Lesson Plan
Feelings & Choices Quest Overview
Guide a 7th grader through ten 30-minute individual sessions to accurately express emotions, empathize with others, and analyze short- and long-term decision impacts, meeting daily check-in and reflection goals.
Building emotional literacy and decision-making skills enhances self-awareness, empathy, and responsible choices, supporting academic success and healthy relationships.
Audience
7th Grade Individual Student (Tier 3 MTSS)
Time
10 sessions × 30 minutes each
Approach
Interactive coaching with reflections and hands-on activities
Materials
- Feelings & Choices Quest Overview, - Emotion Expression Poster, - Empathy Reflection Journal, - Decision Impact Chart Worksheet, - Scenario Role-Play Cards, - Timer or Clock, and - Index Cards or Sticky Notes
Prep
Teacher Preparation
30 minutes
- Review the Feelings & Choices Quest Overview
- Print or assemble: Emotion Expression Poster, Empathy Reflection Journal, Decision Impact Chart Worksheet
- Prepare Scenario Role-Play Cards and index cards
- Arrange a quiet, comfortable space for individual sessions
Step 1
Session 1: Recognizing & Labeling Emotions
30 minutes
- Objective: Identify and label own emotions in daily check-ins
- Materials: Emotion Expression Poster, index cards
- Activity: Introduce emotion poster; student picks current feeling and writes it on an index card
- Assessment: Student correctly labels emotions in 2 out of 5 check-in prompts
Step 2
Session 2: Building Emotion Vocabulary
30 minutes
- Objective: Expand emotion vocabulary beyond basic feelings
- Materials: Emotion Expression Poster, index cards
- Activity: Student selects less common emotion words and matches them to definitions or scenarios
- Assessment: Uses 3 new emotion words accurately in 2 of 5 check-ins
Step 3
Session 3: Establishing Check-In Routine
30 minutes
- Objective: Practice daily emotion check-in routine
- Materials: Emotion Expression Poster, index cards, timer
- Activity: Role-play morning and afternoon check-ins, student records feelings each time
- Assessment: Completes 2 check-ins independently in simulated practice
Step 4
Session 4: Identifying Others’ Feelings via Scenarios
30 minutes
- Objective: Recognize others’ emotions in scripted interactions
- Materials: Scenario Role-Play Cards, index cards
- Activity: Teacher and student role-play scenarios; student labels the other’s emotion
- Assessment: Correctly identifies feelings in 2 of 5 scenarios
Step 5
Session 5: Empathy Reflection Journal
30 minutes
- Objective: Reflect on how others feel in different situations
- Materials: Empathy Reflection Journal
- Activity: Student reads short vignettes, writes journal entries describing characters’ feelings and why
- Assessment: Demonstrates understanding in 2 of 5 entries
Step 6
Session 6: Active Listening & Emotion Recognition
30 minutes
- Objective: Use active listening to infer emotions
- Materials: audio or read-aloud scenarios, Empathy Reflection Journal
- Activity: Listen to taped scenarios, pause to discuss tone and inferred feelings, journal reflections
- Assessment: Identifies correct emotions in 2 of 5 listening prompts
Step 7
Session 7: Introduction to Decision Impacts
30 minutes
- Objective: Differentiate short-term vs long-term consequences
- Materials: Decision Impact Chart Worksheet
- Activity: Define short/long term; brainstorm examples and chart them
- Assessment: Completes chart accurately in 3 of 5 examples
Step 8
Session 8: Sorting Decision Scenarios
30 minutes
- Objective: Categorize decisions by impact timeframe
- Materials: Scenario Role-Play Cards, Decision Impact Chart Worksheet
- Activity: Sort scenario cards into short-term or long-term columns on worksheet
- Assessment: Correct categorization in 3 of 5 scenarios
Step 9
Session 9: Personal Decision Analysis
30 minutes
- Objective: Apply impact analysis to real choices
- Materials: Decision Impact Chart Worksheet, journal
- Activity: Student selects a recent personal decision, lists pros/cons and short/long-term effects
- Assessment: Depth and accuracy of analysis in 3 of 5 decision elements
Step 10
Session 10: Integration & Action Plan
30 minutes
- Objective: Create a personalized plan for emotions, empathy, and decision-making
- Materials: all journals, worksheets, index cards
- Activity: Student drafts a daily emotion check-in schedule, empathy practice steps, and decision flowchart
- Assessment: Review plan for completeness and feasibility; student explains how they’ll use skills in 3 contexts
Slide Deck
Feelings & Choices Quest
• A 10-session, 30-minute, one-on-one support program for 7th grade Tier 3 students
• Core Skills:
– Accurately express and label emotions
– Recognize and empathize with others’ feelings
– Evaluate short- and long-term impacts of choices
Visual: Emotion Wheel (Emotion Expression Poster)
Introduce the Feelings & Choices Quest series. Emphasize the three core goals: emotional expression, empathy, and decision analysis. Point to the emotion wheel visual to set context.
