Feeling Finder Session Plan 1
Courage Quest • Facilitator Guide
Session 1: Feeling Finder
Format: 1-on-1 (30 Min)
Level: 1st Grade Reading
Session Goal
Introduce the Courage Quest. Student will identify and point to 4 core feeling states (Calm, Happy, Worried, Mad) using visual cards and select how they feel right now using a 2-choice visual format.
5 MIN
1. Welcome & Courage Quest Theme
Connect & Safety
Say: "Welcome to Courage Quest! In this space, every feeling is okay. We are team partners. You do not have to read big words. We use pictures and brave choices."
Action: Hand student the Quest Badge on their sheet; invite them to write or trace their name.
10 MIN
2. Emotion Face Matching (Visual Choices)
Vocabulary
Introduce the 4 Picture Cards: Calm (Green) , Happy (Yellow) , Worried (Orange) , Mad (Red) . Model each face: "When I feel worried, my shoulders go up. When I feel calm, my shoulders drop."
Practice: Ask student: "Are you feeling Calm or Worried right now?" (Point to the two options).
10 MIN
3. Hands-On Activity: My Feeling Mirror
Expression
Direct the student to Section 2 of their workbook page. The student circles their current emotion and draws or colors the face inside the mirror box to represent how they feel today.
Prompt: "It is normal to feel worried. Putting a face on it makes us brave."
5 MIN
4. Wrap-Up & Victory Check
Confidence
Celebrate completion: "You showed courage today by finding your feelings!" Let the student check the Week 1 Star on their sheet.
Session 1 Progress Monitor
Identifies Feelings Visual choice (2-options)
Comfort / Anxiety Willing to engage (1-3 scale)
Self-Expression Points / circles state
Feeling Finder Activity Sheet Courage Quest • Week 1
Feeling Finder
Name:
Date:
Look at the faces. All feelings are okay!
Step 1: Four Big Feelings
CALM Safe & Quiet
HAPPY Good & Glad
WORRIED Tight & Nervous
MAD Hot & Upset
Step 2: Check One Box Right Now
I feel Calm.
My body feels relaxed.
I feel Worried.
My body feels tight.
Step 3: Draw Your Face Today
Draw eyes and mouth inside the mirror
Brave Badge Unlocked: I can name my feeling!
Student Stamp:
Body Signals Session Plan 2
Courage Quest • Facilitator Guide
Session 2: Body Signals
Format: 1-on-1 (30 Min)
Level: 1st Grade Reading
Session Goal
Help the student recognize physical body alarms caused by anxiety (fast heart, butterflies in stomach, tight hands, heavy head) and locate where worry lives in their body.
5 MIN
1. Check-In & Feeling Review
Recall
Quick review of Week 1 emotion cards: "Show me: Calm or Worried today?" Affirm: "Our bodies send us text messages or alarms when worry visits."
10 MIN
2. Body Alarms: Sound and Motion
Physical Modeling
Demonstrate 4 physical signals using body motions:Fast Heart: Thump chest gently (Thump-thump-thump).Tummy Butterflies: Flap hands near tummy.Tight Hands: Squeeze fists tightly, then open.Heavy Head: Place hands gently on cheeks.
Prompt: "Which alarm goes off first in you: Heart or Tummy?" (2-choice prompt).
10 MIN
3. Body Map Activity & Shake-Out
Interactive Map
Guide student to Section 2 of their workbook page. Have them color or mark where worry shows up on the body figure. Follow with a 30-second "Body Shake-Out" (shaking hands and feet to release muscle tightness).
5 MIN
4. Wrap-Up & Badge Stamp
Affirmation
Affirm: "Body alarms are not bad—they just tell us: 'I need a calm tool!' You are becoming a master detective." Stamp Week 2 badge.
Session 2 Progress Monitor
Body Clue Awareness Points to 1+ body zones
Motor Participation Engages in shake-out
Anxiety Level Pre/post rating (1-3)
Body Signals Activity Sheet Courage Quest • Week 2
Body Signals
Name:
Date:
Where does worry go in your body? Find the clues!
Step 1: Four Body Alarms
Fast Heart Thump Thump
Tummy Buzz Butterflies
Tight Hands Fists Clenched
Busy Head Spinning Fast
Step 2: Color or Circle Your Clues
Color the heart, tummy, hands, or head
Step 3: Two-Choice Check
My chest or heart
My tummy or hands
Brave Badge Unlocked: I know my body alarms!
