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Emotion Detectives

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Lesson Plan

Emotion Detectives Curriculum

Students will be able to identify and name basic emotions by observing facial expressions and body language, and understand how non-verbal cues communicate feelings.

Understanding body language helps students develop empathy, improve communication, and navigate social situations more effectively. It's a crucial life skill for building strong relationships and understanding others.

Audience

Kindergarten - 2nd Grade

Time

6-8 sessions, 30 minutes each

Approach

Through a comprehensive curriculum of interactive lessons using slides, games, and worksheets, students will learn to 'read' emotions.

Materials

Smartboard or projector, Markers or crayons, Emotion Detectives Slide Deck, Body Language Bingo Activity, and Emotion Detective Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Session 1: Introduction to Emotion Detectives & Happy Clues

30 minutes

  • Begin with a warm-up question: "How do we know how someone is feeling without them telling us?"
    - Introduce the concept of "Emotion Detectives" and discuss how they look for clues.
    - Use slides 1-4 from the Emotion Detectives Slide Deck to introduce body language as a secret code and focus on identifying "Happy Clues."

Step 2

Session 2: Sadness and Surprise

30 minutes

  • Review "Happy Clues" from the previous session.
    - Use slides 5 and 7 from the Emotion Detectives Slide Deck to teach students about "Sad Clues" and "Surprised Clues."
    - Engage students in simple role-playing activities, making sad and surprised faces and body poses.

Step 3

Session 3: Anger and Scared

30 minutes

  • Review "Happy," "Sad," and "Surprised" clues.
    - Use slide 6 (Angry) and add a new slide for "Scared" (teacher will need to provide content for a new slide if desired, or demonstrate). Focus on "Angry Clues."
    - Discuss what "scared" might look like through facial expressions and body language. Engage students in identifying angry and scared expressions from pictures or teacher demonstrations.

Step 4

Session 4: Body Language Bingo - Part 1

30 minutes

  • Briefly review all emotions learned so far (Happy, Sad, Angry, Surprised, Scared).
    - Introduce the Body Language Bingo Activity.
    - Begin playing Body Language Bingo, focusing on the emotions covered in previous sessions. Show pictures or act out expressions for students to identify and mark on their cards.

Step 5

Session 5: Body Language Bingo - Part 2 & New Emotions

30 minutes

  • Continue playing Body Language Bingo Activity, introducing "Excited," "Confused," and "Tired" clues as listed on the bingo card (teacher to provide visual/demonstration).
    - Encourage students to complete a bingo row.

Step 6

Session 6: Emotion Detective Worksheet - Part 1

30 minutes

  • Distribute the Emotion Detective Worksheet.
    - Guide students to draw happy and sad faces and bodies, reinforcing what they've learned about these emotions through non-verbal cues.

Step 7

Session 7: Emotion Detective Worksheet - Part 2

30 minutes

  • Continue working on the Emotion Detective Worksheet.
    - Guide students to draw angry and surprised faces and bodies.
    - Encourage them to think about how different emotions feel in their own bodies.

Step 8

Session 8: Putting It All Together & Review

30 minutes

  • Facilitate a discussion reviewing all the emotions and body language cues learned throughout the lessons.
    - Use various scenarios or picture cards for students to practice identifying emotions and discussing appropriate responses.
    - Conclude by emphasizing the importance of understanding others' feelings and how their new "emotion detective" skills can help them in everyday life.
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Slide Deck

Welcome, Emotion Detectives!

Are you ready to find clues about feelings?

Welcome students and introduce the exciting idea of becoming 'Emotion Detectives'. Ask them what a detective does (looks for clues).

How Do We Know How Someone Is Feeling?

Think about it... do they always tell us with words?

Pose the warm-up question to the class. Encourage students to share their initial thoughts.

Body Language: The Secret Code

Our bodies tell a story!

  • Faces
  • Arms
  • How we stand

Explain that body language is like a secret code. Their faces and bodies tell us things without words.

Happy Clues!

What does happy look like?

  • A big smile
  • Crinkly eyes
  • Upbeat posture

Show pictures (or demonstrate) someone looking happy. Ask students to describe what they see. Focus on smiles, bright eyes, relaxed posture.

Sad Clues...

What does sad look like?

  • A frown
  • Droopy eyes
  • Slumped shoulders

Show pictures (or demonstrate) someone looking sad. Ask students to describe what they see. Focus on frowns, downcast eyes, slumped shoulders.

Angry Clues!

What does angry look like?

  • A furrowed brow
  • Tight lips
  • Crossed arms

Show pictures (or demonstrate) someone looking angry. Ask students to describe what they see. Focus on furrowed brows, tight lips, crossed arms.

Surprised Clues!

What does surprised look like?

  • Wide eyes
  • Open mouth
  • Raised eyebrows

Show pictures (or demonstrate) someone looking surprised. Ask students to describe what they see. Focus on wide eyes, open mouths, raised eyebrows.

Time for Body Language Bingo!

Let's play a game!

  • We'll look at different feelings.
  • Mark them on your bingo card.
  • Try to get a BINGO!

Explain the Body Language Bingo activity. Tell students they will be looking for different emotions and marking them off.

Become an Emotion Artist!

Draw what you see!

  • Show different feelings with faces and bodies.
  • Be a creative detective!

Introduce the Emotion Detective Worksheet. Explain they will draw faces and body parts to show emotions.

You Are Amazing Emotion Detectives!

Keep practicing your superpower!

  • Look at faces.
  • Watch bodies.
  • Understand feelings!

Recap the main ideas and encourage students to practice their new detective skills in daily life.

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Activity

Body Language Bingo!

Instructions: As your teacher shows different pictures or acts out emotions, mark off the emotion on your bingo card if you see it! Try to get three in a row (across, down, or diagonally) to get a BINGO!

Bingo Card

Happy 😊Sad 😞Angry 😠
Scared 😨FREE!Excited 🤩
Surprised 😲Confused puzzTired 😴

























Bonus Round: Once you get Bingo, try to make the same facial expression or body pose for one of the emotions you marked!

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Worksheet

Emotion Detective Worksheet

Instructions: Be an emotion detective! For each emotion below, draw a face and body that shows how someone might look and feel.

1. Happy

Draw a happy face and body here:












2. Sad

Draw a sad face and body here:












3. Angry

Draw an angry face and body here:












4. Surprised

Draw a surprised face and body here:












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