Lesson Plan
Becoming a Feelings Detective
Students will be able to identify at least three basic emotions (happy, sad, mad) from pictures of facial expressions.
Understanding and identifying emotions is a crucial skill for social-emotional development. It helps students better understand themselves and others, fostering empathy and effective communication.
Audience
1st Grade
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Through observation, discussion, and interactive activities.
Materials
Pictures of facial expressions (happy, sad, mad), Whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, Map of My Feelings Slide Deck, Feelings Charades Activity, and How Do They Feel? Worksheet
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Review the Map of My Feelings Slide Deck and gather any necessary pictures of facial expressions.
- Print copies of the How Do They Feel? Worksheet.
- Familiarize yourself with the Feelings Charades Activity instructions.
- Ensure the projector or interactive whiteboard is ready for the slide deck.
Step 1
Mindful Minute
2 minutes
- Teacher Script: "Let's start our detective training with a mindful minute. Find a comfy spot, close your eyes if you feel safe, and take three deep breaths. In... out... in... out... in... out. Notice how your body feels. This helps us get ready to focus!"
Step 2
Introduce the Skill: Feelings Detectives
5 minutes
- Teacher Script: "Today, we are becoming 'Feelings Detectives'! Just like a detective looks for clues, we are going to look for clues on people's faces to figure out how they might be feeling. Why do you think it's important to know how someone is feeling?" (Allow for student responses).
- Display the first slide of the Map of My Feelings Slide Deck.
- Teacher Script: "Our mission is to identify three main feelings: happy, sad, and mad. These are like our beginner detective cases!"
Step 3
Model & Role-Play: Face Clues
5 minutes
- Use the Map of My Feelings Slide Deck to show examples of happy, sad, and mad facial expressions.
- Teacher Script: "Let's look at this 'happy' face. What clues do you see? (Eyes crinkled, smile, cheeks lifted). When do you feel happy?" (Discuss).
- Repeat for 'sad' and 'mad' expressions, pointing out key facial clues and asking students about their own experiences.
- Briefly model a simple charade of an emotion. "Watch me! How do you think I'm feeling?" (Act out happy, sad, or mad).
Step 4
Practice Together: Feelings Charades
5 minutes
- Introduce the Feelings Charades Activity.
- Teacher Script: "Now it's your turn to be the feelings detective! We're going to play Feelings Charades. I'll show you an emotion, and you'll show me with your face how that emotion looks. Then, we'll try to guess what emotion others are showing!"
- Guide students through a few rounds, focusing on clear facial expressions for happy, sad, and mad.
Step 5
Reflect & Close: Worksheet Time
3 minutes
- Distribute the How Do They Feel? Worksheet.
- Teacher Script: "Great detective work today! For our final mission, you'll use your new skills to identify feelings on this worksheet. Remember to look for all those face clues we talked about!" (Explain the worksheet instructions briefly).
- Teacher Script: "What was one new 'face clue' you learned today about feelings?" (Quick share out).
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Slide Deck
Welcome, Feelings Detectives!
Get ready to explore the world of emotions.
Let's start with a Mindful Minute!
Welcome students and set a calm tone. Emphasize that taking deep breaths helps us focus and be better feelings detectives.
What's a Feelings Detective?
We look for clues!
Today's mission: find clues for happy, sad, and mad feelings.
Introduce the idea of feelings detectives and ask students why it's important to understand feelings. Connect it to real-life situations.
Clue #1: Happy!
What clues do you see?
- Smiling mouth
- Sparkling eyes
- Cheeks lifted
When do you feel happy?
Display this slide. Ask students to describe what they see in the picture that makes them think it's a happy face. Point out specific features like a smile, crinkled eyes, or lifted cheeks.
Clue #2: Sad 🙁
What clues do you see?
- Frowning mouth
- Droopy eyes
- Tears (sometimes!)
When do you feel sad?
