Lesson Plan
Emotion Detective Lesson Plan
Students will learn to identify emotions in others by analyzing facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice, then record findings on a guided worksheet.
Enhancing social-emotional awareness helps students build empathy, improves communication, and supports self-regulation in academic and personal contexts.
Audience
9th Grade
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Guided analysis of multimodal cues
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Review the Facial Expression Photo Set
- Review the Body Language Photo Set
- Listen through the Tone of Voice Audio Clips
- Print enough copies of the Emotion Detective Worksheet for each student
Step 1
Introduction
1 minute
- Briefly explain the goal: becoming emotion detectives by reading nonverbal cues
- Distribute the Emotion Detective Worksheet
Step 2
Facial Expression Analysis
4 minutes
- Show 4 images from the Facial Expression Photo Set
- For each image, ask the student to note on the worksheet:
- The emotion they observe
- Facial features that led them to that conclusion
- Confirm correct labels and discuss any ambiguities
Step 3
Body Language Analysis
4 minutes
- Present 4 photos from the Body Language Photo Set
- Prompt the student to record:
- The perceived emotion
- Posture, gesture, and movement indicators
- Provide corrective feedback and highlight key body cues
Step 4
Tone of Voice Interpretation
3 minutes
- Play 3 clips from the Tone of Voice Audio Clips
- Ask the student to write:
- The emotion conveyed
- Vocal characteristics (pitch, volume, pace)
- Discuss how tone alone can shift emotional meaning
Step 5
Reflection and Debrief
3 minutes
- Review worksheet responses together
- Ask the student:
- Which cue (face, body, tone) was easiest/hardest to read?
- How might these skills help in real-life conversations?
- Summarize key takeaways and encourage ongoing practice
Slide Deck
Emotion Detective
A 15-minute individualized lesson on spotting emotions in others.
Welcome to the Emotion Detective lesson. Greet the student and set a positive tone. Explain that today’s goal is to become detectives of emotion by reading nonverbal clues.
Lesson Objective
Students will learn to identify emotions by analyzing facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.
Introduce the objective clearly. Emphasize why social-emotional skills matter for empathy, communication, and self-regulation.
Becoming an Emotion Detective
• Use your worksheet to record clues and answers
• We’ll look at faces, bodies, and voices to spot different feelings
Explain what an “emotion detective” does: observes clues and gathers evidence. Hand out the Emotion Detective Worksheet.
Facial Expression Analysis
- Observe each face carefully
- Write the emotion you see
- Note key facial features that give it away
Display 4 photos one at a time. Ask the student to name the emotion and point out features like eyes, mouth, eyebrows.
Body Language Analysis
- Look at posture and gestures
- Identify the emotion expressed
- Describe the body cues that support your answer
Show 4 body-language photos. Encourage the student to describe posture, gestures, and movements that hint at emotions.
Tone of Voice Interpretation
- Listen closely to each clip
- Determine the emotion conveyed
- Note vocal qualities: pitch, volume, and pace
Play three short audio clips. After each, pause and ask: “What emotion did you hear?” Prompt discussion of pitch, volume, and pace.
Reflection & Debrief
• Which clues were easiest or hardest to read?
• How can these skills help in conversations?
• Key takeaway: multiple cues build a clearer picture
Review the worksheet together. Ask which type of clue was easiest or hardest, and brainstorm real-life applications.
Keep Practicing!
• Observe emotions in everyday interactions
• Use your detective skills in class and at home
• The more you practice, the sharper you become
Encourage ongoing practice. Suggest observing people in movies, family, or friends and noting emotional clues.
Worksheet
Emotion Detective Worksheet
Materials
Part 1: Facial Expression Analysis
For each face in the Facial Expression Photo Set, record your observations below.
- Face #1 – What emotion do you observe?
What facial features helped you decide?
- Face #2 – What emotion do you observe?
What facial features helped you decide?
- Face #3 – What emotion do you observe?
What facial features helped you decide?
- Face #4 – What emotion do you observe?
What facial features helped you decide?
Part 2: Body Language Analysis
Using the photos in the Body Language Photo Set, answer the following:
- Photo #1 – What emotion do you perceive?
Which posture or gesture clues support your answer?
- Photo #2 – What emotion do you perceive?
Which posture or gesture clues support your answer?
- Photo #3 – What emotion do you perceive?
Which posture or gesture clues support your answer?
- Photo #4 – What emotion do you perceive?
Which posture or gesture clues support your answer?
Part 3: Tone of Voice Interpretation
Listen to each clip in the Tone of Voice Audio Clips and record your answers.
- Clip #1 – What emotion did you hear?
What vocal qualities (pitch, volume, pace) conveyed that emotion?
- Clip #2 – What emotion did you hear?
What vocal qualities (pitch, volume, pace) conveyed that emotion?
- Clip #3 – What emotion did you hear?
What vocal qualities (pitch, volume, pace) conveyed that emotion?
Part 4: Reflection
Which type of cue (facial expression, body language, or tone of voice) was easiest for you to read? Why?
Which type of cue was hardest for you to read? Why?
How might you use these emotion-detective skills in real-life conversations?
Activity
Facial Expression Photo Set
Below are four example facial expression images. These are placeholders—please replace each link with your own hosted file URL or local file path before use.
-
Surprised
Features: Eyes wide open, eyebrows raised, mouth forming an “O.” -
Sad
Features: Downturned lips, eyebrows angled up in the center, eyes looking downward. -
Angry
Features: Furrowed brow, narrowed eyes, lips pressed together tightly. -
Happy
Features: Broad smile, crinkled eyes, cheeks raised.
Use these images for Part 1: Facial Expression Analysis on the Emotion Detective Worksheet. Replace all path/to/... with the correct file locations in your system or server.