Feeling Detectives Lesson Guide L1
Unit: Feeling Explorers
Spotting Feelings: Teacher Guide
Grade 1 • ELL Focused
Pacing: 35–45 min (Flexible)
Lesson Focus Students learn to name, recognize, and physically express four core feelings: Happy , Sad , Angry , and Scared . Heavy visual cues and physical gestures support newcomers and early bilinguals.
Content Objectives
Identify facial cues (mouth, eyes, eyebrows) for 4 emotions.
Connect emotions to body sensations and posture.
Match feeling pictures to feelings vocabulary icons.
Language Targets (ELL)
Vocabulary: happy, sad, angry, scared .
Sentence Stem: "I feel [emotion]."
Responding with gestures (Total Physical Response - TPR).
Core Feeling Words & TPR Movement Bank
Feeling Facial Clues TPR Gesture (Physical Action) Spanish Cognate / Support Happy Big smile, bright eyes, cheeks up Hands on heart, gentle rocking sway Feliz / Contento Sad Frown, drooping eyes, downturned mouth Fingertip trace a tear down cheek Triste Angry Pointy lowered eyebrows, tight lips Hands on hips, firm stomp (soft foot) Enojado / Furioso Scared Wide open eyes, open gasping mouth Two hands gently hugging shoulders Asustado
Materials Needed
Handheld mirrors (1 per pair or student), Lesson 1 Feeling Slides, Feeling Faces Activity Mat printouts, crayons/pencils, color feeling flashcards for the pocket chart.
Unit: Feeling Explorers • Lesson 1 of 3 Page 1: Preparation & Vocabulary
Step-by-Step Delivery
Instructional Sequence (40 Minutes)
Modular Timing
01
Hook & Mirror Mystery (8 min)
Warm-Up
Distribute handheld mirrors. Make a happy face and ask students: "Look at my mouth! What is it doing? Look in your mirror—show me your biggest smile!"
💡 Teacher Cue: Model exaggeration! Point directly to eyes and mouth corners. Repeat with sad, angry, and scared faces.
02
Direct Instruction: Feeling Face Clues (12 min)
Slide Deck
Project the Feeling Faces Slides . Teach each emotion using the 3-part formula: Word + Face Shape + Body TPR .
Have students echo: "I say happy, you say happy! Happy!" Pair each word with its movement so English learners tie meaning directly to kinesthetic memory.
03
Partner Detective Game (10 min)
Active Practice
Partner A strikes an emotion pose without speaking. Partner B inspects their partner like a detective and names the feeling: "You look sad!" Partner A confirms: "Yes, I feel sad!" Switch roles after 4 rounds.
04
Individual Practice & Wrap-Up (10 min)
Worksheet & Check-In
Students complete the Feeling Faces Activity Mat : trace the words, match faces, and draw their own current feeling. Gather on rug to do a quick thumbs-up check-in.
ELL Tiered Differentiation Supports
Newcomers (Level 1)
Allow pointing to flashcards, miming expressions, and thumbs up/down responses. Accept primary language responses.
Developing (Levels 2-3)
Provide the sentence frame card: "I feel ____ because ____." Encourage 1-2 descriptive words (e.g. smile, tears ).
Extension
Introduce synonym shades: excited for happy, frustrated for angry, nervous for scared.
Unit: Feeling Explorers • Lesson 1 of 3 Page 2: Delivery & Scaffolding
Feeling Faces Slides Unit: Feeling Explorers • Lesson 1
Grade 1 SEL
Feeling Detectives
We can look at faces and bodies to discover how people feel inside!
Happy
Sad
Angry
Scared
Let's look for clues on each face!
Emotion 1
Happy
In Spanish: Feliz
Big Smile!
🔍 Face Clues:
Mouth curves up in a smile. Eyes are bright and crinkly.
🙌 Try the Movement:
Put hands on your heart and give a big, bright smile!
🗣 Sentence: "I feel happy when I play."
Look around: Can you see someone smiling today?
Emotion 2
Sad
In Spanish: Triste
Corners Down
🔍 Face Clues:
Mouth curves down in a frown. Eyes feel heavy or watery.
🙌 Try the Movement:
Gently trace a tear down your cheek with one finger.
🗣 Sentence: "I feel sad when I miss home."
Remember: It is okay to feel sad! Everyone feels sad sometimes.
Emotion 3
Angry
In Spanish: Enojado
Eyebrows Down
🔍 Face Clues:
Eyebrows point down. Lips are pressed tight.
🙌 Try the Movement:
Put hands on your hips and blow out a fast breath!
🗣 Sentence: "I feel angry when a toy breaks."
Anger gives our body lots of energy. We can learn to calm that energy!
Emotion 4
Scared
In Spanish: Asustado
Eyes Wide Open
🔍 Face Clues:
Eyes open very wide. Mouth makes an open "O" shape.