Module 1: Emotion Awareness
Sessions 1–3
Objective:
• Recognize, label, and expand emotional vocabulary
Activities:
• Session 1: Introduce emotion wheel; daily check-in labels
• Session 2: Match less common feelings to definitions
• Session 3: Role-play morning/afternoon check-ins with a timer
Materials:
• Emotion Expression Poster
• Index cards, timer
Walk through the first three sessions focused on self-awareness. Point to the emotion wheel and sample vocabulary lists.
Module 2: Understanding Others
Sessions 4–6
Objective:
• Identify and reflect on others’ emotions
Activities:
• Session 4: Role-play scenarios; label the other’s feeling
• Session 5: Write empathy journal entries for vignettes
• Session 6: Active listening to audio scenarios and journal reflection
Materials:
• Scenario Role-Play Cards
• Empathy Reflection Journal
Highlight sessions on empathy. Show a snapshot of the journal prompt page. Encourage reflection on tone, body language, and character motives.
Module 3: Decision Impacts
Sessions 7–9
Objective:
• Analyze short- and long-term decision consequences
Activities:
• Session 7: Brainstorm and chart examples on time-impact worksheet
• Session 8: Sort scenario cards into short- vs. long-term columns
• Session 9: Personal decision pros/cons and impact analysis
Materials:
• Decision Impact Chart Worksheet
• Scenario Role-Play Cards, journal
Explain how we define short- vs. long-term. Display a blank chart template and sample filled example.
Session 10: Integration & Action Plan
Objective:
• Create a personalized framework to use all skills independently
Activity:
• Draft:
– Daily emotion check-in schedule
– Empathy reflection prompts
– Decision-making flowchart
• Review plan for clarity and feasibility
Materials:
• Journals, worksheets, index cards
Guide student through drafting a daily plan. Ensure it includes check-in schedule, empathy practice steps, and a decision-making flowchart.
Materials & Next Steps
Materials Checklist:
• Emotion Expression Poster
• Empathy Reflection Journal
• Decision Impact Chart Worksheet
• Scenario Role-Play Cards, index cards, timer
Next Steps:
• Schedule brief weekly check-ins for plan adjustments
• Encourage use of tools in daily routines
Review all materials and next steps. Confirm student ownership by having them present their plan and identify ongoing supports.
Worksheet
Emotion Expression Poster
Emotion Wheel
[Insert Emotion Wheel Here]
Common Emotion Synonyms
| Primary Emotion | Synonyms |
|---|---|
| Happy | content, joyful, pleased, delighted |
| Sad | unhappy, down, sorrowful, blue |
| Angry | mad, irritated, frustrated, enraged |
| Scared | afraid, fearful, anxious, nervous |
| Surprised | astonished, amazed, stunned, startled |
| Disgusted | revolted, repulsed, nauseated, offended |
Daily Check-In
Use this section each day to identify and label your current emotion. Write the date, time, emotion word, and a brief reason for your feeling.
| Date | Time | Emotion | Why I feel this way |
|---|---|---|---|
Circle or color the area on the emotion wheel that matches how you feel.
Journal
Empathy Reflection Journal
Use this journal in Sessions 5 & 6 to reflect on others’ emotions, practice perspective-taking, and deepen your empathy skills. For each vignette or scenario, complete an entry below.
Entry 1
Date: ____________________________
Scenario Summary:
Write one or two sentences describing what happened.
Character’s Feeling(s):
List the emotions you think the person felt.
Clues (What gave you that impression?):
Consider tone of voice, body language, words used.
Why might they feel this way?:
If you were in their shoes, how would you feel?:
What could you say or do to show empathy?:
Entry 2
Date: ____________________________
Scenario Summary:
Character’s Feeling(s):
Clues (What gave you that impression?):
Why might they feel this way?:
If you were in their shoes, how would you feel?:
What could you say or do to show empathy?:
Entry 3
Date: ____________________________
Scenario Summary:
Character’s Feeling(s):
Clues (What gave you that impression?):
Why might they feel this way?:
If you were in their shoes, how would you feel?:
What could you say or do to show empathy?:
Use these reflections to notice patterns in others’ emotions, learn how to respond kindly, and grow your own empathy muscle over time.
Worksheet
Decision Impact Chart Worksheet
Use this worksheet to practice identifying the short-term and long-term impacts of different decisions.
Directions:
- Review the definitions below.
- Short-Term Impact: Effect that happens soon after the decision (hours to weeks).
- Long-Term Impact: Effect that happens farther in the future (months to years).
- Look at the filled-in example.
- For each practice decision, write your own decision and list one short-term impact and one long-term impact.
Example
| Decision | Short-Term Impact | Long-Term Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Studying an extra hour for your math quiz tonight | Feel more prepared and confident on tomorrow’s quiz | Better understanding of algebra skills for future classes |
Practice
Fill in at least three of your own decisions below:
| Decision | Short-Term Impact | Long-Term Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. _______________________________________________ | ________________________________________________ | ________________________________________________ |
| 2. _______________________________________________ | ________________________________________________ | ________________________________________________ |
| 3. _______________________________________________ | ________________________________________________ | ________________________________________________ |
| 4. _______________________________________________ | ________________________________________________ | ________________________________________________ |
| 5. _______________________________________________ | ________________________________________________ | ________________________________________________ |
Use this chart during Sessions 7–9 to guide your decision-making practice.