Lesson Plan
Session 1 Lesson Plan
Build rapport among group members, introduce the Emotion Detectives Club, establish group norms, and help students identify basic emotions through an interactive charades activity.
Fostering a safe, supportive environment and teaching emotion identification are foundational for effective emotion regulation skills in future sessions.
Audience
4th Grade Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Icebreakers, group agreements, charades, and reflection
Prep
Gather and Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
- Print and cut out Emotion Identification Cards
- Print copies of Emotion Detective Journal Template for each student
- Create or display the Group Norms Poster in the meeting space
- Prepare Emotion Detective Name Tags for each participant
- Collect a set of Emotion Puppets or feel-face props
- Display or print an Emotion Wheel Poster
- Review session plan to familiarize yourself with each activity
Step 1
Welcome and Icebreaker
10 minutes
- Greet students as they arrive and hand out Emotion Detective Name Tags
- Introduce yourself as the Emotion Detectives Club leader
- Show the Emotion Wheel Poster and demonstrate how to spin or point to find an emotion
- Display the Emotion Puppets; model using a puppet to share your name and feeling
- Icebreaker (choose one option):
• Use a puppet to introduce yourself and share a feeling
• Point to an emotion on the Emotion Wheel Poster
• Pick an Emotion Identification Card and show or point to it
• Draw or write a quick feelings icon on paper and hold it up
• Use a gesture or facial expression to show how you feel - Encourage students to participate in their preferred way, ensuring everyone can join in.
Step 2
Establish Group Norms
5 minutes
- Present the Group Norms Poster
- Discuss each norm (e.g., respect, confidentiality, speaking with ‘I’ statements)
- Have students agree by showing a thumbs-up to commit to the norms
Step 3
Emotion Identification Activity
15 minutes
- Explain the Emotion Charades game: students draw an Emotion Identification Card and silently act out the emotion
- The group guesses which emotion it is and discusses clues (facial expressions, body language)
- Rotate until each student has a turn
Step 4
Reflection and Journal
10 minutes
- Distribute the Emotion Detective Journal Template
- Prompt: Draw or write about a time you felt one of the emotions from the charades game and describe what happened
- Invite volunteers to share their entry, emphasizing there’s no pressure to share
Step 5
Closure and Reminder
5 minutes
- Summarize key takeaway: identifying emotions by recognizing cues
- Remind students of our group norms and the next session’s date
- Provide positive feedback and encourage continued practice of spotting emotions
Slide Deck
Session 1: Welcome to the Emotion Detectives Club
• Get to know each other
• Establish our group norms
• Play Emotion Charades
• Reflect in our journals
Greet students as they arrive and hand out Emotion Detective Name Tags. Introduce yourself and explain the purpose of the Emotion Detectives Club. Walk through today’s agenda so students know what to expect.
Our Group Norms
• Respect each other
• Keep what’s shared here confidential
• Speak using “I” statements
• Listen actively
• Be kind and supportive
Display or hold up the Group Norms Poster. Read each norm aloud and ask students for examples of what it looks like in action. Have everyone show a thumbs-up when they agree to follow the norms.
Emotion Charades
- Each detective draws an Emotion Identification Card.
- Act out the emotion silently.
- The group guesses the emotion and discusses clues.
- Rotate until everyone has a turn!
Explain the rules of Emotion Charades and demonstrate one example if needed. Encourage students to look for facial expressions and body language clues when guessing.
Emotion Detective Journal
Draw or write about a time you felt one of the emotions from our charades game. Describe:
• What happened?
• How did you react?
Distribute the Emotion Detective Journal Template to each student. Read the prompt aloud. Give students quiet time to draw or write. Invite volunteers to share their entries but emphasize sharing is optional.
Great Work Today!
• We learned to spot emotions by watching cues.
• Keep practicing noticing feelings around you.
See you next week!
