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What's That Feeling in My Tummy?

Lesson Plan

Feeling Detectives Guide

Students will be able to identify and name common emotions by recognizing the physical sensations associated with them, building foundational self-awareness and emotional literacy.

Understanding how emotions feel in our bodies is the first step to managing them. This lesson empowers students to recognize these signals, helping them to better understand themselves and others.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through discussion, activities, and reflection, students will explore body-emotion connections.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, My Body's Emotion Signals, Body Scan Bingo, How Do I Feel Right Now?, and Crayons or Markers

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Feeling Check-in

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "How is your body feeling right now? Do you feel warm? Jumpy? Calm?"
    * Explain that our bodies give us clues about our feelings. Introduce the idea of being "feeling detectives."

Step 2

Introduction: Body's Emotion Signals

10 minutes

  • Present the My Body's Emotion Signals.
    * Go through each slide, discussing different emotions (happy, sad, angry, scared) and where students might feel them in their bodies (e.g., butterflies for scared, heavy heart for sad, warm fuzzy feeling for happy).
    * Encourage students to share their own experiences and sensations.

Step 3

Activity: Body Scan Bingo

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Body Scan Bingo activity sheets and crayons/markers.
    * Explain the game: You will call out a body part (e.g., "hands," "tummy," "feet"). Students will then think about what feelings they might have felt in that body part and draw a picture or write a word about that feeling in the corresponding box.
    * Play a few rounds, guiding students to connect physical sensations with emotions. Example prompts: "What does it feel like in your hands when you're excited?" or "Where do you feel it when you're frustrated?"

Step 4

Cool-Down: Reflect and Share

5 minutes

  • Distribute the How Do I Feel Right Now? exit tickets.
    * Ask students to complete the sheet, drawing or writing about a feeling they are experiencing and where they feel it in their body.
    * Collect the cool-downs as an informal assessment.
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Slide Deck

What's That Feeling in My Tummy?

Let's become Feeling Detectives!

Welcome students and introduce the idea of exploring how our bodies tell us about our feelings. Ask them if they've ever felt a 'funny feeling' in their tummy when they're nervous.

Your Body, Your Clues

Our bodies tell us how we feel inside!

  • Head: Sometimes feels warm or tight.
  • Heart: Can beat fast or slow.
  • Tummy: Might feel butterflies or a growl.
  • Hands: Can get shaky or clammy.

Explain that our bodies give us clues about our emotions. Just like a 'check engine' light in a car, our bodies have 'feeling lights'!

When I'm Happy...

I might feel:

  • A big smile on my face!
  • A warm, fuzzy feeling in my chest.
  • Light and bouncy in my feet.
  • My body feels relaxed and ready to play!

Discuss happiness. Ask students: "Where do you feel happy in your body?" Encourage sharing. Connect to physical sensations like a light chest, big smile, or bouncy feet.

When I'm Sad...

I might feel:

  • Tears in my eyes.
  • A heavy feeling in my chest or tummy.
  • My shoulders might droop down.
  • My body feels slow and tired.

Discuss sadness. Ask students: "Where do you feel sad in your body?" Emphasize that it's okay to feel sad. Connect to physical sensations like a heavy chest, teary eyes, or a slumped posture.

When I'm Angry...

I might feel:

  • My face getting hot.
  • My hands wanting to clench into fists.
  • My muscles feeling tight.
  • My heart beating fast.

Discuss anger. Ask students: "Where do you feel angry in your body?" Explain that anger is a strong feeling and it's important to recognize it. Connect to sensations like a hot face, tight fists, or a tense body.

When I'm Scared...

I might feel:

  • My heart beating super fast!
  • Butterflies dancing in my tummy.
  • My eyes opening wide.
  • My body wants to freeze or run away!

Discuss fear/scared. Ask students: "Where do you feel scared in your body?" Validate that it's normal to feel scared sometimes. Connect to sensations like a fast heart, butterflies in the tummy, or wide eyes.

Be a Feeling Detective!

Your body is amazing! It tells you how you feel.

  • Listen to your tummy.
  • Notice your heart.
  • Pay attention to your hands and face.

What clues is your body giving you right now?

Recap the importance of listening to our bodies. Reiterate that all feelings are okay and our bodies give us important messages.

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Activity

Body Scan Bingo: Where Do You Feel It?

Instructions: Your teacher will call out a body part. Think about how that body part feels when you have different emotions. Draw a picture or write a word about a feeling you have felt in that body part!

My Tummy





My Chest





My Hands





My Head





FREE SPOT: My Heart





My Legs/Feet





My Shoulders





My Face





My Arms





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Cool Down

How Do I Feel Right Now?

Instructions: Think about how you are feeling right now. Draw a picture of your feeling AND draw where you feel it in your body.





















Bonus: Can you write the name of your feeling below?

My feeling is:




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What's That Feeling in My Tummy? • Lenny Learning