Lesson Plan
Detective Toolkit Plan
Student will become an emotion detective by identifying and labeling basic feelings using visual clues and the Emotion Spotting Chart, reflecting on a personal emotional experience in their Case Notes journal, and self-assessing detective skills against the Detective Success Criteria.
This lesson builds foundational emotional literacy by teaching a 2nd grader to recognize, articulate, and begin regulating feelings—critical skills for social-emotional development and self-awareness.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials & Space
10 minutes
Step 1
Detective Briefing
5 minutes
Step 2
Clue Hunt Activity
10 minutes
Step 3
Case Notes & Reflection
10 minutes
Step 4
Detective Success Check & Closing
5 minutes

Slide Deck
Becoming an Emotion Detective
What Is a Detective?
Clues Are Emotional Signals
Meet the Basic Feelings
Using Your Emotion Spotting Chart
Your First Case Assignment

Script


Activity


Worksheet


Journal


Rubric