Summarize the key takeaway: we can identify emotions by noticing clues in others. Remind students of next week’s session date and time. Offer positive feedback and encourage them to practice spotting emotions at home and school.
Worksheet
Emotion Detective Name Tag Worksheet
(Write your details below and then cut out your tag along the dotted line.)
🔍 Emotion Detective 🔍
Name: ________________________________
Your Detective Identity: ________________________________
(For example: The Calm Cheetah, The Thoughtful Turtle)
...........................................................
(Cut here)
🔍
Worksheet
Emotion Identification Cards
Cut along the dotted lines to create individual cards. Shuffle and draw one at a time for our Emotion Charades game!
...........................................................
😄 HAPPY
Scenario: Imagine you got a new bicycle for your birthday.
...........................................................
😢 SAD
Scenario: Think about losing your favorite toy.
...........................................................
😠 ANGRY
Scenario: You get into an argument with a friend on the playground.
...........................................................
😨 SCARED
Scenario: You hear a loud noise in the hallway.
...........................................................
😳 EMBARRASSED
Scenario: You trip and fall in front of the class.
...........................................................
😕 CONFUSED
Scenario: You don't understand your homework instructions.
...........................................................
😱 SURPRISED
Scenario: Your teacher gives you an unexpected reward.
...........................................................
😌 CALM / RELAXED
Scenario: You sit quietly and read a book in a cozy corner.
...........................................................
😍 EXCITED
Scenario: You find out you’re going on a field trip.
...........................................................
😡 FRUSTRATED
Scenario: Your video game stops working right before you win.
Worksheet
Our Group Norms
🎯 Respect each other
Treat everyone with kindness and courtesy.
🤐 Keep what’s shared here confidential
What we talk about stays in the club.
🗣️ Speak using “I” statements
Share your feelings by saying “I feel…” instead of blaming.
👂 Listen actively
Give each speaker your full attention—eyes, ears, and heart.
💖 Be kind and supportive
Encourage and help your fellow detectives grow.
Worksheet
Emotion Detective Journal Template
Journal Prompt: Draw or write about a time you felt one of the emotions from our charades game. First, draw a picture showing what happened and how you felt. Then answer the questions below.
1. Drawing Space
(Draw your picture here)
2. Reflection Questions
a) Which emotion did you choose?
______________________________
b) What happened?
______________________________
c) How did you react?
______________________________
Great work, Emotion Detective! Be ready to share if you’d like, but there’s no pressure to read your response aloud.
Worksheet
Session 1 Emotion Wheel Poster
Use this wheel to help uncover and share your feelings!
😄 Happy 😍 Excited
😌 Calm 🌀 Spin Here 🌀 😕 Confused
😢 Sad 😡 Frustrated
😨 Scared 😳 Embarrassed 😱 Surprised
How to use:
• Spin the wheel or point to an emotion.
• Show your face, gesture, or use a puppet to match that feeling.
Keep this poster visible during the session to help everyone spot and share their emotions!
Worksheet
Session 1 Emotion Puppets
Use these hand puppet templates to show how you’re feeling without words!
Print, color or draw the face to match each emotion, cut along the dotted lines, and attach to a craft stick or straw.
...........................................................
HAPPY PUPPET 😄
Draw a big smile and bright eyes to show you’re happy!
(Draw here)
...........................................................
SAD PUPPET 😢
Draw teardrops or a frown to show you’re sad.
(Draw here)
ANGRY PUPPET 😠
Draw furrowed brows or a pout to show you’re angry.
(Draw here)
SCARED PUPPET 😨
Draw wide eyes or a trembling mouth to show you’re scared.
(Draw here)
SURPRISED PUPPET 😱
Draw an open mouth and wide eyes to show you’re surprised.
(Draw here)
CALM PUPPET 😌
Draw relaxed eyes and a gentle smile to show you’re calm.
(Draw here)
Great job, detectives! Use these puppets during our club to share your feelings quietly and clearly.