Artful Emotions

Virginia Lenac

Tier 3

Lesson Plan

Artful Emotions Lesson Plan

Engage a 4th-grade student on the autism spectrum in a 15-minute art activity that introduces and practices one coping strategy for managing big emotions through creative expression.

Big emotions can feel overwhelming and talking about them may be hard. Art offers a comfortable, nonverbal way to explore feelings, learn a simple coping tool, and build confidence in using it at school.

Audience

4th Grade Student on the Autism Spectrum (Tier 3 Individual)

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Introduce & model strategy, guided drawing, reflect on art.

Materials

Drawing Paper, Variety of Colored Pencils or Markers, Coping Strategy Card Template, and Calming Sensory Timer (sand timer or digital timer)

Prep

Review and Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Gather drawing paper, colored pencils, and markers.
Print and review Coping Strategy Card Template.
Ensure a calming sensory timer is available to time the breathing practice.
Familiarize yourself with each coping strategy to support prompts.

Step 1

Introduction & Strategy Overview

3 minutes

Greet the student and build rapport.
Explain that today you’ll explore big feelings using art and learn one coping tool.
Show the Coping Strategy Card Template and point out sections (feeling icon, strategy icon, steps).
Use simple language and visual cues; allow yes/no or pointing responses.

Step 2

Guided Art Exploration

7 minutes

Invite the student to recall a recent big emotion experienced at school (e.g., anger, excitement).
Ask them to draw that feeling on the paper using colors/shapes of their choice.
Prompt them to choose one strategy from the template (e.g., deep breathing) and draw its symbol (a small cloud, hand on heart).
Support with simple questions: “Which color is your feeling? Where’s the breathing cloud?”
Use the calming sensory timer to let them know time left if helpful.

Step 3

Discussion & Practice

3 minutes

Invite the student to point to parts of their drawing and indicate what each represents.
Practice the chosen coping strategy together while watching the timer (e.g., take three slow breaths).
Offer praise: “Great job drawing and breathing together!”
Use visual thumbs-up or sticker if verbal praise is limited.

Step 4

Wrap-Up & Next Steps

2 minutes

Reinforce that they can use this strategy anytime they feel big emotions at school.
Place the completed Coping Strategy Card in their backpack as a reminder.
Schedule a check-in for the next session to revisit or try a new strategy.

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Slide Deck

Welcome to Artful Emotions

Today, we’ll use drawing to show big feelings and learn a tool to help when emotions get too big.

Welcome the student by name. Explain today’s goal: use art to explore big feelings and learn one coping strategy.

Your Coping Strategy Card

Here is your
Coping Strategy Card Template. It has:

A spot for your feeling drawing
A spot for your strategy symbol
Steps to follow when you need it

Show the student the Coping Strategy Card template. Point to each section: feeling icon, strategy icon, steps box.

Step 1: Draw Your Feeling

• Think of a big feeling you had at school.
• Use colors and shapes to draw how it felt to you.

Prompt the student: “Can you think of a time you felt very [angry/excited/sad] at school? Let’s draw it!” Encourage choice of colors and shapes.

Step 2: Pick a Strategy

• Choose one way to help when feelings are big, for example:
– Deep breathing ☁️
– Counting to five 🔢
• Draw the symbol you picked in the strategy spot.

Offer two strategy options (e.g., deep breathing, counting). Show their icons on your own card first, then ask which one they’d like.

Step 3: Practice Together

• Let’s practice your strategy now:

Watch the timer (3 breaths).
Breathe in… and out…
• Great job!

Set the timer for three breaths. Guide the student: “Breathe in… 1, 2, 3. Breathe out…”. Provide simple praise after completion.

Keep It Handy & Next Time

• Put your card in your backpack as a reminder.
• We’ll try a new strategy or revisit this one next time.

Reinforce next steps: keep the card handy and remind the student they can use it anytime. Plan a quick check-in next session.

Worksheet

Coping Strategy Card

Use this card to remember one way to help when big feelings come up at school.

1. Draw Your Feeling Here

2. Draw Your Strategy Symbol Here

3. Steps to Follow When I Feel This Way

________________________________
________________________________

Cool Down

Emotion Check Cool-Down

Let’s take a quick moment to notice how you feel now and think about what helped today.

1. How calm do you feel right now?

Color the face that shows how you feel:
😊 🙂 😐 🙁 😟

2. Draw your feeling here

Use colors and shapes to show how your body feels now.

3. What helped you feel a bit calmer today?

(You can write a word or draw a small picture.)

4. Which strategy will you try next time big feelings come up?

• ☁️ Deep breathing
• 🔢 Counting to five

Circle or draw the symbol you will use next time:

Great work today! See you next time to try this again or learn a new art coping strategy. Feel free to keep this page as a reminder.