Feeling Faces Teacher Guide Feeling Faces
Lesson 1: Identifying & Naming Emotions
Focus
Social-Emotional
Learning Objective
Students will identify and name three basic emotions (Happy, Sad, Mad) by observing facial expressions in mirrors and on visual cards.
Materials Needed
Mystery Mirror Box (Box with a small hand mirror inside)
Emotion Flashcards (Happy, Sad, Mad)
Student "Mirror Face" Activity Sheets
Crayons or markers
Lesson Hook
"I have a secret in this box! If you look inside, you'll see someone very special... and they are making a face! Can you guess who it is?"
Allow each student to peek in the 'Mystery Mirror' box.
Facilitation Steps
1
The Mystery Mirror
Pass around the Mystery Mirror box. Ask students: "Who did you see?" (Me!). Direct them to make a Happy face at themselves. Ask: "What do your eyes do when you're happy? What does your mouth do?"
2
Meet the Emotions
Introduce the flashcards. Show Happy , Sad , and Mad . Model each expression exaggerating facial muscles. Have students "echo" the face back to you.
3
Mirror Mimic
Play a game where you show a card and students must find their own reflection in a mirror (or a partner's face) to replicate the expression. Use prompts: "Show me a face that is feeling Sad."
Teacher Tip
Focus on one feature at a time for students who struggle with recognition (e.g., "Look at the corners of my mouth. Are they up or down?").
Peer Support
Pair students to practice "copying" each other's expressions like a human mirror.
Feeling Faces Slides Feeling Faces
How are you today?
Mystery Mirror
Look in the box! Who do you see?
Can you make a Happy face?
HAPPY
Big Smile
Bright Eyes
SAD
Frown
Slow Body
MAD
Tight Mouth
Angry Brows
GUESS THE FACE
Watch your teacher. What are they feeling?
Happy
Sad
Mad
Mirror Face Activity Sheet Name:
Date:
My Mirror Face
Look in the mirror and draw your face!
Can you draw how these feelings look?
Happy
Draw a smile!
Sad
Draw a frown!
Mad
Draw angry eyebrows!
"When I look in the mirror, I see me!"
First Then Teacher Guide Order Up
Lesson 2: First/Then Logic
Focus
Executive Function
Learning Objective
Students will understand the sequential order of two events using the "First/Then" framework, a precursor to following story narratives.
Teacher Prep
"Magic Bag" with pairs of related items (e.g., shoe/sock, soap/dirty toy)
Large Classroom First/Then visual board
Student "Order Up" sequencing cards
Magic Hook
"I have a Magic Bag today! Inside are things that need help getting in order. If I have a dirty toy and some soap... what do I do First ? What do I do Then ?"
Lesson Path
1
The Magic Bag Pull
Invite a student to pull two items out. "We have a toothbrush and toothpaste. Which one happens first?" Use the First/Then board to physically place icons or items.
2
Interactive Modeling
Show common classroom pairs: Coat then Outside . Wash Hands then Snack . Ask students to use their hands to "point" to the first step and then the second step in the air.
3
Partner Pair-Up
Hand out "Order Up" cards. Students work in pairs to decide which card is "First" and which is "Then". They can use the student worksheets to glue them down.
Closing Question
"If we want to eat our yummy snack, what must we do FIRST?" (Wash hands!)
First Then Slides First and Then
What happens next?
The Magic Bag
Let's peek inside! We found two things...
Soap
Dirty Toy
WHICH IS FIRST?
FIRST:
THEN:
Snack Time!
FIRST
Wash Hands
THEN
Eat Snack
Going Outside
FIRST
Put On Coat
THEN
Play Outside
TELL THE ORDER!
You want to paint...
What do you do FIRST?
(Put on smock! Get the brush!)
First Then Activity Board Name:
First / Then Board
FIRST
THEN
Pick two cards and glue them in order!
Cut these cards out!
Wash Hands
Eat Snack
Put On Coat
Go Outside
Read Story
Nap Time
Paint Art
Clean Up
Puppet Play Teacher Guide Puppet Play
Lesson 3: Feelings in Situations
Focus
Empathy & Context
Learning Objective
Students will match specific scenarios (events) to corresponding emotions (Happy, Sad, Mad), demonstrating an understanding of how events impact feelings.
Materials Needed
Classroom Puppet (or two)
"Scenario Spark" Slide Deck
Emotion Paddles (Sticks with Happy/Sad/Mad faces)
Small props (Ice cream cone toy, broken block)
The Hook
Bring out the puppet. "Oh no! Benny the Bunny dropped his favorite ice cream cone on the ground. Splat! Class, look at Benny's face... how does he feel?"
Puppet Master Steps
1
Benny's Bad Day (Modeling)
Act out 3 short scenarios with the puppet:
Sad: Benny drops a toy.
Happy: Benny gets a hug.
Mad: Another puppet takes Benny's block.