Student Stamp:
Calm Power Session Plan 3
Courage Quest • Facilitator Guide
Session 3: Calm Power
Format: 1-on-1 (30 Min)
Level: 1st Grade Reading
Session Goal
Equip the student with 3 somatic calming tools (Box Breathing, Squeeze & Release, Grounding Reset) to de-escalate anxiety symptoms within 2-3 minutes.
5 MIN
1. Body Clue Review & Introduction
Check-In
Ask student: "When our body alarm goes off (fast heart, tummy buzz), what can we do? We have Calm Superpowers!"
10 MIN
2. Finger-Trace Box Breathing Practice
Tactile Pacing
Model tracing the square on the student worksheet with your finger:Up: Breathe in (1, 2, 3, 4).Across: Hold soft (1, 2, 3, 4).Down: Breathe out slow (1, 2, 3, 4).Back: Rest calm (1, 2, 3, 4).
Practice: Do 3 rounds together. Prompt student to feel their heart slowing down.
10 MIN
3. Muscle Squeeze & 5-4-3-2-1 Sensory Grounding
Hands-On
• Lemon Squeeze: Squeeze hands like squeezing two lemons, hold for 3 seconds, let go and shake.Eyes Open Reset: Name 2 blue things you see in the room. Touch 1 smooth thing on the table.
5 MIN
4. Tool Selection & Badge Stamp
Empowerment
Student picks their #1 favorite calm tool on their sheet (Breathe vs Squeeze). Celebrate their power to calm their body!
Session 3 Progress Monitor
Breathing Regulation Follows 4-count trace
Tool Preference Names favorite coping tool
Post-Exercise State Calmer posture / slower breathing
Calm Power Activity Sheet Courage Quest • Week 3
Calm Power
Name:
Date:
Put your finger on the star. Trace the square to breathe slow!
Step 1: Square Breath Track
Hold Soft (1 - 2 - 3 - 4)
Calm My Body
Rest Calm (1 - 2 - 3 - 4)
Breathe In
Breathe Out
Step 2: Three Calm Superpowers
Slow Breath In nose, out mouth
Hand Squeeze Squeeze & let go
Cool Water Take 3 cool sips
Step 3: Which tool helps you best? Check one:
Square Breathing
Hand Squeeze
Brave Badge Unlocked: I have Calm Superpowers!
Student Stamp:
Brave Talk Session Plan 4
Courage Quest • Facilitator Guide
Session 4: Brave Talk
Format: 1-on-1 (30 Min)
Level: 1st Grade Reading
Session Goal
Empower the student to express their feelings and ask for what they need using simple visual sentence strips ("I feel..." + "I need...") during low-stakes role-play.
5 MIN
1. Check-In & Communication Shield
Normalize
Say: "Sometimes when we feel worried, words get stuck in our throat. That is okay! Today, we use picture strips so you never have to guess what to say."
10 MIN
2. Introduce the 2-Part Communication Strip
Direct Instruction
Walk through the 2-part strip on student worksheet:Part 1: "I feel..." (Calm / Worried / Mad).Part 2: "I need..." (A Break / Help / Quiet Time).
10 MIN
3. Interactive Role-Play Practice
Hands-On Practice
Practice 2 quick scenarios:Scenario A (Hard work): Facilitator pretends to give an assignment. Student points to or says: "I feel worried. I need help."Scenario B (Noisy room): Facilitator simulates busy classroom. Student points to or says: "I feel worried. I need a break."
Positive Reinforcement: "That was so clear! Asking for help is brave."
5 MIN
4. Wrap-Up & Safe Person Selection
Safety Net
Student identifies one trusted adult at school they can show this strip to. Stamp Week 4 badge.
Session 4 Progress Monitor
Strip Utilization Points or verbalizes needs
Role-Play Success Completes 1+ scenarios
Identified Ally Names trusted helper
Brave Talk Activity Sheet Courage Quest • Week 4
Brave Talk
Name:
Date:
Point to pictures or say the words. Asking for help is brave!
Step 1: My Talk Strip (Pick 1 from each row)
Part 1: "I feel..."
Worried
Upset
Confused
Part 2: "I need..."
Help
A Break
Quiet Time
Step 2: Role-Play Practice (Check when practiced)
1
Practice: Hard Work "I feel worried. I need help."
2
Practice: Loud Room "I feel worried. I need a break."
