Emotional Detectives Lesson Plan Emotional Detectives
Lesson Plan • 3rd Grade SEL
Duration 45 Min
Why This Matters
Understanding our emotions is the first step towards managing them. This lesson equips students with the essential self-awareness skills needed to navigate their feelings, communicate effectively, and build healthy relationships.
Objective
Students will be able to identify and label at least five different emotions, explain what emotions are, and recognize how emotions feel in their bodies. They will also practice expressing emotions constructively.
Materials
Whiteboard / Projector
Feeling Faces Slides
Markers or Pens
Charades Cards
Daily Mood Trackers
Pencils
Teacher Prep Checklist
Review the Emotional Detectives Lesson Plan and slides, making any necessary adjustments.
Ensure projector or whiteboard is ready for the **My Feeling Faces Slide Deck**.
Print and cut out the **Emotion Charades Challenge Cards**.
Print copies of the **My Daily Mood Tracker** for each student.
Lesson Sequence
1
Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling?
5 MIN
Begin by asking students to think about how they are feeling right now .
"Turn and talk to a partner: What is one emotion you are feeling right now, and why?"
Briefly invite a few students to share with the whole class, emphasizing that all feelings are okay to have .
2
Introduction to Emotions
10 MIN
Display Slide 1 : "Why Do I Feel This Way?" and introduce the detective theme.
Ask: "What are emotions? Why do we have them?" (Allow responses).
Transition to Slide 2 : "What Are Emotions?" and discuss the definition.
Show Slides 3-7 (Happy, Sad, Angry, Scared, Surprised). For each:
Discuss what it looks like (facial expressions/posture).
Discuss what it feels like in the body (internal sensations).
Discuss common situations that trigger the feeling.
3
Emotion Charades Challenge
15 MIN
Explain the challenge: Students will act out emotions without speaking.
Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
Distribute Emotion Charades Challenge Cards to each group.
Circulate and observe, encouraging students to think about both face and body language.
4
Reflection and Mood Tracking
10 MIN
Bring the class back together. Ask: "Was it easy or hard to guess how others were feeling?"
Introduce the My Daily Mood Tracker .
Explain: "This tracker helps you notice your feelings over time."
Guide students to complete their first entry based on the activity they just finished.
5
Cool-Down: One Word Feeling
5 MIN
Ask students to think of one word that describes how they feel about today's lesson.
Go around the room or do a "popcorn" share. Validate all responses.
My Feeling Faces Slides Deck Why Do I Feel
This Way?
Let's become Emotional Detectives!
3rd Grade Self-Awareness Mission
Teacher Note: Welcome students and introduce the topic. Ask how they feel right now.
What Are Emotions?
Emotions are feelings that we have inside us.
They tell us how we are reacting to the world around us.
Everyone has them, and they can change all the time!
Remember:
It's okay to feel
ANY emotion!
😊😢😠😨
Teacher Note: Emphasize that all feelings are valid and normal parts of human experience.
Feeling Happy!
😊
What it looks like
Smiling face
Bright eyes
Jumping or dancing!
What it feels like
Light and floaty
Warm inside
Full of energy
"When do YOU feel happy?"
Feeling Sad...
😔
What it looks like
Frowning face
Tears in eyes
Drooping shoulders
What it feels like
Heavy body
Feeling tired
Knot in stomach
"When do YOU feel sad?"
Feeling Angry!
😡
What it looks like
Scrunched eyebrows
Red face
Fists clenched
What it feels like
Feeling hot
Tense muscles
Fast heartbeat
"When do YOU feel angry?"
Feeling Scared!
😟
What it looks like
Wide eyes
Hiding face
Freezing in place
What it feels like
Butterflies in stomach
Feeling shaky
Feeling cold
"When do YOU feel scared?"
Feeling Surprised!
😮
What it looks like
Raised eyebrows
Open mouth
Big eyes
What it feels like
A sudden jolt
Quick gasp
Sometimes a big smile!
Emotion Charades Challenge Cards Emotion Charades Cards
Detective Mission: Act out the emotion without using any words!
Case #001
😊
Happy
Case #002
😔
Sad
Case #003
😡
Angry
Case #004
😟
Scared
Case #005
😮
Surprised
Case #006
🤩
Excited
Case #007
🤔
Confused
Case #008
😎
Proud
Teacher: Cut along the dashed lines!
Emotional Detective Training Material
My Daily Mood Tracker Journal My Daily Mood Tracker
Official Detective Logbook
Name: _______________________
Class: _______________________
How to use: Every day, choose the feeling face that best matches how you feel. Circle it! Then, write a few sentences about why you feel that way. Be a great detective and notice your feelings!
Detective Entry #01
Date: ________________
😊 😔 😡 😟 😮 🤩 🤔 😎
Why do I feel this way?
Detective Entry #02
Date: ________________
😊 😔 😡 😟 😮 🤩 🤔 😎
Why do I feel this way?
Detective Entry #03
Date: ________________
😊 😔 😡 😟 😮 🤩 🤔 😎
Why do I feel this way?
Logbook Continued
Emotional Detectives Mission
Detective Entry #04
Date: ________________
😊 😔 😡 😟 😮 🤩 🤔 😎
Why do I feel this way?
Detective Entry #05
Date: ________________
😊 😔 😡 😟 😮 🤩 🤔 😎
Why do I feel this way?
Mission Accomplished!
You've completed 5 days of Emotional Detective work. What did you notice about your feelings? Did they change? Talk to your teacher or a friend about what you learned!