Program Facilitation Guide Teacher Resource Emotional Intelligence Explorers
Program Facilitation Guide
Duration 6 WEEKS
The Mission
Learning to understand and manage emotions is crucial for healthy development and positive relationships. This program equips students with simple tools to navigate challenging feelings like frustration and anger, leading to better self-control and communication.
Learning Objectives
Identify a range of basic emotions and their physical cues.
Recognize and understand personal triggers for frustration.
Learn to visualize and monitor anger escalation using a thermometer.
Practice "I Statements" for effective verbal communication.
Develop a personalized "Calm Kit" of coping strategies.
Weekly Prep
Time: 20 mins before each session.
Review weekly slides and worksheets.
Ensure tech (projector/computer) is ready.
Prepare markers, paper, and physical workspace.
The 6-Week Expedition
Week 1: Naming Our Feelings
Introduction to identifying emotions and physical body clues.
Week 2: Frustration Station
Identifying personal triggers and recognizing body warning signs.
Week 3: Taming the Anger Monster
Using the anger thermometer to monitor escalation levels.
Week 4: Words Matter
Communicating feelings and needs effectively with "I Statements."
Week 5: My Calm Kit
Building a personal toolkit of coping and regulation strategies.
Week 6: Putting It All Together
Reflecting on growth and committing to emotional regulation.
The Explorer Approach
Each session is 30 minutes. Focus on interactive discussions, simple role-playing, and hands-on activities. Treat emotional discovery like an expedition—it's okay to make mistakes and try again!
What's the Vibe Slide Deck Emotional Intelligence Explorers
What's the
Vibe?
Expedition 1: Understanding Our Feelings
Start the Journey
What is a Vibe?
The Definition
A "vibe" is how someone feels or the general feeling in a room.
Today, we're going to explore our own vibes and the vibes of others!
Teacher Note: Welcome students. Emphasize that all emotions are normal and we're here to learn about them in a fun way!
A World of Feelings
How many feelings can you name?
😊
Happy
Glad, Cheerful, Joyful
😢
Sad
Upset, Down, Blue
😡
Mad
Angry, Frustrated, Annoyed
😰
Scared
Worried, Frightened, Nervous
Teacher Note: Ask students for other simple emotion words they know. Keep it light and positive.
Body Clues
😊
Happy: Big smile, light feet, lots of energy.
😢
Sad: Droopy shoulders, tears, feeling tired.
😡
Mad: Frowning face, tight fists, feeling hot.
😰
Scared: Shaking, fast heart, butterflies.
Internal Signal!
Our bodies tell us our feelings even before we use words!
Teacher Note: Discuss how physical clues help us identify emotions. Ask for examples of how a happy person looks.
Big or Small
Feelings are like colors—there are many shades . You can be a little bit happy, or very, very happy!
Little
Big
Knowing the different kinds helps us understand ourselves better.
Teacher Note: Introduce the idea of a spectrum. Use analogies like "a little bit" vs "super" happy.
Let's Practice!
We're going to complete the Emotion Vocabulary Worksheet .
Think about when you feel each feeling.
What clues tell you someone else has that feeling?
Worksheet Time
Teacher Note: Explain the purpose of the worksheet. Guide them to think about situations for each emotion.
Feeling Check!
What did we learn today?
All feelings are okay and normal.
Naming feelings helps us understand each other.
Keep noticing your vibes!
Teacher Note: Conclude by reiterating the importance of recognizing emotions. Encourage using new feeling words.
Emotion Vocabulary Worksheet Emotion Vocabulary
Expedition 1
Explorer:
Date:
1 Part 1: Matching Feelings
Draw a line from the feeling word on the left to what it means on the right.
1. Happy
2. Sad
3. Mad
4. Scared
5. Frustrated
6. Worried
A. Feeling a little mad or bothered.
B. Feeling joyful and good inside.
C. Feeling nervous or a little scared.
D. Feeling disappointed or gloomy.
E. Feeling worried or fearful.
F. Feeling upset because something is hard or not working.
2 Part 2: What Does It Look Like?
Describe how someone might look or act when they have that feeling. Give at least two examples.
1. Happy
2. Sad
3. Mad
4. Scared
3 Part 3: My Feeling Story
Think about a time you felt one of the feelings above. Describe what happened and how you felt. Use 2-3 sentences.
Feeling I had:
How Are You Feeling Warm Up Morning Check-In
How Are You Feeling Today?
