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Thought Detectives

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Megan Binder

Tier 3
For Schools

Lesson Plan

CBT Basics Lesson Plan

Help the student recognize how negative thoughts influence feelings and behaviors and practice reframing them using a detective-themed art activity.

Understanding and reworking unhelpful thoughts empowers self-awareness, reduces anxiety, and helps the student manage emotions—especially useful for students with autism who benefit from visual and play-based strategies.

Audience

8th Grade Student with Autism (Tier 3 Individual)

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Detective-themed art and play therapy reinforce core CBT concepts.

Materials

  • Detective Notebook Template, - Negative Thought Cards, - Reframing Thought Cards, - Feelings Wheel Visual, - Coloring Supplies (Markers, Crayons), - Detective Hat or Props, and - Sticky Notes

Prep

Gather and Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Print or load digital copies of Detective Notebook Template
  • Laminate and cut out Negative Thought Cards and Reframing Thought Cards
  • Display the Feelings Wheel Visual at student’s eye level
  • Arrange coloring supplies, detective hat, and sticky notes in an accessible tray
  • Plan accommodations: use clear, concise language; allow extra processing time; offer sensory breaks as needed
  • Review session flow and note student preferences

Step 1

Introduction & Theme Setup

5 minutes

  • Welcome the student and explain that today they’re CBT detectives investigating thoughts
  • Show the Feelings Wheel Visual and briefly discuss how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect
  • Prompt the student to share one recent upsetting thought to “investigate”

Step 2

Identify Negative Thoughts

7 minutes

  • Present the Negative Thought Cards and invite the student to choose a card that matches their own thought or write it in the Detective Notebook
  • Ask: “How did this thought make you feel? What did you do afterward?” Record feelings and behaviors in the notebook

Step 3

Art-Infused Reframing Activity

12 minutes

  • Give the student Reframing Thought Cards and coloring supplies
  • Ask them to decorate a card with a kinder, more balanced thought (e.g., changing “I’m bad at school” to “I can learn with practice”)
  • Encourage drawings, colors, and detective-themed stickers
  • Guide with questions: “What evidence do we have that this new thought is true?”

Step 4

Reflection & Debrief

4 minutes

  • Compare the original thought’s impact on feelings vs. the reframed thought’s impact
  • Have the student place a sticky note on the feelings wheel to show how their emotion shifted
  • Praise effort and award a detective badge sticker for completing the investigation

Step 5

Closing & Next Steps

2 minutes

  • Summarize key takeaway: thoughts influence feelings but can be reexamined and changed
  • Encourage the student to use the Detective Notebook at home when they notice a “mystery thought”
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Slide Deck

CBT Detective Adventure

Welcome, Detective! Put on your detective hat and get ready to discover how our thoughts shape our feelings and actions.

Welcome the student as a CBT detective. Introduce the theme: today we’ll investigate how thoughts affect feelings and behaviors. Encourage excitement, show a detective hat or prop.

How Thoughts, Feelings & Behaviors Connect

Thought ➔ Feeling ➔ Behavior

• Our thoughts about a situation shape how we feel.
• Those feelings lead us to act in certain ways.

Point to each section of the diagram. Explain that thoughts influence feelings, which then guide behaviors. Use a pointer or highlight each arrow.

Our Detective Tools

– Detective Notebook Template
– Negative Thought Cards
– Reframing Thought Cards
– Feelings Wheel Visual
– Coloring Supplies & Stickers

Show the physical materials or images on screen. Briefly describe each tool and how we’ll use it during the session.

Step 1: Investigate Negative Thoughts

  1. Pick or write a negative thought in your Detective Notebook.
  2. Identify how it made you feel.
  3. Record what you did afterward.

Guide the student to choose or write a negative thought. Ask probing questions: “How did this thought make you feel?” and “What did you do next?” Record answers in the notebook.

Step 2: Art-Infused Reframing

  1. Choose a Reframing Thought Card.
  2. Decorate it with colors and drawings.
  3. Write a balanced thought (e.g., “I can learn with practice”).

Provide reframing cards and art supplies. Encourage creativity: drawings, colors, stickers. Ask: “What evidence supports this kinder thought?”

Step 3: Reflection & Debrief

• Place a sticky note on the Feelings Wheel to show your emotion now.
• Compare how you felt before vs. after reframing.

Have the student place a sticky note on the feelings wheel to show the shift. Compare the original vs. reframed thought and its impact.

Detective Badge & Next Steps

Congratulations, Detective! 🎉
• Thoughts influence feelings but can be re-examined and changed.
• Use your Detective Notebook at home for any new “mystery thoughts.”

Praise the student’s detective work and award a badge sticker. Remind them to use the Detective Notebook at home whenever they notice a “mystery thought.”

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Worksheet

Detective Notebook Template

Date: ____________________ Time: ____________________

1. My Negative Thought







2. Situation / What Was Happening?







3. How Did I Feel? (Name the emotion + Rate intensity 1–10)







4. What Did I Do? (My Behavior)







5. Evidence That Supports This Thought












6. Evidence That Does Not Support This Thought












7. New Balanced Thought (Reframe)












8. How Do I Feel Now? (Name the emotion + Rate intensity 1–10)







9. Detective Doodle: (Draw or Write Clues for Next Time)












Detective’s Signature: ____________________________
Comments / Notes:







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Activity

Negative Thought Cards

Instructions:
Choose one that matches a negative thought you’ve had, or write your own on the blank card.

“I’m not good enough.”

“I always mess up.”

“People don’t like me.”

“I’ll never be able to do this.”

“Nothing ever goes right for me.”

“I’m a failure.”

“I can’t do anything right.”

Blank Card – Write Your Own Thought:

__________________________________________

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Activity

Reframing Thought Cards

Instructions:
Write a kinder, more balanced thought in the space provided below.

Original Thought: “I’m not good enough.”
Balanced Thought:







Original Thought: “I always mess up.”
Balanced Thought:







Original Thought: “People don’t like me.”
Balanced Thought:







Original Thought: “I’ll never be able to do this.”
Balanced Thought:







Original Thought: “Nothing ever goes right for me.”
Balanced Thought:







Original Thought: “I’m a failure.”
Balanced Thought:







Original Thought: “I can’t do anything right.”
Balanced Thought:







Original Thought (Your Own):

Balanced Thought:







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Reading

Feelings Wheel Visual

Use this wheel to help you find and name the exact feelings you have. Identifying your emotions clearly can make it easier to understand why you think or act a certain way.

How to Use the Feelings Wheel

  1. Look at the six main emotion sections in the center.
  2. Move outward to the next ring for more specific feelings.
  3. Choose the word that best matches how you feel right now.
  4. Circle or point to that word.

[ HAPPY ] [ SURPRISED ] [ DISGUST ]
| | |
Joyful – Proud Startled – Confused Disappointed – Repulsed
Content – Excited Amazed – Curious Guilty – Embarrassed
 
 
[ ANGRY ] [ SAD ] [ FEAR ]
| | |
Frustrated – Jealous Lonely – Hurt Worried – Nervous
Annoyed – Mad Disappointed – Tired Scared – Insecure

Practice Activity

Circle or point to the feeling you have right now:





If you’re not sure which word fits, pick the broader category (center ring) and talk about why you feel that way.

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