Emotion Detectives Unit Plan Emotion Detectives
Case File: What's Brewing Inside Me?
Unit Plan
Elementary School • 45 Minutes
Why This Lesson?
Understanding and expressing emotions is a fundamental life skill that helps students develop self-awareness, build healthy relationships, and navigate challenges. This lesson provides a safe and engaging way to explore this important topic.
Objective
Students will be able to identify and label at least five different emotions and understand that all feelings are okay to have.
Required Materials
Smartboard or Projector
Faces of Feelings Presentation
Emotion Charades Challenge
My Feeling Thermometer Worksheet
Markers or crayons
Teacher Prep (15 mins)
• Review presentation slides and teacher notes.
• Print/prepare My Feeling Thermometer worksheet.
• Review Emotion Charades Challenge rules.
• Test projector and gather coloring materials.
Instructional Sequence
5 min
Warm-up: Feeling Check-in
Begin by asking students to think about how they are feeling right now.
"Show the first slide of the Faces of Feelings Presentation to introduce the idea of emotions."
10 min
Introducing Emotion Detectives
Use the Faces of Feelings Presentation to introduce various emotions. Discuss facial expressions and body language associated with each emotion. Emphasize that all feelings are normal and okay to experience.
Detective Prompts: "What does it feel like in your body when you are happy?" or "How can you tell if someone else is feeling sad?"
15 min
Emotion Charades Challenge
Divide students into small groups or pairs. Explain the rules: one student acts out an emotion, and others guess. Encourage lively and expressive acting.
Circulate and assist students, providing prompts if needed.
10 min
My Feeling Thermometer
Distribute the worksheet. Explain how to use the thermometer to show the intensity of an emotion. Guide students through labeling a few emotions.
Encourage reflection on situations where they might feel a particular emotion at different levels.
5 min
Cool-down & Wrap-up
Have a brief sharing session where students volunteer one thing they learned. Reiterate that recognizing feelings is a superpower, making them Emotion Detectives.
Thank students for being amazing Emotion Detectives!
Faces of Feelings Presentation Slides What's Brewing Inside Me?
Welcome, Emotion Detectives!
Today, we're going on an adventure to explore the amazing world of feelings!
Notes: Welcome students. Ask them to think about how they feel today. Explain that feelings change like the weather.
What Are Emotions?
Emotions are feelings we have inside us.
They help us understand ourselves and others.
All emotions are normal and okay to feel!
Let's be Emotion Detectives!
Notes: Explain emotions are internal but shown externally. Emphasize all feelings are normal.
Happy!
When you feel HAPPY, you might:
Smile a big smile!
Laugh out loud!
Feel bubbly and light!
What makes YOU happy?
Notes: Ask for examples. Have them show a happy face.
Sad...
When you feel SAD, you might:
Have a frown.
Feel like crying.
Want a hug.
It's okay to feel sad.
What helps when you're sad?
Notes: Ask about sad triggers and helping others. Normalize the feeling.
Angry?!
When you feel ANGRY, you might:
Frown or glare.
Feel hot or tense.
Want to stomp feet.
It's okay to feel angry...
But how can we show it safely?
Notes: Discuss safe anger (counting, breathing).
Scared!
When you feel SCARED, you might:
Open eyes wide.
Feel heart beat fast.
Want to hide.
What helps you feel safe when you're scared?
Notes: Discuss comfort and safety seeking.
Surprised!
When you feel SURPRISED, you might:
Open mouth wide.
Raise eyebrows.
Say "Wow!" or "Oh!"
Pop Quiz!
What's something that surprised you recently?
Notes: Emphasize it's often quick and unexpected.
Time for Action!
Now that we know some emotions, let's put our detective skills to the test!
Emotion Charades Challenge!
Emotion Charades Challenge Activity Emotion Charades Challenge
Training Mission for Emotion Detectives
Objective
To help students recognize and express emotions through non-verbal communication (face and body language).
Materials
Emotion slips (provided below)
A bag or hat for drawing
Enthusiasm!
Mission Protocol
1
Briefing (2 mins)
Explain the mission: act out emotions silently. No talking allowed! The audience must use their "Detective Eyes" to spot clues in faces and body poses.
2
Demo (3 mins)
Teacher acts out one emotion (like SAD or SCARED). Exaggerate the eyebrows, mouth, and shoulder position.
3
Operation: Charades (10 mins)
Divide into groups of 3-4. Each "Actor" draws a slip, performs for 60 seconds, and the group guesses. Rotate until everyone has had a turn.
Field Notes for Teachers
• Encourage big, animated movements.
• Remind students there are no "wrong" ways to feel, but some clues are easier to see than others.
• If a group is stuck, give them a "Situation Clue" (e.g., "Imagine you just saw a spider!").
Cut Out Emotion Slips
Happy
Sad
Angry
Scared
Surprised
Excited
Shy
Proud
Confused
Frustrated
Calm
Bored
Debriefing Questions
"What was challenging about acting out emotions?"
"What was easy about guessing emotions?"
"How did you use your 'Emotion Detective' skills to guess?"
"Which emotion was the most fun to act out?"
My Feeling Thermometer Worksheet My Feeling Thermometer
Classified Report
Name:
Date:
Sometimes our feelings are small, and sometimes they are BIG! A feeling thermometer helps us show how strong our feelings are.
Instructions:
Look at the scale: 1 is a tiny feeling, 5 is a strong feeling.
Color or draw a line in each thermometer to show how strong you feel that emotion right now .
Write down why you might feel that way.
54321
Happy
Why?
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Sad
Why?
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Angry
Why?
54321
Scared
Why?
Detective's Choice: Draw Your Own
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FEELING:
What is happening when you feel this way?
What does your body feel like? 
