities, and quiz.
Gather physical tools: markers, stress ball, music player.
Prepare Feeling Faces cards and Bingo materials.
Customize scenarios to student's specific interests.
8-Week Roadmap
Week 01
Introduction to Emotions: Happy & Sad
Warm-Up → Slides 1-3 → Discussion → Cool-Down
Week 02
Angry & Scared
Warm-Up → Slides 4-6 → Reading & Discussion → Cool-Down
Week 03
Identifying Emotions in Others
Warm-Up → Feeling Faces Activity → Worksheet → Cool-Down
Week 04
My Emotion Triggers
Warm-Up → Slides 7-8 → Journal Entry → Cool-Down
Week 05
Introducing Coping Strategies
Warm-Up → Slides 9-10 → Strategy Practice → Cool-Down
Week 06
Practicing Coping Strategies
Warm-Up → Coping Skills Bingo → Journaling → Cool-Down
Week 07
Real-Life Application
Warm-Up → Scenario Role-Play → Discussion → Cool-Down
Week 08
Review & Assessment
Warm-Up → Slide Review → Emotion Check-In Quiz → Celebration
My Feeling Toolbox Slides My Feeling Toolbox!
Tools for a happy heart and a calm mind
What are feelings?
Feelings are emotions we have inside us.
Everyone has feelings!
They help us understand ourselves and the world.
😊 Feeling Happy!
What it looks like:
Smiling face
Laughing
Jumping for joy!
What it feels like:
Light and bubbly
Full of energy
Warm and cozy
😢 Feeling Sad...
What it looks like:
Frowning face
Tears
Quiet and still
What it feels like:
Heavy inside
Tired
Tummy ache
😡 Feeling Angry!
What it looks like:
Scrunched eyebrows
Red face
Clenched fists
What it feels like:
Hot inside
Wanting to yell
Tight muscles
😨 Feeling Scared...
What it looks like:
Wide eyes
Trembling
Hiding away
What it feels like:
Shaky inside
Heart beating fast
Wanting to run
Reading Others' Feelings
Face
Look at eyes & mouth
Body
Look at hands & posture
Voice
Listen to tone & speed
We can be Emotion Detectives! 🔍
What are Triggers?
Triggers are like buttons that start a feeling!
Common Buttons:
Loud noises
Sudden changes
Being told "no"
Knowing your triggers helps you prepare!
My Personal Triggers
Let's look into our toolbox and find what buttons start big feelings for YOU .
Journal Time! ✍️
We are going to write down your special triggers in your journal so we can learn together.
Coping Skills!
The special tools in our toolbox
Tools to help us feel calm
Manage big emotions safely
Use them anywhere!
Tools in My Toolbox
3 Deep Breaths
Count to 10
Stress Ball
Calm Music
You've Got This!
You can identify feelings, understand triggers, and use your toolbox!
Keep practicing - you are doing great!
My Feeling Toolbox Script My Feeling Toolbox: Teacher Script
8-Week Facilitation Guide & Prompts
Week 01
Introduction to Emotions: Happy & Sad
Slide 1: Welcome
"Hi [Student's Name]! Welcome to our special 'My Feeling Toolbox' time. Today, we're going to start learning about something super important: our feelings! Do you know what feelings are?"
"That's right! Feelings are emotions we have inside us. Everyone has feelings – I have them, you have them, even our friends and family have them! They help us understand ourselves and the world around us. Think of our 'My Feeling Toolbox' as a place where we'll keep all the cool tools to understand and manage our feelings. Does that sound like a good idea?"
Slide 2: Feeling Happy!
"Let's start with a really great feeling: Happy! Look at the picture on the slide. What does happy look like?"
"Exactly! When we're happy, we often have a big smile, maybe we laugh, or even jump for joy! Our body might feel light and bubbly inside. Can you think of a time recently when you felt really happy?"
Slide 3: Feeling Sad...
"Now, let's talk about another feeling: Sad. Look at the picture. What do you see when someone is feeling sad?"
"Good observations. Sometimes when we're sad, we might have a frown, or feel quiet and still. It's totally okay to feel sad sometimes. Everyone does. When you feel sad, what does it feel like for you?"
Week 02
Exploring Emotions: Angry & Scared
Slide 4: Feeling Angry!
"Today we're going to explore two more feelings. Let's look at this one: Angry! What does it look like when someone is angry?"
"Great job! Inside, it can feel hot, like you want to yell or stomp, and your muscles might feel tight. Have you ever felt angry? What made you feel that way?"
Slide 5: Feeling Scared...
"Now, let's look at another feeling: Scared. What do you notice when someone is scared?"
"Yes, sometimes their eyes are wide, they might tremble, or want to hide. What kind of things make you feel scared? It's okay to feel scared, and it's good to know what makes us feel that way so we can find ways to feel safe."
Weeks 04-05
Triggers & Coping Strategies
Slide 7: Triggers
"Sometimes, something happens, and 'poof!' a feeling appears. We call those things 'triggers.' Triggers are like buttons that start a feeling! Can you think of anything that sometimes makes you feel a certain way?"
Slide 9: Coping Skills
"What do we do when our feelings get too big? That's where our 'My Feeling Toolbox' really comes in handy! We can use coping skills! Coping skills are like special tools that help us feel calm and manage our emotions safely."
Understanding My Emotions Worksheet Understanding My Emotions
Name:
Date:
1 Match the Feeling
Draw a line from the face to the word that matches.
Sad
Angry
Happy
Scared
2 How Does My Body Feel?
Think about a time you felt HAPPY. What did your body feel like?
Think about a time you felt ANGRY. What did your body feel like?
3 Drawing My Feelings
Draw a picture of a time you felt CALM. What were you doing?
Draw your picture here!
Emotion Regulation Reading My Feelings, My Body
Sometimes, our bodies tell us how we are feeling, even before we use words! Have you ever noticed your tummy feeling fluttery when you're excited? Or maybe your hands get a little shaky when you're scared?
😊
When you're HAPPY, you might feel light and want to skip or smile a lot. Your heart might feel warm.
😢
When you're SAD, you might feel a little heavy, and your eyes might get watery. You might want to be quiet and curl up.
😡
When you're ANGRY, your face might get hot, and your muscles might feel tight. You might want to stomp your feet or shout.
😨
And when you're SCARED, your heart might beat really fast, and you might feel shaky. You might want to hide or get away.
The First Step
It's important to listen to your body and notice these signs. When you know what your body is doing, you can start to understand what feeling is happening inside you. This is the first step to using your special feeling toolbox!
Emotional Check-In Discussion Prompts Discussion Prompts
Individualized Emotion Check-In
Week 02
Exploring More Emotions: Angry & Scared
From the Reading
"When we read about someone feeling angry, what did their body do? What do you think made them angry?"
Personal Connection
"Can you tell me about a time you felt angry? What happened right before you started to feel angry?"
Safety & Coping
"What helps you when you start to feel angry?"
Week 07
Applying Strategies to Real-Life Scenarios
1
Scenario: Unexpected Change
"Imagine you were really excited to play with your favorite toy after school, but then your grown-up said you had to go to the store first. How might you feel? What could you do to help yourself if your feelings got too big?"
Wait for Student Response...
2
Scenario: Frustration with a Task
"Let's say you're working on a puzzle, and one piece just won't fit no matter how hard you try. You start to feel frustrated and a little angry. What clues would your body give you? What coping skill could you use?"
Wait for Student Response...
3
Scenario: Seeing a Friend Upset
"You see your friend crying because they dropped their ice cream. How might your friend be feeling? What could you say or do to help your friend feel a little better?"
Wait for Student Response...
Feeling Faces Activity Feeling Faces Activity
Week 3: Emotion Recognition Skills
Emotion Detectives
Teacher: Use these large cards to help the student identify emotions. Discuss facial features (eyes, mouth) and body language.