🙌 Try the Movement:
Cross both arms and gently hug your shoulders!
🗣 Sentence: "I feel scared when it is loud."
When we feel scared, asking a teacher or friend can help us feel safe.
Detective Challenge!
Turn and Talk
Face A Smiling mouth
Face B Corners down
Face C Sharp eyebrows
Face D Wide open eyes
Tell your partner: "I see [clue]... so I think they feel [feeling]!"
Practice Together
Feeling Faces Activity Mat Lesson 1 Activity
Feeling Faces Activity Mat
Name:
Date:
1
Match the Face to the Word
Draw a line from each face to its matching word.
Big Smile
Frowning Mouth
Pointy Eyebrows
Wide Eyes
angry
happy
scared
sad
2
Draw Your Feeling Face
Draw your eyes, eyebrows, and mouth inside the mirror!
Feeling Word Bank:
happy sad angry scared
Tip: Think about what your mouth looks like right now. Are your corners going up or down?
3
Finish the Sentence
Today I feel
.
Pick one word from the Feeling Word Bank above.
Unit: Feeling Explorers • Lesson 1 Student Activity Great Job, Detective! ⭐
Feelings In Action Lesson Guide L2
Unit: Feeling Explorers
Feelings In Action: Teacher Guide
Grade 1 • ELL Focused
Pacing: 40 min (Flexible)
Lesson Focus Students learn that feelings are reactions to events around us. They practice identifying why someone feels a certain way using visual scenarios and the causal sentence frame: "I feel [emotion] when [event]."
Content Objectives
Analyze 4 picture scenarios to determine likely emotional responses.
Understand that different people can feel differently about the same event.
Connect personal experiences to emotional states.
Language Targets (ELL)
Complex sentence frame: "I feel ____ when ____."
Action vocabulary: share, drop, break, laugh, hug .
Partner turn-and-talk with supportive picture prompt cards.
Core Classroom Scenarios & Language Anchors
Scenario Likely Emotion Visual Anchor Cue Target Sentence Frame Dropping ice cream / snack Sad / Triste Fallen cone on ground "He feels sad when the snack falls." Someone knocks block tower Angry / Enojado Tumbled blocks, clenched fists "She feels angry when the tower falls." Playing recess games with friends Happy / Feliz Children smiling & jumping "I feel happy when I play tag." Loud sudden thunderclap Scared / Asustado Lightning bolt & hands over ears "They feel scared when it is loud."
Materials Needed
Feeling Story Slides, Feelings Match Worksheet, 4 Emotion Pocket Cards, chart paper or whiteboard for shared class sentences.
Unit: Feeling Explorers • Lesson 2 of 3 Page 1: Context & Scenarios
Step-by-Step Delivery
Instructional Sequence (40 Minutes)
Modular Timing
01
TPR Emotion Warm-Up (5 min)
Review
Call out emotion words from Lesson 1. Students perform the physical TPR gestures together: Happy (hands on heart), Sad (trace tear), Angry (hands on hips), Scared (hug shoulders) .
02
Interactive Scenario Exploration (15 min)
Feeling Scenarios Slides Unit: Feeling Explorers • Lesson 2
Grade 1 SEL
Feelings In Action
Things happen every day. How do they make our hearts and bodies feel?
Our Super Sentence:
"I feel [emotion] when [something happens]."
Let's look at 4 real stories and solve how they feel!
Story 1
The Dropped Ice Cream
How do they feel?
Splplat! On the ground!
Oh no! My sweet treat fell!
🔍 Detective Clue:
The mouth is turning down. A tear is coming out.
✨ Answer:
They feel SAD.
🗣 Read Aloud: "He feels sad when his snack falls."
ELL Helper: Say "Sad" in your home language with your buddy!
Story 2
The Block Tower Crash
How do they feel?
Crash! Knocked over!
I worked so hard to build it!
🔍 Detective Clue:
Eyebrows pointing down sharp. Hands clenched in fists.
✨ Answer:
She feels ANGRY.
🗣 Read Aloud: "She feels angry when the tower gets knocked down."
Reminder: Feeling angry is normal, but our hands stay gentle!
Story 3
Loud Boom Thunder
How do they feel?
BOOM! CRACK!
The sky is very dark and loud!
🔍 Detective Clue:
Eyes wide open. Hands covering ears tightly.
✨ Answer:
They feel SCARED.
🗣 Read Aloud: "They feel scared when there is loud thunder."
Who can help when you are scared? A teacher, parent, or trusted friend!
Story 4
Recess Game with Friends
How do they feel?
"Come play with us!"
Everyone gets a turn to play!
🔍 Detective Clue:
Big smiles, arms up in the air, laughing with peers.
✨ Answer:
We feel HAPPY.
🗣 Read Aloud: "I feel happy when I share and play."