Step 3: Who is your safe helper at school?
My Trusted Adult:
Brave Badge Unlocked: I can use Brave Talk!
Student Stamp:
Strong Thoughts Session Plan 5
Courage Quest • Facilitator Guide
Session 5: Strong Thoughts
Format: 1-on-1 (30 Min)
Level: 1st Grade Reading
Session Goal
Identify negative automatic self-talk ("Sticky Worries") and swap them with empowering "Power Thoughts" (e.g., "I can try", "I am safe"), boosting self-efficacy and self-worth.
5 MIN
1. Welcome & The Sticky Worry Concept
Concept
Say: "Sometimes anxiety tells us lies like: 'You cannot do this' or 'Everyone is looking at you.' We call these Sticky Worries. Today we use Power Thoughts to zap them away!"
10 MIN
2. The Power Thought Swap
Cognitive Swap
Walk through the 3 simple pairs on the student sheet:Power: "I can try my best." Power: "I am safe right now." Power: "Mistakes help me learn."
Practice: Facilitator reads the Sticky Worry in a whisper; student shouts the Power Thought with a fist pump!
10 MIN
3. My Super Strengths Inventory
Self-Esteem
Have student review the 4 strength badges (Kind, Brave, Hard Worker, Good Friend). Ask them to check 2 strengths that describe them. Affirm concrete examples you have observed during sessions.
5 MIN
4. Wrap-Up & Power Chant
Celebration
Student selects their #1 Power Thought to carry with them. Stamp Week 5 badge.
Session 5 Progress Monitor
Thought Swap Identifies positive swap
Self-Esteem Rating Selects personal strengths
Verbal Confidence Recites power thought
Strong Thoughts Activity Sheet Courage Quest • Week 5
Strong Thoughts
Name:
Date:
Swap sticky worries for power thoughts. You are strong!
Step 1: Power Thought Swap
Sticky Worry "I can't do this."
Power Thought "I can try my best!"
Sticky Worry "I am scared."
Power Thought "I am safe right now."
Sticky Worry "I will mess up."
Power Thought "Mistakes help me grow."
Step 2: Check 2 of your Super Strengths
Kind
Brave
Hard Worker
Good Friend
Step 3: Read and check:
I can try my best.
I am brave today.
Brave Badge Unlocked: I have Power Thoughts!
Student Stamp:
Courage Shield Session Plan 6
Courage Quest • Facilitator Guide
Session 6: Courage Shield
Format: 1-on-1 (30 Min)
Level: 1st Grade Reading
Session Goal
Synthesize all 6 weeks of coping skills into a personal Courage Shield. Administer final progress-monitoring metrics and present the Courage Champion Certificate to solidify confidence.
5 MIN
1. Welcome & 6-Week Celebration
Warm-Up
Celebrate milestones: "Look how far you have come! You learned your feeling clues, body alarms, calm breath, brave talk, and power thoughts. You are a true Courage Champion!"
10 MIN
2. Building the Courage Shield
Visual Synthesis
Guide student through the 4 quadrants of their Courage Shield worksheet:Top Left: Favorite Feeling Word (Calm / Happy).Top Right: Body Calm Power (Square Breath / Squeeze).Bottom Left: Brave Words ("I need help / break").Bottom Right: Power Thought ("I can try my best!").
10 MIN
3. Final Role-Play & Shield Award
Mastery Check
Ask student to hold up their shield and do one demonstration: take one square breath, say their power thought, and flash their brave smile. Sign and present the Courage Champion Badge!
6-Week Cumulative Progress Monitoring Rubric
1. Feelings Identifies 4/4 Core Emotions
2. Somatic Coping Uses 4-count breathing
3. Self-Expression Expresses needs using strips
4. Self-Esteem Identifies positive strengths
Anxiety Symptom Reduction: Observed Decrease
Communication Independence: Visual Choice Mastered
Facilitator Sign-off:
Courage Shield Activity Sheet Courage Quest • Week 6
Courage Shield
Name:
Date:
Your 6-week Courage Shield is ready! Check your superpowers!
Official Courage Shield
My Calm Tool Square Breath
My Brave Talk "I Need Help"
Power Thought "I Can Try!"
My Strength Brave Champion
Ready for Any Challenge!
Step 2: Read and check:
I have brave calm tools.
I am proud of my hard work!
Graduation Award Official Courage Quest Champion!
Gold Star Stamp:
