Lesson Plan
Behavior Word Quest Plan
Students will identify and demonstrate understanding of 22 key social-emotional vocabulary words by matching words to visuals and reflecting on behaviors.
This lesson builds foundational social-emotional skills, enabling students to express feelings, recognize behaviors, and communicate effectively in diverse situations.
Audience
Kindergarten
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive visuals, matching activity, and reflection.
Materials
- Behavior Word Quest Visual Cards, - Behavior Word Quest Assessment Sheet, and - Classroom Timer
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and cut out the Behavior Word Quest Visual Cards.
- Review each card and familiarize yourself with all 22 vocabulary words.
- Make copies of the Behavior Word Quest Assessment Sheet for each student.
- Set up or ready your classroom timer for pacing.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Word Walk
5 minutes
- Gather students in a circle or open space.
- Hold up random Behavior Word Quest Visual Cards one at a time.
- Invite students to name the word and act out the emotion or behavior.
- Offer praise and model gently if students need support.
Step 2
Assessment Activity: Quest Challenge
20 minutes
- Hand each student a Behavior Word Quest Assessment Sheet.
- Display one visual card at a time; students find and circle the matching word on their sheet.
- After each round, ask a volunteer to say the word and explain its meaning in their own words.
- Use the classroom timer to allow ~30 seconds per word to keep pace.
- Once all words are matched, show cards quickly and have students give a thumbs-up if they know the meaning.
Step 3
Cool-Down: Reflection
5 minutes
- Bring students back to the circle.
- Ask each child to share their favorite word and one example of using it at school.
- Reinforce positive language and behaviors mentioned.
- Collect assessment sheets or let students keep them as reference.
- End with a group deep breath to practice self-control.
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Slide Deck
Behavior Word Quest
Get ready to explore 24 social-emotional words through fun activities and matching!
Welcome to the Behavior Word Quest! Get students excited: "Today we will learn 24 important words about feelings and how we act. We’ll play a matching game and share examples!"
How to Play
• Warm-Up: Word Walk (5 min)
– Use Behavior Word Quest Visual Cards
• Quest Challenge (20 min)
– Each student uses the Behavior Word Quest Assessment Sheet
• Cool-Down: Reflection (5 min)
– Share favorite words and examples
Explain the three parts clearly. Show the visual cards and assessment sheet. Remind students of time limits.
Self-Control
Holding back strong feelings or actions so you can make good choices.
Ask: “What does self-control mean?” Show image. Invite a volunteer to act it out.
Responsibility
Doing what you are supposed to do without being reminded.
Discuss chores or clean-up examples. Ask volunteers to share.
Emotions
Feelings like happy, sad, or angry that we show inside and out.
Show happy/sad/angry faces. Ask: “What emotions do you feel today?”
Expected Behaviors
Actions everyone should do to be kind, safe, and respectful.
Contrast lining up quietly vs. shouting across the room.
Unexpected Behaviors
Actions that surprise others or aren’t safe in our classroom or school.
Discuss what happens if someone runs indoors.
Mood
How you feel inside for a little while, like happy or grumpy.
Ask: “How does your face look when you’re in a good mood?”
Empathy
Caring about how someone else feels and trying to help.
Pair students. One shares a time they were sad; the other practices empathy.
Communication
Talking and listening to share thoughts and feelings with friends.
Model asking and listening. Ask pairs to practice.
Body Language
Using our movements and posture to show how we feel without words.
Show crossed arms vs. open arms. Ask: “What do you see?”
Tone
How your voice sounds—soft, loud, angry, or happy.
Play a “nice vs. mean” tone clip. Have kids guess.
Facial Expressions
Using our face to show feelings like joy or surprise.
Show big smile vs. frown. Students practice in mirror.
Solve
Figuring out how to fix a problem or answer a question.
Use a simple problem (torn page). Ask: “How can we solve it?”
Career
A job we choose to do when we grow up.
Ask: “What job do you want when you grow up?”
Skills
Things we can do well, like drawing or running.
Have students name one thing they do well.
Interest
Something you like or want to learn more about.
Ask each child to name one interest.
Conflict
A problem or disagreement between people.
Use a simple disagreement: “I want the blue crayon.”
Goal
Something you want to do or learn, like tying your shoes.
Ask: “What is a goal you have?”
Teamwork
Working together with friends to finish a job.
Quick group cheer or class cleanup as teamwork example.
Learner’s Mindset
Believing you can grow smarter and learn new things.
Explain “I can learn anything if I try.” Ask them to repeat.
Bullying
Hurting someone on purpose again and again.
Define bullying and discuss how to tell a teacher.
Cooperation
Working nicely and sharing with others.
Contrast sharing vs. not sharing in a toy-turn activity.
Triggers
Things that make you feel angry or upset quickly.
Ask: “What makes you upset?” Discuss safe ways to calm down.
Habit
Something we do the same way many times without thinking.
Talk about brushing teeth every morning as a habit.
Assertive
Telling someone what you think or feel in a kind, clear way.
Model “I feel sad when you take my toy. Please give it back.”
Cool-Down: Reflection
• Share your favorite word and an example of using it.
• Take a deep breath together to finish strong!
Gather students. Ask each to share their favorite word and one way to use it at school. End with a group deep breath.
Worksheet
Behavior Word Quest Visual Cards
Cut apart the cards below. Each card shows a social-emotional word and a picture prompt. Cut along the dotted lines and use these cards during the Warm-Up and Quest Challenge activities.
