Feelings Detectives Group Resources
Feelings Detectives Group Resources
Why is this group called "Feelings Detectives"
This is a targeted social-emotional learning group designed to help students develop their emotional intelligence, increase their self-awareness, emotional expression and regulation. In this group, we will work on identifying, describing, and understanding sizes of emotions; regulating emotions and behavior; and promoting self control and responsible decision making. This group is intended to be a fun, play-based way for students to increase their emotional regulation, problem solving, and self control skills.
Session 1: Introduction
Session Goals/Objectives
Students will...
Begin building rapport with one another and the school counselor
assess their emotional regulation and identification skills with a pre-survey
learn the rules of the group
learn the definition and limits of confidentiality
reflect on and share how they are feeling
understand the purpose and content of group
This week in group, students will focus on getting to know each other and setting the tone for a positive group experience.
This short, 4-minute video explains what emotions are and why it's important to give them a name.
Listen to Big Feelings by Alexandra Penfold.
Session 2: Self Awareness
Session Goals/Objectives
Students will...
identify their own strengths, supports and goals
ASCA Mindsets/Behaviors
Self confidence in ability to succeed
Create positive and supportive relationships
This week, students focused on self-awareness and self-esteem. They played a board game with prompts that encouraged them to refelct on their own strengths, identify people in their lives who support them, and think about how they can grow into their best selves.
Listen to The Boy Who Makes a Million Mistakes by Brenda Lee.
Listen to A Kids Book About Confidence by Joy Cho.
Session 3: Emotional Expression
Session Goals/Objectives
Students will...
practice expression uncomfortable emotions
ASCA Mindsets/Behaviors
Belief in development of whole self
Use effective oral and communication skills
Demonstrate effective coping skills
This week, we focused on understanding and expressing uncomfortable feeling like anger, sadness and worry. Students played a feelings game and talked about what "bugs" them and how different situations can bring up strong emotions. They also understood that different people can have different emotions (or sizes of emotions) in the same situation.
Support your student in recognizing their bugged feelings by asking/noticing the following:
"It seems like something is bugging you. Are you having a bugged feeling?"
"Can you tell me what is bugging you?"
"Today, I had a bugged feeling when... I felt ... when... because..."
"You were working so hard. It feels so _____________ that it didn't work out."
"It sounds like you're upset Matteo didn't want to play with you. Is that correct? Are you more sad, disappointed, or angry?"
"It sounds like you're feeling a little unsure about going to the dentist. That makes sense."
Session 4: Feelings and Triggers
Say: That really bugged you!
Ask: What feelings button did that push?
Say: You felt _______________.
Ask: How big/strong/intense was that feeling?
Session Goals/Objectives
Students will...
identify their feelings triggers and scalign the intensity of their emotions
students will understand that emotions come in different sizes
ASCA Mindsets/Behaviors
Self confidence in ability to succeed
Demonstrate effective coping skills when faced with a problem
This week, we continued our work with differentiating between emotions (sad, angry and worried are all uncomfortable but different emotions) while beginning to explore the idea that these can come in different sizes. Students will be introduced to new terms in the next few weeks that help them understand and name different sizes of emotions (disappointed v. sad, unsure v. worried, annoyed v. angry).
This 6-minute video helps children understand that not all feelings are a FIVE. Feelings - just like problems - come in different sizes.
Read aloud of the Britney Winn Lee's, The Boy with Big, Big Feelings.