In one word, tell us how you are feeling right now:
Tell us why you feel that way:
Explorer: ____________________
Week 1 Expedition
Naming Our Feelings Discussion Naming Our Feelings
Facilitated Discussion Guide • Week 1
1 What was one new feeling word you learned today? How is it different from a feeling you already knew?
2 Can someone tell us about a time they felt frustrated? How was that feeling different from being mad?
3 Why is it good to have many words to tell people how we feel?
4 What are some ways we can try to guess how someone else is feeling?
"Naming it is the first step to taming it."
Frustration Flashback Warm Up Expedition 2 Warm-Up
Frustration Flashback
1 Think about a time recently when something was hard and you felt frustrated. What happened?
2 How did your body feel when you were frustrated?
Examples: tight tummy, grumpy face, squirmy body, hot face...
Explorer: ____________________
Date: _________
Frustration Station Slide Deck Expedition 2
Frustration
Station
Identifying Triggers & Body Warnings
Welcome Aboard!
Ever feel like things just aren't going your way?
That feeling might be frustration .
It's a common feeling—everyone has it!
Teacher Note: Ask students to share some responses from their warm-up. Validate that frustration is normal.
What is Frustration?
Trying something that is really hard.
A toy breaks or a game isn't fair.
Someone stops you from doing what you want.
It's like hitting a little bump in the road!
Triggers
Triggers are things that make our feelings start.
What makes YOU frustrated?
• A certain friend?
• A difficult chore?
• Losing a game?
Knowing our triggers helps us get ready and feel better!
Teacher Note: Brainstorm triggers on the board. Keep examples simple and kid-friendly.
Body Check-In
Tight Muscles Shoulders, jaw, fists
Wiggly Body Tapping feet, fidgeting
Fast Heart Feeling a thump-thump
Hot Face Feeling warm or red
These are our body's little warnings!
Frustration Awareness
1
Frustration is normal when things are hard.
2
Everyone has different triggers.
3
Your body gives you important clues.
Being aware is the first step!
Frustration Triggers Activity Frustration Triggers
Expedition 2
Explorer:
Date:
1 Part 1: What Makes Me Frustrated?
Think about things that often make you feel frustrated. Write or draw at least 3 things.
Thing 1
Thing 2
Thing 3
2 Part 2: What Frustrates Our Friends?
Work with a partner or in a small group. Talk about things that make kids your age feel frustrated. Try to think of at least 3 more!
3 Part 3: My Body Signals
When you feel frustrated, what are 2 things your body does or feels? (e.g., cross arms, sigh, feel red in the face)
Signal 1:
Signal 2:
Frustration Reflection Cool Down Expedition 2 Cool-Down
Frustration Reflection
What is one new thing you learned about frustration today?
It could be about yourself or about the feeling in general.
Explorer: ____________________
Station 2 Summary
Frustration vs Anger Warm Up Expedition 3 Warm-Up
Frustration vs. Anger
How are they the SAME?
How are they DIFFERENT?
Explorer: ____________________
Monster Taming Day
Taming the Anger Monster Slide Deck Expedition 3
Taming the
Anger Monster
Recognizing & Managing Our Anger
Anger: A Strong Feeling
Anger is a normal feeling , just like being happy or sad.
It often shows up when we feel hurt or treated unfairly.
It's okay to feel angry, but how we show it matters.
"All feelings are okay, but not all behaviors are okay."
Teacher Note: Review the differences between frustration and anger from the warm-up. Validate their emotions.
How Hot Is Your Anger?
Anger can start small and get bigger, like a thermometer heating up.
Did you know?
Learning to see the small signs helps us calm down before it gets too big!
Boiling! Hot Warm Cool
Teacher Note: Use the thermometer analogy to show escalation. Keep it visual and simple.
Body Signals
Tight Fists or Jaw
Fast Heart Beat
Hot or Red Face
Tense Tummy
Your body is warning you!
How We Show Anger
Not-So-Good
• Yelling or mean words
• Hitting or pushing
• Breaking things
• Stomping feet
Good Ways
• Deep breathing
• Counting to ten
• Telling how you feel
• Taking a quick break
Our goal is to choose good ways so no one gets hurt.
Taking Control of Our Anger
Next, we'll map your feelings with the Anger Thermometer Worksheet .
Notice it
Pause
Cool Down
Next week: Even more ways to cool down!
Anger Thermometer Worksheet Anger Thermometer
Expedition 3
Explorer:
Date:
1
2
3
4
5
Level 5: Furious / Boiling Mad
How does your body feel? What might you say or do?
Level 4: Angry / Mad
How does your body feel? What might you say or do?
Level 3: Frustrated / Bothered
How does your body feel? What might you say or do?
Level 2: A Little Annoyed
How does your body feel? What might you say or do?