Ask: "Show me on your emotion paddles how Benny feels!"
2
Scenario Sparks
Transition to the slides. Show a picture (e.g., a birthday party). Ask students to "spark" an emotion. "When we see balloons and cake, what feeling do we have?" Encourage full sentences: "I feel Happy at a party."
3
Feeling Detectives
Pass out the "Feeling Detective" worksheet. Guide students through each row, reading the situation aloud while they circle the matching face.
Safe Space Reminder
Validate all answers. "You might feel mad if you drop your ice cream, and that's okay! How can we help Benny feel better?"
Scenario Spark Slides Feeling Detectives
What made them feel that way?
Oh no, Benny!
Benny dropped his ice cream.
HOW DOES BENNY FEEL?
Scenario 1: The Birthday Party
Balloons, cake, and friends!
Happy
Sad
Scenario 2: Taken Toy
Someone took your favorite truck!
Mad
Happy
FEELING CHECK
Rainy Day?
New Gift?
Blocks fall?
How do you feel? Point to a face!
Feeling Detective Worksheet Name:
Feeling Detective
Circle the face that matches the story!
A birthday party with cake!
Happy
Sad
Mad
Ice cream falls on the floor.
Someone knocks over your tower!
"Detectives find the feelings in every story!"
Personal Story Teacher Guide Hero Me
Lesson 4: Personalizing Stories
Focus
Self-Identification
Learning Objective
Students will identify themselves as the central character in a social story by placing their own photograph into a templated narrative.
Teacher Prep
A small printed photo of each student (headshot)
"Hero Me" story templates
Glue sticks
Envelopes hidden around the room for the 'Hook'
The Hook
"There are secret envelopes hidden in our classroom! Inside each one is a picture of a HERO . Can you find the envelope with YOUR face on it?"
Workshop Path
1
The Hero Reveal
Once everyone finds their photo, gather on the rug. "Look at your picture. That's you! You are the star of today's story." Model placing your own photo (the teacher's) into a sample template.
2
Narrative Reading
Read the template story aloud. "I go to school. I see my friends. I feel..." Stop at the feeling blank. Ask students to look at their photo—are they smiling? "If you're smiling in your photo, you're a Happy Hero!"
3
The Glue-Up
Students move to tables to glue their photos onto the template. Assist students in tracing their name or drawing a small feeling face in the final box.
Evidence of Learning
The student recognizes their image and associates it with the "I" statements in the story template.
My Story Slides I Am the Hero
Today's story is all about YOU!
Who is this?
Can you find your face in the room?
"That's ME!"
Every story has a STAR
"The Story of..."
Your Name Here
My School Day
I go to school.
I play with friends.
I am Happy!
Ready to Build?
Let's make YOUR story!
1
Get your photo
2
Glue it on
3
Color the feeling!
Hero Me Story Template Name:
My Hero Story
Glue Your Photo Here!
1
I go to school.
2
I play with friends.
3
I feel... (Draw it!)
I am the hero of my story!
Routine Builder Teacher Guide Routine Builders
Lesson 5: Co-Creating Our Story
Focus
Social Narrative
Learning Objective
Students will work collaboratively to sequence the steps of their "Morning Arrival" routine, creating a shared class social story.
Materials Needed
Large Visual Cards for Arrival (Backpack, Hook, Hand-Wash, Rug)
Felt Board or Large Magnetic Board
"Morning Routine Mini-Book" student templates
Classroom Routine Slides
The Hook
"Uh oh! I walked into school today and I forgot what to do! I put my backpack on my head and sat on the table. Is that right? No! Can you help me fix our day?"
Collaborative Path
1
Memory Mix-Up
Spread the large arrival cards face-down on the rug. Have students take turns flipping one over. Discuss: "What is this card showing? Do we do this first or later?"
2
Felt Board Build
As a group, place the cards in order on the felt board.
Hang up Backpack
Wash Hands
Sit on the Rug
Say "Good Morning!"
Read the "story" together using First, then, next, and finally.
3
Mini-Book Creation
Students return to their seats to create their own take-home version of the "Morning Routine" mini-book. They glue the icons in order to match the class felt board.
Scaffolding
For students who need more support, provide a mini-book that is already numbered 1, 2, 3, 4.
Extension
Ask students: "What's the best part of our morning? Let's add a Happy face card to that step!"
Group Story Slides Our School Day
Can you help me fix our routine?
A Silly Morning!
Teacher forgot what to do first. Let's look at our cards and fix it!
Step 1
Hang Up Backpack
Step 2
Wash Your Hands
Step 3
Sit on the Rug
You Fixed It!
Now we have a Story to tell!
Let's make our mini-books.
Morning Routine Mini Book Name:
My Morning Story
1
I hang up my bag.
2
I wash my hands.
3
I sit on the rug.
4
I am ready to learn!
Backpack
Soap
Rug
Happy