Lesson Plan

Feeling Detective Lesson Plan

Students will identify and label four basic emotions—happy, sad, angry, and scared—through interactive games and group activities, then practice expressing and reflecting on their feelings.

Building emotional literacy in Pre-Kers promotes self-awareness, healthy expression, and empathy, supporting social-emotional development and a positive classroom climate.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Mystery Feelings Game

5 minutes

Step 2

Introduction: Emotion Explorer Slides

5 minutes

Step 3

Activity: Emotion Charades Circle

15 minutes

Step 4

Cool-Down: Emotion Circle Reflection

5 minutes

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Slide Deck

Feeling Detective: Emotion Explorer

Welcome everyone! Today we’re going on a Feeling Detective adventure. Tell children we’ll explore four big feelings and learn to spot them in ourselves and friends.

Happy

Show the slide. Point to the smiling face. Ask: “When do you feel happy? Can you make a happy face?” Use positive reinforcement.

Sad

Ask children: “What makes you feel sad? Can you show me your sad face?” Encourage sharing and empathize.

Angry

Invite students: “When have you felt angry? How does your body feel?” Guide them to stomp their feet or cross their arms.

Scared

Ask: “What makes you scared? What do you do when you’re scared?” Validate feelings and reassure safety.

Feeling Review

Review all four feelings quickly. Point to each emoji and ask children to shout the feeling name. Celebrate their detective work!

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Warm Up

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Activity

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Cool Down

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Feeling Detective?

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