Level 1: Super Calm
How does your body feel? What might you say or do?
What Makes My Anger Grow?
What are 2 things that can quickly move you from feeling calm to feeling more angry?
1 Trigger 1:
2 Trigger 2:
Anger Management Brainstorm Discussion Anger Management Brainstorm
Facilitated Discussion Guide • Week 3
1 What are some good ways you’ve seen people show their anger? (Or, how do you think someone SHOULD show anger?)
2 What are some not-so-good ways people show anger? What happens when they do that?
3 Look at your own 'Anger Thermometer'. At what level do you think it's easiest to start calming down your anger? Why?
4 If you notice your anger starting to get bigger (maybe at Level 2 or 3), what is one simple thing you could try to do to start feeling cooler?
5 Why is it important to learn how to manage our anger instead of letting it get too big?
"Taming the monster takes practice, but you're getting stronger every day!"
Communication Challenges Warm Up Expedition 4 Warm-Up
Communication Challenges
What makes it hard to tell people how you really feel, especially when you are frustrated or mad?
Write or draw at least two reasons.
1
2
3
Explorer: ____________________
Communication Hub
Words Matter Slide Deck Expedition 4
Words
Matter!
Telling Our Feelings with "I Statements"
How Do You Tell Others?
Sometimes it's easy to tell people how we feel, like when we're happy .
"But what about when you're frustrated or mad?"
Today, we'll learn special ways to use our words.
Teacher Note: Discuss 'Communication Challenges' from the warm-up. Introduce tools to make it easier.
Power of "I Statements"
1
They help you tell your feelings without blaming others.
2
They start with "I feel..." or "I need..."
3
They are about YOUR feelings, not what someone else did wrong.
Say Goodbye to Blaming
"You" Statements
"YOU made me mad when you took my crayon!"
This sounds like blaming. It makes the other person feel defensive.
"I" Statements
"I feel frustrated when my crayon is taken, because I need it for my drawing."
This tells how YOU feel and why it matters to YOU.
The "I Statement" Recipe
I feel [Feeling] when [What happened] because [Why it matters].
Example 1
"I feel sad when I don't get a turn because I really want to play."
Example 2
"I feel mad when my blocks are knocked down because I worked hard."
Body & Voice Talk Too
Voice
Keep it calm and steady. No yelling!
Face
Match your face to your calm words.
Body
Keep your body relaxed, not stiff.
Your body should match your words!
Practice Time!
We are going to practice using "I statements" in different situations with the Communication Script .
This is a safe place to try new talking skills!
Effective Communication Script Communication Role-Play
Expedition 4 Activity
Instructions for Teachers: Divide students into pairs. Act out each scenario using "I Statements" and a calm voice. Discuss the outcomes together!
1
Scenario 1: The Broken Wheel
The Situation:
You lent your friend a toy car. They gave it back with a tiny broken wheel. You feel sad and frustrated.
Student A (Using "I Statements"):
"I feel ____________________ when I see my toy wheel is broken, because ____________________. Next time, please be extra careful."
Student B (The Friend):
"Oh no! I'm sorry. How can I help fix it?"
2
Scenario 2: Playtime Frustration
The Situation:
A friend keeps taking all the turns in a game. You feel frustrated because you aren't getting to play.
Student A (Using "I Statements"):
"I feel ____________________ when I don't get a turn, because ____________________. I need to have a turn too."
Student B (The Friend):
"Oops! I didn't notice. Here, it's your turn now."
3
Scenario 3: Too Much Noise
The Situation:
Someone is making a lot of noise while you are trying to read or draw. You feel annoyed and can't focus.
Student A (Using "I Statements"):
"I feel ____________________ when it is loud because ____________________. I need some quiet right now."
Student B (The Peer):
"Oh, sorry! I'll try to be quieter."
My I Statement Cool Down Expedition 4 Cool-Down
My "I" Statement
Think about a time this week where you could use an "I statement." Fill in the recipe below:
I feel...
When...
Because...
Or draw a picture of yourself using your statement:
Explorer: ____________________
Week 4 Mastery
I Statement Recap Warm Up Expedition 5 Warm-Up
"I Statement" Recap
In your own words, what is an "I statement"?
Give one example of how you could use it:
"I feel ________ when ________ because ________."
Explorer: ____________________
Calm Kit Readiness
Cool Down Strategies Slide Deck Expedition 5
My Calm
Kit
Strategies for Cooling Down Big Feelings
What are Strategies?
Calm down strategies are things you do to help big feelings feel smaller .
They help you calm your body and think clearly.
