Words That Matter Lesson Plan Words That Matter
Teacher Lesson Plan
Time: 30 Minutes
Tier 3 Individual Support
Why This Lesson?
This lesson helps a student with a communication impairment build social awareness, develop empathy, and gain practical strategies to manage emotions and communicate positively, enhancing peer relationships and self-regulation.
Teacher Preparation
Review all materials: Slide Deck, Worksheet, Activity Cards, and Game Board.
Print and laminate the worksheet, cards, and game board.
Prepare emotion icon visuals to support non-verbal communication.
Set up a quiet, distraction-free work area.
Materials Needed
Words That Matter Slide Deck
Empathy Scenario Worksheet
Emotion Charades Activity Cards
Kind Words Game Board
Game Die & Player Tokens
Learning Objective
Student will identify how words and actions impact others, practice empathy, and learn self-control strategies like Stop–Think–Choose through interactive discussion, guided practice, and gameplay.
Lesson Instructions
5m
1. Introduction & Visual Warm-Up
Greet the student and display basic emotion icons (happy, sad, angry). Ask: "How do words make you feel when someone says something kind or hurtful?" Use picture cues and physical gestures to support expression. Introduce the lesson goal: noticing how words and actions affect feelings.
6m
2. Slide Deck Presentation
Present the Words That Matter Slide Deck . Focus on the two contrasting scenarios: kind vs. hurtful words. Pause on each slide to check for understanding using yes/no questions or pointing. Reinforce core vocabulary using visual symbols and sentence starters (e.g., "I feel ___ when ____.").
6m
3. Worksheet Activity
Hand out the Empathy Scenario Worksheet . Read each scenario aloud and support with visuals. The student will identify the character’s emotion and write (or point to) a kinder response. Use communication supports like choice boards or sentence strips to facilitate responses if handwriting is a barrier.
10m
4. Kind Words Game
Introduce the Kind Words Game Board and Emotion Charades Activity Cards . Take turns drawing a card to act out or name an emotion. Respond with a kind phrase or action to calm or cheer up the character. Award a token for empathetic responses; play until tokens are collected or time is reached.
3m
5. Reflection & Self-Control Strategy
Review the Stop–Think–Choose steps using the visuals from the slide deck:
Stop: Pause before speaking.
Think: Consider how words affect others.
Choose: Pick a kind response.
Practice one final scenario using the strategy and praise the student for their thoughtful communication.
Individualization Tips
For Low-Verbal Students:
Provide an "Emotion Choice Board" with emojis. Allow the student to point to responses or use a speech-generating device (SGD) for pre-programmed kind phrases.
For Processing Delays:
Use a 10-second wait time after asking a question. Use physical "wait" cards or timers to help the student understand that they have time to think.
Words Matter Slides Words That Matter
Understanding how our words and actions affect others.
Teacher Note: Greet the student and show emotion icons (happy, sad, angry). Introduce the topic and explain that today we will explore how words make people feel.
Kind vs. Hurtful Words
Kind Words
"Thank you for helping me."
"You did a great job!"
Hurtful Words
"You’re really dumb."
"No one likes you."
Read each example aloud, pointing to the text. Ask: "Which words sound kind? Which words might hurt someone’s feelings?"
How Words Make Us Feel
😊
Kind words make us feel...
Happy, supported, and safe.
😢
Hurtful words make us feel...
Sad, hurt, and angry.
Ask the student: "How do kind words make you feel? How do hurtful words make you feel?" Encourage pointing to the icons or yes/no responses.
Sharing Our Feelings
Try this frame:
"I feel _____ when _____."
Example 1:
"I feel happy when you share."
Example 2:
"I feel sad when you ignore me."
Model filling in the blanks. Provide visual icons for different emotions and common triggers (sharing, playing, ignoring, etc.) to help the student complete the sentence.
Stop–Think–Choose
✋
STOP
Pause before you speak.
🤔
THINK
How will my words affect others?
👍
CHOOSE
Pick a kind, helpful response.
Review these steps with icons. Explain each step clearly. Link this back to the goal of choosing kind words to help everyone feel happy and supported.
Empathy Scenario Worksheet Empathy Scenarios
Words That Matter Worksheet
NAME:
DATE:
1
Alex borrowed Maya’s colored pencils. When Alex returned them, they were broken.
How do you think Maya feels?
😢 Sad
😠 Angry
😞 Hurt
What kind words or actions could Alex choose?
2
Jordan made a joke about Taylor in front of the class. Taylor looked hurt and stopped talking.
How do you think Taylor feels?
😳 Embarrassed
😢 Sad
🤐 Shy
What kind words or actions could Jordan choose?
Sentence Starter Practice
"I feel __________ when __________."
Now you try writing your own:
✋ Stop
🤔 Think
👍 Choose
Before you speak!
Emotion Charades Cards Emotion Charades
Activity Cards
How to Play:
Cut out the cards along the dashed lines .
Place cards face down. Draw one card and act it out without speaking!
Teacher or partner guesses the emotion.
Practice: "What kind words could help someone feeling this way?"
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😠
Angry
😨
Scared
🤩
Excited
😳
Embarrassed
😤
Frustrated
😬
Nervous
😌
Proud
😮
Surprised
Cut along the dashed lines to create your activity deck.
Kind Words Game Board Kind Words Board
Practice Kindness & Empathy
Earn a token for each kind response!
Kind Challenge: Say something kind.
Emotion Stop: Draw a card & respond.
Move Ahead: Jump extra spaces!
Lose a Turn: Stop & Think.
START
💬
Kind Word Challenge
Say something kind about a friend.
🎭
Emotion Stop 😢
Draw a card and respond.
Move Ahead 1
Move Ahead 2
🎭
Emotion Stop 😠
Draw a card and respond.
💬
Kind Word Challenge
List two kind words.
Lose a Turn
Lose a Turn
💬
Kind Word Challenge
Use "I feel... when..."
🎭
Emotion Stop 😨
Draw a card and respond.
Move Ahead 1
🎭
Emotion Stop 😊
Draw a card and respond.
Move Ahead 1
💬
Kind Word Challenge
Give a compliment.
FINISH
The Kindness Path:
✋ Stop
🤔 Think
👍 Choose