Display this slide. Ask students to describe what they see in the picture that makes them think it's a sad face. Point out specific features like a frown, droopy eyes, or a downturned mouth.
Clue #3: Mad 😠
What clues do you see?
- Furrowed brows
- Tight lips
- Scrunched nose
When do you feel mad?
Display this slide. Ask students to describe what they see in the picture that makes them think it's an angry face. Point out specific features like furrowed brows, tight lips, or a scrunched nose.
Time to Practice: Feelings Charades!
Can you show me...?
- Happy!
- Sad!
- Mad!
Explain the charades activity. Model one or two emotions clearly before having students participate. Encourage exaggerated but recognizable expressions.
Your Detective Report!
Great job, Feelings Detectives!
Now, complete your How Do They Feel? Worksheet.
Remember to look for those important face clues!
Review the concepts and introduce the worksheet. Reiterate the importance of using 'face clues' to identify emotions.
Game
Feelings Charades Activity
Objective: Students will practice identifying and expressing basic emotions through non-verbal cues.
Materials:
- Small cards with the words: "Happy", "Sad", "Mad" (one card per emotion, per group if playing in small groups).
Instructions:
-
Introduce the Game (2 minutes):
- Explain to students that they will be playing "Feelings Charades" to practice showing and guessing emotions. Emphasize using their faces and bodies to act out feelings without speaking.
-
Model an Emotion (2 minutes):
- Teacher models one emotion (e.g., Happy). Act it out clearly, exaggerating facial expressions (big smile, wide eyes, maybe a little jump).
- Ask students to guess the emotion. Discuss the clues seen on the teacher's face and body.
-
Group Play (10 minutes):
- Divide students into small groups or play as a whole class.
- Teacher (or a chosen student) picks an emotion card (Happy, Sad, or Mad) without showing it to the others.
- The person acts out the emotion using only facial expressions and body language for about 10-15 seconds.
- Other students guess the emotion. Encourage them to explain why they think it's that emotion (e.g., "I think it's sad because your mouth is turned down and your shoulders are slumped").
- Rotate players or emotions as time allows. Focus on ensuring all students get a chance to observe and guess.
-
Discussion and Reinforcement (3 minutes):
- After a few rounds, ask: "What was easy about guessing feelings? What was tricky?"
- Reiterate the key facial clues for happy, sad, and mad.
- "Great job being Feelings Detectives! You used your eyes to find clues and showed us how different feelings look."
Differentiation:
- Support: Provide larger picture cards of expressions along with the word cards. Offer sentence starters for guessing ("I think you are feeling ______ because ______.").
- Challenge: Encourage students to think of situations that might make someone feel that way after they've guessed the emotion.
Worksheet
How Do They Feel? Worksheet
Name: ____________________________
Directions: Look at each picture. Circle the feeling that matches the face.
1. Look at this face:
(Imagine a simple line drawing of a broadly smiling face)
Happy / Sad / Mad
2. Look at this face:
(Imagine a simple line drawing of a face with downturned mouth and slightly droopy eyes)
Happy / Sad / Mad
3. Look at this face:
(Imagine a simple line drawing of a face with furrowed brows and a frown)
Happy / Sad / Mad
4. Draw your own face!
Draw a face that shows you are happy!
5. Draw a face that shows you are sad!
6. Draw a face that shows you are mad!
Worksheet
How Do They Feel? Worksheet
Name: ____________________________
Directions: Look at each picture. Circle the feeling that matches the face.
1. Look at this face:
(Imagine a simple line drawing of a broadly smiling face)
Happy / Sad / Mad
2. Look at this face:
(Imagine a simple line drawing of a face with downturned mouth and slightly droopy eyes)
Happy / Sad / Mad
3. Look at this face:
(Imagine a simple line drawing of a face with furrowed brows and a frown)
Happy / Sad / Mad
4. Draw your own face!
Draw a face that shows you are happy!
5. Draw a face that shows you are sad!
6. Draw a face that shows you are mad!