Smiles are contagious—sharing a smile makes others happy too!
Partner Talk: When Do You Feel...?
Turn & Talk
1 Share with Partner:
"I feel happy when I ________."
Examples: draw, sing, eat apples, see my family
2 Share with Partner:
Feelings Match Worksheet Lesson 2 Activity
Feelings Match Worksheet
Name:
Date:
1
How Do They Feel? Draw a Line to Match.
Match the story on the left to the feeling on the right.
Milk spills on floor Snack is ruined
Friend shares a toy Playing together
Blocks pushed over Tower falls down
Loud lightning flash Dark outside
Happy
Scared
Sad
Angry
2
Draw Something That Makes You Feel Happy
Draw in the box below.
I feel happy when I
.
Idea helpers: play, swing, read, sing, dance, share
Unit: Feeling Explorers • Lesson 2 Student Activity Great Job! ⭐
Calm Tools Lesson Guide L3
Unit: Feeling Explorers
Calm Corner Tools: Teacher Guide
Grade 1 • ELL Focused
Pacing: 35–45 min (Flexible)
Lesson Focus Students learn that big feelings like anger, sadness, and fear are normal, and they have the power to help their bodies return to a calm state using 4 sensory and breathing tools.
Content Objectives
Practice 4 kinesthetic self-soothing tools.
Recognize body signals indicating the need for a calm-down break.
Select 2 personalized strategies to build a personal calm toolkit.
Language Targets (ELL)
Calm vocabulary: breathe in, breathe out, calm, safe, relax .
Sentence stem: "When I feel ____, I can ____."
Counting to 5 in English paired with finger tracing.
The 4 Calming Strategies & Teacher Cues
Strategy Physical Action Teacher Prompt (Script) Bilingual Label Starfish Breath Trace 5 fingers while inhaling/exhaling "Breathe in as you go up, breathe out as you go down." Respiración Estrella Turtle Tuck Tuck chin to chest, wrap arms gently "Like a quiet turtle in its shell, rest your head." Tortuga Tranquila Squeeze Lemon Squeeze fists tight for 3 sec, let go soft "Squeeze out all the juice... and let your hands melt." Apretar el Limón Drink & Count 5 Take small sips of water, count 1 to 5 "Cool water helps our tummy cool down." Agua y Contar a 5
Calm Corner Setup Tips
Hang the Calm Corner Strategies Poster at student eye level. Provide a soft rug, 2 squishy pillows, a visual sand timer (2-3 min), and feeling cards in a pocket folder.
Unit: Feeling Explorers • Lesson 3 of 3 Page 1: Strategies & Scripts
Step-by-Step Delivery
Instructional Sequence (40 Minutes)
Modular Timing
01
Hook: The Shaken Soda Bottle (5 min)
Demonstration
Show a clear glitter bottle or water bottle: "When we get angry or scared, our body gets fizzy and bubbles up like this bottle!" Let it settle. "Today we will learn how to help our body settle down."
02
Calm Corner Strategies Poster Calm Corner Anchor Chart • El Rincón de la Calma
4 Ways to Help My Body Feel Calm
When my feelings feel big, I can choose a tool to feel safe and relaxed.
1
Starfish Breath
Respiración de Estrella
Spread your hand. Trace up a finger: breathe in . Trace down: breathe out .
2
Turtle Tuck
Tortuga Tranquila
Tuck your chin down. Wrap your arms into your cozy shell. Take 3 slow breaths .
3
Squeeze the Lemon
Apretar el Limón
Squeeze your hands tight like squeezing juice (1, 2, 3)... then let your fingers melt soft .
4
Drink Water & Count 5
Agua y Contar a 5
Take a sip of cool water. Count slowly in your head: 1... 2... 3... 4... 5 .
All feelings are okay!
Take your time. When your body is ready, smile and rejoin your class family!
My Calm Toolkit Activity Lesson 3 Activity
My Calm Toolkit Activity
Name:
Date:
1
Choose Your 2 Favorite Calm Tools
Color the circle of 2 tools you want in your kit!
Starfish Breath
Trace 5 fingers & breathe in/out slowly
Turtle Tuck
Tuck chin and take 3 quiet breaths
Squeeze the Lemon
Tight hands for 3 sec, then melt soft
Drink Water & Count 5
Take cool sips and count to 5
2
Draw Your Peaceful Calm Face
How does your face look when your body is relaxed?
Calm Face Clues:
Soft eyes or closed gentle eyes
Gentle soft smile
Shoulders relaxed and low
💡 My body feels peaceful and ready to learn!
3
My Calming Sentence
When I feel upset, I can
.
Choice helpers: take 5 breaths , tuck like a turtle , drink water , ask for help
Unit: Feeling Explorers • Lesson 3 Student Activity Calm Champion Badge 🌟