They are like your personal "pause button."
Breath Power
The Starfish Breath
1. Put your hand out like a starfish .
2. Trace your thumb going UP... Breathe IN .
3. Trace down your thumb... Breathe OUT .
4. Repeat for every finger on your hand!
"Repeat 3-5 times. Your body will feel more relaxed!"
Try it now!
Change Your Feelings
Quick Walk
Go for a little stroll.
Jumping Jacks
Do something silly!
Cat Stretch
Stretch it out.
Energy from mad feelings can be used in a good way!
The Quick Break
Sometimes you just need to step away from what's making you upset.
Quiet Corner
Listen to Music
Look at a Book
Draw a Picture
Hit the
Thought Power
Happy Thoughts
"I can do this!"
"It's okay, I'll try again."
Problem Solving
Instead of just thinking about the problem...
Think about how to fix it!
Our thoughts can make feelings bigger or smaller!
Building Your Kit
It's time to make your own list of calm down ideas with the Coping Strategies Activity .
Having a plan makes it easier when feelings get big!
My Calm Kit Activity My Calm Kit
Expedition 5 Activity
Explorer:
Date:
1 Part 1: Finding Calm Ideas
Read through these ideas. Circle the ones that you think might help you when you feel frustrated or mad.
Take 5 deep starfish breaths
Go for a little walk
Listen to quiet music
Talk to a grown-up you trust
Count to 10 slowly
Draw a picture
Squeeze a stress ball
Ask for a quiet break
Drink a glass of water
Imagine a calm place
2 Part 2: My Personal Calm Kit
Choose 3 calm ideas you will try. Describe how you would use each one.
Idea 1:
How I would use it:
Idea 2:
How I would use it:
Idea 3:
How I would use it:
3 Part 3: When Will I Use It?
A time I might feel mad this week:
The calm idea I will try to use:
My Calm Kit Discussion My Calm Kit Discussion
Facilitated Discussion Guide • Week 5
1 What is one calm idea you chose for your personal kit, and why do you like it?
2 Can you think of a time when one of your chosen calm ideas would be super helpful?
3 Why is it good to have a few different calm ideas instead of just one?
4 What might be hard when you try to use a new calm idea for the first time?
5 How can you remember to use your calm ideas when you start to feel big feelings?
"Your calm kit is your secret weapon. Keep it ready!"
Success Story Sharing Warm Up Expedition 6 Warm-Up
Success Story Sharing
Did you use an "I statement" or a calm-down idea when you felt frustrated or mad over the last few weeks?
Tell us what happened and how it helped. You are a success story!
My Success Story:
Explorer: ____________________
Victory Expedition
Putting It All Together Slide Deck Expedition 6
Putting It All
Together!
Celebrating Our 6-Week Journey
Look How Far You've Come!
Over the past 6 weeks, you've learned super important skills to navigate your world!
Finding our feelings
Understanding frustration & anger
Building a kit of cool-down ideas
Telling feelings in a good way
Finding Your Vibes
Naming Feelings
• Using body clues
• Naming happy, sad, mad, scared
• Naming frustration & worry
Frustration Station
• Finding personal triggers
• Tight muscles & wiggly bodies
• Body's little warnings
Being aware helps us get ready!
Taming & Talking
Anger Monster
• The Anger Thermometer
• Good vs. Not-so-good ways
• Early signs of escalation
Words Matter
• "I Statement" Recipe
• Calm body & calm voice
• Telling needs without blaming
Clear words solve big problems!
Your Calm Toolkit
Starfish Breath
Movement
Quick Breaks
Happy Thoughts
"These are your secret tools for staying in control!"
Your Reflection
It's time to complete your Reflection Journal .
Think about how much you've grown and what you'll keep using in the future!
Journal Time
You Are an...
Emotional Explorer!
Keep practicing, keep growing, and keep being awesome!
Reflection Journal Worksheet Reflection Journal
Expedition 6 Final
Explorer:
Date:
1. What I Learned About My Feelings
What was one new thing you learned about your feelings or how to handle them that surprised you?
2. My Favorite Tools
Out of all the calm down ideas and talking tools we learned, which one will help you the most in the future? Why?
3. Using My New Skills
Tell about a time (at home or with friends) when you used an "I statement" or a calm-down idea. What happened?
4. My Feelings Goal
What is one goal you have for yourself about your feelings? What is one little step you can take to reach it?
Emotional Growth Takeaway Cool Down Final Program Cool-Down
My Emotional Growth Takeaway
What is the most important lesson or skill you are taking away from our 6-week feelings program?
Explorer: ____________________
Mission Accomplished
