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Feelings Safari

Lesson Plan

Feelings Detectives Lesson Plan

Students will become ‘Feelings Detectives’ by identifying, labeling, and expressing four core emotions in themselves and others through interactive activities.

Building emotion recognition and expression fosters self-awareness, empathy, and positive peer relationships, laying the foundation for strong SEL skills.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on, collaborative activities with guided reflection.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Emotion Check-In

5 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle and display the emotion chart.
  • Hold up one Feelings Detective Card and ask, “What emotion is this?”
  • Go around the circle: each student names how they feel right now and points to that emotion on the chart.
  • Observe correct labels and note who may need extra support.

Step 2

Main Activity: Feeling Detective Investigation

20 minutes

  • Divide students into pairs or trios; give each group a set of Feelings Detective Cards.
  • Students take turns drawing a card and silently acting out the emotion while peers guess.
  • After guessing, the actor says, “I feel ___ when ___,” modeling emotion labeling in context.
  • Rotate roles so each student acts and guesses at least once.
  • Teacher circulates, recording observations of accurate identification and expressive language.

Step 3

Cool-Down: Reflection and Badge Award

5 minutes

  • Hand out one Feelings Reflection Worksheet to each student.
  • Prompt students to draw a face showing a feeling they had today and write its label.
  • Invite volunteers to share their drawing and label with the class.
  • Award each student a badge or sticker from the Feelings Detective Badge Template.
  • Collect worksheets to assess understanding and identify students needing reinforcement.
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Lesson Plan

Feelings Safari Plan

Students will embark on a Feelings Safari to identify, label, and discuss emotions through interactive story cards, movement, and art, building self-awareness and empathy.

Recognizing and expressing feelings lays the foundation for strong social-emotional skills, helping first graders understand themselves and others, fostering empathy and positive classroom relationships.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive story, movement, discussion, and art-based reflection.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Safari Welcome

5 minutes

  • Have students sit in a circle and don their Safari headbands or hats.
  • Introduce the Feelings Safari adventure and show the Safari Map Poster.
  • Display the first Emotion Safari Story Card featuring an animal expression.
  • Ask, “What emotion is this animal feeling?” and have students guess aloud.
  • Point out how we can spot emotions on faces and body language.

Step 2

Main Activity: Safari Exploration

20 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups and give each group a set of Emotion Safari Story Cards.
  • Explain they will “travel” along the safari map, stopping at stations marked on the Safari Map Poster.
  • At each station, one student draws a card, shows it silently, and peers guess the emotion.
  • After guessing, the actor says, “I feel ___ when ___,” modeling emotion labeling in context.
  • Rotate roles so everyone acts and guesses; teacher circulates to support and note observations.

Step 3

Cool-Down: Reflection at the Campfire

5 minutes

  • Gather students at the map’s “campfire” location.
  • Hand out the Feelings Safari Reflection Page to each student.
  • Prompt students to draw their favorite safari emotion and write its label.
  • Invite volunteers to share their drawing and explain why they chose that emotion.
  • Conclude by praising empathy and participation; collect pages to assess understanding.
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Slide Deck

Feelings Safari Adventure

SEL Tier 1 Small-Group Lesson | 1st Grade | 30 minutes

Welcome everyone to our Feelings Safari! Today we’ll explore emotions like real safari explorers. Introduce the lesson objective: identifying, labeling, and discussing feelings through a fun adventure.

Warm-Up: Safari Welcome

Warm-Up: Have students sit in a circle, put on their safari headbands, and gather around the Safari Map Poster. Show the first Emotion Safari Story Card and model how to spot emotions in faces and body language.

Our Safari Map

  • Follow the path on the map from start to campfire
  • Stop at each numbered station
  • Draw a card and act silently
  • Peers guess the emotion

Explain the map journey: students will travel from station to station, stopping to draw a card, act out the emotion, and let peers guess.

Main Activity: Safari Exploration

  • Small groups with Emotion Safari Story Cards
  • Travel to each station on the map
  • One student acts; others guess the emotion
  • Actor labels: “I feel ___ when ___”
  • Rotate roles so everyone participates

Divide students into small groups, hand out Emotion Safari Story Cards, and guide them through each station. Remind them to say, “I feel ___ when ___” after peers guess correctly.

Emotion Card Examples

  • Happy monkey → What feeling?
  • Surprised zebra → What feeling?
  • Angry lion → What feeling?

Use these examples to model observation and discussion. Point out facial cues and body language before students begin independent exploration.