Self-Control
[Image: Child taking a deep breath and counting to three]
Responsibility
[Image: Child cleaning up toys without being asked]
Emotions
[Image: Three faces showing happy, sad, and angry]
Expected Behaviors
[Image: Children lining up quietly and smiling]
Unexpected Behaviors
[Image: Child running in the hallway and startling others]
Mood
[Image: Child showing a big grin on one side and a frown on the other]
Empathy
[Image: Child comforting a friend who looks sad]
Communication
[Image: Two children talking and listening with speech bubbles]
Body Language
[Image: Child giving a thumbs-up and another crossing arms]
Tone
[Image: Speech bubbles labeled “soft” and “loud”]
Facial Expressions
[Image: Close-up of child’s surprised face]
Solve
[Image: Child fitting puzzle pieces together]
Career
[Image: Child dressed up as a firefighter in play]
Skills
[Image: Child drawing and another kicking a ball]
Interest
[Image: Child looking at a book with a smile]
Conflict
[Image: Two children reaching for the same crayon]
Goal
[Image: Child tying a shoe with a small goal chart nearby]
Teamwork
[Image: Children carrying a large box together]
Learner’s Mindset
[Image: Child raising hand excitedly with a lightbulb above head]
Bullying
[Image: One child pushing another while a third looks upset]
Cooperation
[Image: Children sharing blocks and building together]
Triggers
[Image: Child covering ears with a loud noise symbol]
Habit
[Image: Child brushing teeth using a routine chart]
Assertive
[Image: Child speaking calmly with open hands]
Worksheet
Behavior Word Quest Assessment Sheet
Circle the word that matches the picture the teacher shows.
Word Bank:
- Self-Control
- Responsibility
- Emotions
- Expected Behaviors
- Unexpected Behaviors
- Mood
- Empathy
- Communication
- Body Language
- Tone
- Facial Expressions
- Solve
- Career
- Skills
- Interest
- Conflict
- Goal
- Teamwork
- Learner’s Mindset
- Bullying
- Cooperation
- Triggers
- Habit
- Assertive
Listen carefully as each picture card appears and circle the matching word!
Answer Key
Assessment Answer Key
Below is the correct mapping of each visual prompt from the Behavior Word Quest Visual Cards to its matching vocabulary word. Use this key to quickly check each student’s answers on the Behavior Word Quest Assessment Sheet.
For each item:
- Image Prompt – A brief description of what the card shows.
- Correct Word – The vocabulary word students should circle.
- Rationale – The clue in the image that links to the word’s meaning.
-
Image: Child taking a deep breath and counting to three
Correct Word: Self-Control
Rationale: The child is pausing and managing strong feelings or actions. -
Image: Child cleaning up toys without being asked
Correct Word: Responsibility
Rationale: The child does what’s expected without reminders. -
Image: Three faces showing happy, sad, and angry
Correct Word: Emotions
Rationale: Multiple facial expressions illustrate different feelings. -
Image: Children lining up quietly and smiling
Correct Word: Expected Behaviors
Rationale: Shows actions that are kind, safe, and respectful. -
Image: Child running in the hallway and startling others
Correct Word: Unexpected Behaviors
Rationale: Highlights actions that surprise or aren’t safe. -
Image: Child with a big grin on one side and a frown on the other
Correct Word: Mood
Rationale: The split face shows how someone can feel inside for a while. -
Image: Child comforting a friend who looks sad
Correct Word: Empathy
Rationale: Demonstrates caring about someone else’s feelings. -
Image: Two children talking and listening with speech bubbles
Correct Word: Communication
Rationale: Shows sharing thoughts and feelings through talking and listening. -
Image: Child giving a thumbs-up and another crossing arms
Correct Word: Body Language
Rationale: Illustrates how posture and gestures show feelings without words. -
Image: Speech bubbles labeled “soft” and “loud”
Correct Word: Tone
Rationale: Depicts how a voice can sound happy, angry, soft, or loud. -
Image: Close-up of child’s surprised face
Correct Word: Facial Expressions
Rationale: The face clearly shows an emotion without words. -
Image: Child fitting puzzle pieces together
Correct Word: Solve
Rationale: Demonstrates figuring out how to fix a problem. -
Image: Child dressed up as a firefighter in play
Correct Word: Career
Rationale: Represents a job one might choose when grown up. -
Image: Child drawing and another kicking a ball
Correct Word: Skills
Rationale: Shows things the children can do well. -
Image: Child looking at a book with a smile
Correct Word: Interest
Rationale: Indicates something the child likes or wants to learn about. -
Image: Two children reaching for the same crayon
Correct Word: Conflict
Rationale: Highlights a disagreement between people. -
Image: Child tying a shoe with a small goal chart nearby
Correct Word: Goal
Rationale: Shows something the child wants to do or learn. -
Image: Children carrying a large box together
Correct Word: Teamwork
Rationale: Demonstrates working together to finish a job. -
Image: Child raising hand excitedly with a lightbulb above head
Correct Word: Learner’s Mindset
Rationale: Portrays believing you can grow smarter and learn new things. -
Image: One child pushing another while a third looks upset
Correct Word: Bullying
Rationale: Shows hurting someone on purpose again and again. -
Image: Children sharing blocks and building together
Correct Word: Cooperation
Rationale: Illustrates working nicely and sharing with others. -
Image: Child covering ears with a loud noise symbol
Correct Word: Triggers
Rationale: Represents things that make you upset or angry quickly. -
Image: Child brushing teeth using a routine chart
Correct Word: Habit
Rationale: Demonstrates something done the same way many times without thinking. -
Image: Child speaking calmly with open hands
Correct Word: Assertive
Rationale: Shows telling someone what you think or feel in a kind, clear way.
Use this key to mark each student’s selection. If the circled word matches the correct word above, award full credit for that item. If not, provide gentle feedback and review the related vocabulary and visual prompt during your next circle time.