Lesson Plan
Session 1 Lesson Plan
Students will learn to identify basic social clues (facial expressions, tone, body language) and adopt the ‘Social Detective’ role while collaboratively establishing group norms for respectful interaction.
Decoding social cues empowers autistic learners to navigate everyday interactions more confidently; setting group norms creates a predictable, supportive environment that enhances engagement and trust.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up & Group Norms
5 minutes
Step 2
Discussion: What Do Detectives Do?
5 minutes
Step 3
Activity: Decode the Clues
10 minutes
Step 4
Game: Clue Charades
5 minutes
Step 5
Cool-Down & Reflection
5 minutes
Warm Up
Discussion
Activity
Game
Worksheet
Warm Up
Lesson Plan
Session 2 Lesson Plan
Students will learn to recognize and label strong emotions (“big feelings”) in themselves and others, then infer the thoughts that often accompany those emotions.
Understanding big feelings and the thoughts behind them deepens social thinking and empathy, helping autistic learners navigate emotional cues and perspective-take in real interactions.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up: Emotion Charades
5 minutes
Step 2
Discussion: Recognizing Big Feelings
5 minutes
Step 3
Activity: Infer Thoughts from Story Strips
10 minutes
Step 4
Game: Emotion Detective Race
5 minutes
Step 5
Cool-Down: Reflection & Exit Ticket
5 minutes
Warm Up
Discussion
Activity
Game
Worksheet
Cool Down
