Feeling Face Lesson Plan Feeling Face Lesson Plan
Case #1234: The Emotional Detectives
Time Required
30 Minutes
Audience
2nd Grade Students
Objective
Identify emotions by observing facial expressions and body language.
Why This Lesson?
Understanding and recognizing emotions in themselves and others is a critical skill for building empathy, managing social interactions, and developing strong emotional intelligence.
Preparation Checklist
Review the Emotions Through Expressions Slide Deck .
Print and cut out the Emotion Charades Cards .
Print Match the Mood Faces Worksheet for each student.
Set up projector/whiteboard for slides.
Evidence Kit (Materials)
Whiteboard / Projector Slide Deck Charades Cards Student Worksheet
Mission Instructions
1
Briefing: Introduction
5 Minutes
Greet students and introduce the lesson topic: understanding emotions through facial expressions.
Ask students: "How do you know how someone is feeling? What clues do you look for?"
Explain that today they will become emotion detectives!
2
Investigation: Slide Presentation
10 Minutes
Present the Emotions Through Expressions Slide Deck .
Go through each slide, discussing the facial expressions and body language associated with each emotion.
Encourage students to make the faces themselves and describe what they feel when they make those faces.
3
Field Work: Emotion Charades
10 Minutes
Divide students into small groups or pairs.
Distribute the Emotion Charades Cards .
Rules: One student picks a card and acts out the emotion without speaking, while others guess.
Circulate and provide support, prompting students to describe the clues they are observing.
4
Case Report: Matching Worksheet
5 Minutes
Hand out the Match the Mood Faces Worksheet to each student.
Instruct students to match the emotion word to the correct facial expression description.
Collect the worksheets for review or assign as homework if time runs out.
Briefly review the main emotions covered.
Emotions Through Expressions Slides Classroom Case File
What's That Feeling Face?
Mission: Become an Emotion Detective
Teacher Notes:
Introduce the idea of being an 'emotion detective'. Ask how they tell what someone is feeling.
😊
Happy!
Facial Clues:
A big, wide smile
Crinkly eyes (crow's feet)
Raised cheeks
"What makes you feel happy?"
Ask students to make their happiest face!
😢
Sad...
Facial Clues:
Downturned mouth
Droopy, heavy eyes
Sometimes quiet tears
"What helps you feel better when you're sad?"
It's okay to feel sad. Encourage gentle facial practice.
😠
Angry!
Facial Clues:
Frowned eyebrows (pushed down)
Tight, pressed lips
Face might turn a bit red
"What can you do to stay calm when you feel angry?"
😲
Surprised?!
Facial Clues:
Wide-open eyes
Mouth forms an 'O' shape
Raised eyebrows
"Tell about a time you were surprised!"
😨
Scared!
Facial Clues:
Wide eyes, looking around quickly
High eyebrows
Sometimes a gasp or quiet voice
"What helps you feel brave?"
🤢
Disgusted!
Facial Clues:
Wrinkled nose
Pulled back lips
Squinted eyes
"What kind of smells or tastes make you feel yuck?"
Case Closed!
Great job, Emotion Detectives! You now know how to look for clues in faces to understand how people are feeling.
Why is it important to know how others feel?
Emotion Charades Cards Activity Emotion Charades
Evidence Collection Kit
Instructions: Print, cut along dotted lines, and act out!
EXHIBIT A
Happy!
EXHIBIT B
Sad...
EXHIBIT C
Angry!
EXHIBIT D
Surprised?!
EXHIBIT E
Scared!
EXHIBIT F
Disgusted!
EXHIBIT G
Excited!
EXHIBIT H
Confused?
EXHIBIT I
Proud!
EXHIBIT J
Shy...
EXHIBIT K
Bored
EXHIBIT L
Frustrated
Match the Mood Faces Worksheet Match the Mood
Official Detective Case File #202
Detective:
Date:
Instructions
Look at the facial clues below. Write the emotion word that best matches the description in the blank space provided.
Word Bank
Happy Sad Angry Surprised Scared Disgusted
1
A wide smile, crinkly eyes, and raised cheeks.
Emotion:
2
Downturned mouth, droopy eyes, and perhaps a single tear.
Emotion:
3
Frowning eyebrows pulled together, tight lips, and a reddened face.
Emotion:
4
Wide-open eyes, an open mouth forming an 'O' shape, and raised eyebrows.
Emotion:
5
Eyes wide and darting, eyebrows raised, and a slightly open mouth.
Emotion:
6
A wrinkled nose, lips pulled back, and a slightly averted gaze.
Emotion:
Match the Mood Faces Answer Key Answer Key
Case #202: Match the Mood Resolved
Confirmed
1
A wide smile, crinkly eyes, and raised cheeks.
Happy
Confirmed
2
Downturned mouth, droopy eyes, and perhaps a single tear.
Sad
Confirmed
3
Frowning eyebrows pulled together, tight lips, and a reddened face.
Angry
Confirmed
4
Wide-open eyes, an open mouth forming an 'O' shape, and raised eyebrows.
Surprised
Confirmed
5
Eyes wide and darting, eyebrows raised, and a slightly open mouth.
Scared
Confirmed
6
A wrinkled nose, lips pulled back, and a slightly averted gaze.
Disgusted
Pro-tip: When reviewing these with students, ask them to point to specific parts of the face (eyebrows, mouth, eyes) that gave them the clue!