Happy
Smiling • Bright Eyes
Sad
Downturned Mouth • Tears
Angry
Tight Brows • Red Face
Scared
Wide Eyes • Shaking
Emotion Charades
Instructions: Take turns acting out an emotion using only your face and body. The other person has to guess!
1 Surprised
2 Confused
3 Excited
4 Frustrated
Extension Activity
After playing, choose one face to draw in your Feeling Journal . Write the feeling word next to it!
Coping Skills Bingo Game Coping Skills Bingo!
Week 6: Strategy Practice
How to Play
Teacher calls out a skill from the list.
Mark the square on your board.
Practice the skill together!Get 3 in a row (any direction) and shout "BINGO!"
Bingo Goal
Learn and practice different tools to manage big feelings in a fun way.
FREE SPACE
TAKE 3 DEEP BREATHS
COUNT TO 5 SLOWLY
DRINK OF WATER
ASK FOR A HUG
SQUEEZE STRESS BALL
READ A BOOK
LISTEN TO MUSIC
SHORT WALK
Teacher Call-Out Cards
Take 3 Deep Breaths
Count to 5 Slowly
Squeeze a Stress Ball
Get a Drink of Water
Ask for a Hug
Listen to Calm Music
Draw a Picture
Talk to a Grown-Up
Go for a Short Walk
Think of a Favorite Place
Play with a Fidget Toy
Wrap in a Blanket
My Emotion Check-In Quiz My Emotion Check-In Quiz
Week 8: Review & Success
Student Name
1
When you have a big smile and feel light inside, what emotion are you probably feeling?
Sad
Happy
Angry
Scared
2
Your friend's eyebrows are scrunched and their face is red. What emotion might they be feeling?
Happy
Scared
Angry
Sad
3
Name one thing that sometimes makes you feel a big emotion (a trigger).
4
When you feel scared, what might your body do?
Laugh loudly
Feel shaky and have a fast heartbeat
Feel calm and relaxed
5
Name one coping skill you can use when your feelings get too big. My Emotion Check-In Answer Key My Emotion Check-In Quiz: Answer Key
For Educator Use Only
1 Happy Emotion
Correct Answer: Happy
Reasoning: A big smile and feeling light are common indicators of happiness. We discussed these physical and internal signs during our lesson on identifying emotions.
2 Angry Emotion
Correct Answer: Angry
Reasoning: Scrunched eyebrows and a red face are typical physical expressions of anger, as covered in our session on identifying emotions in others.
3 Personal Trigger
Subjective / Individual
Acceptable Answers: Look for specific examples relevant to the student. Examples: Loud noises, changes in routine, being told "no," transitions between activities.
4 Scared Symptoms
Correct Answer: Feel shaky / Fast heartbeat
Reasoning: These are physiological responses to fear (fight/flight/freeze) that were highlighted in the "My Feelings, My Body" reading.
5 Coping Skill
Correct Answer: Varies
Acceptable Answers: Any strategy from the "Feeling Toolbox" or Bingo game. Examples: Take deep breaths, count to 10, squeeze a stress ball, ask for a break, listen to music.
Emotional Warm-Up How Am I Feeling Today?
Emotional Warm-Up
Circle or point to the face that best shows how you are feeling right now:
Happy
Sad
Angry
Scared
Calm
Teacher Prompts:
"Can you tell me a little bit about why you feel that way?"
"If your feeling was a color, what color would it be today?"
My Feeling Journal My Feeling Journal
Name:
Date:
Today's Feeling Check-In
How am I feeling right now? Draw a picture or write about it.
My Thoughts and Discoveries
What did I learn today? Did I try a new coping tool?
My Triggers
What starts big feelings?
My Coping Tools
What helps me feel calm?
Emotion Reflection Cool Down Session Cool Down
Time to Reflect
1 One new thing I learned about feelings today:
2 One feeling I felt during our session today:
3 If my feelings were a weather, today I feel like:
Sunny
Happy / Calm
Cloudy
Sad / Confused
Stormy
Angry / Frustrated
Windy
Anxious / Scared
"Thank you for sharing! You did a wonderful job today!"