Cool-Down: Reflection at the Campfire

  • Sit at the campfire location on the map
  • Complete your Feelings Safari Reflection Page
  • Draw your favorite safari emotion and write its label
  • Volunteers share their drawing and why

Gather students back at the campfire. Distribute the Reflection Page and prompt them to draw and label their favorite safari emotion before sharing.

Congratulations, Feelings Explorers!

  • Fantastic job spotting emotions!
  • Remember: naming our feelings helps us connect
  • Keep exploring and sharing emotions every day

Celebrate their exploration and reinforce the importance of naming emotions to better understand ourselves and others. Collect reflection pages for assessment.

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Reading

Emotion Safari Story Cards

Welcome to your set of Emotion Safari Story Cards! Each card features a safari animal showing a clear emotion in a short scene. Use these cards for acting, guessing, and labeling feelings.

Card 1: Happy Elephant

The elephant splashes joyfully in a cool watering hole after a long, hot walk across the savannah. Its trunk lifts high, and it trumpets loudly in celebration.
Prompt: What emotion do you see? Act like this elephant—use your face and body to show happiness. Say, “I feel happy when ___.”

Card 2: Sad Rhino

The young rhinoceros stands alone under a baobab tree, head drooped, because its friend has wandered off after dinner. Small tears glisten in its eyes.
Prompt: What emotion is this rhino feeling? Show sadness with your facial expression and body language. Say, “I feel sad when ___.”

Card 3: Angry Lion

The lion roars fiercely, mane bristling, because another lion cub took its favorite stick. It paws at the ground and bares its teeth.
Prompt: Which feeling do you think this lion has? Pretend to be this angry lion—roar or stomp to express anger. Then say, “I feel angry when ___.”

Card 4: Surprised Giraffe

The giraffe pauses mid-bite, eyes wide and ears perked, after spotting an unexpected rainbow above the treetops. Its mouth forms an ‘O’ of astonishment.
Prompt: What emotion is this giraffe showing? Show surprise: open your eyes wide and cover your mouth. Say, “I feel surprised when ___.”

Card 5: Fearful Zebra

The zebra peers nervously from behind tall grass, hooves trembling, after hearing a sudden rustle in the bushes. It glances over its shoulder, ready to run.
Prompt: What do you think this zebra feels? Use a frightened expression and pretend to look around carefully. Say, “I feel scared when ___.”

Card 6: Calm Hippo

The hippo lies peacefully in the muddy water under a shady tree, eyes half-closed, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Its breathing is slow and steady.
Prompt: Which emotion is this hippo showing? Show calmness by relaxing your shoulders and taking deep breaths. Say, “I feel calm when ___.”

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Activity

Safari Map Poster

Use this vibrant map to guide your class through the Feelings Safari! Display it large on chart paper or a wall. Students will travel from the “Start” to the “Campfire” by stopping at each animal station.

  1. Start: A welcome sign signals the beginning of the safari trail.
  2. Station 1 – Elephant: Place an elephant icon labeled “1” for students to act out Card 1: Happy Elephant.
  3. Station 2 – Rhino: A rhino icon with a “2” for Card 2: Sad Rhino.
  4. Station 3 – Lion: A lion icon “3” for Card 3: Angry Lion.
  5. Station 4 – Giraffe: A giraffe icon “4” for Card 4: Surprised Giraffe.
  6. Station 5 – Zebra: A zebra icon “5” for Card 5: Fearful Zebra.
  7. Station 6 – Hippo: A hippo icon “6” for Card 6: Calm Hippo.
  8. Campfire: A cozy campfire icon marks the reflection spot—where students draw and share their favorite emotion.

Teacher Tips:

  • Laminate or mount the poster for durability.
  • Number each station clearly and place cards/artifacts nearby.
  • Use string or footprints to show the path between stations.
  • Encourage students to move quietly and observe the path as they travel.

Let the adventure begin—happy safari exploring!

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Worksheet

Feelings Safari Reflection Page

Name: _______________________ Date: ________________

1. Draw Your Favorite Safari Emotion

Use the space below to draw the animal and emotion you liked most on our Feelings Safari.












2. What Emotion Did You Choose?

Write the name of the feeling you drew.



3. Complete the Sentence

“I feel __________ when __________.”
Write a sentence that tells about a time you felt this way.






4. Helping a Friend

How could you help a friend who feels this emotion?






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Feelings Safari • Lenny Learning