Students in grades 1 through 4 learning which parts of a face carry emotional clues. It suits pragmatics and social communication goals for facial expressions.

Why does every question say might?

Because a face is a clue, not a certainty. Someone can smile when nervous or look serious when happy. Teaching might keeps the skill honest and leaves room for people who express feelings differently.

Can I change the items?

Yes. Open it in the Activity Studio, edit or add items and keep the same board, or switch it to another template that fits the content.

Yes. It plays free in the browser with no login. An account adds session data, goal scoring and assignment to a student.

Face Clues: What Might This Face Be Showing?

Eight short descriptions of eyes, eyebrows and mouths. The student picks the feeling the face might be showing.

Use with a student — free

Page 1 of 8

Her mouth turns up at the corners and her eyes crinkle. What might she be feeling?

This pass0 correct · 0 cued · 0 incorrect · 0/8

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How to run it

Read each description aloud and act it out with your own face if the student finds that helpful, then let them choose. After each answer, ask which clue told them, the eyebrows, the eyes or the mouth. Pair the quiz with a mirror or photos when you want to move from words to real faces. The wording says might on purpose: faces are clues, not proof.

Cueing ladder

Start at the top. Add support one step at a time.

Step 1IndependentSet up the situation and wait for the student to respond on their own.Log as correct
Step 2Nonverbal cueUse a look, a gesture or a point to the visual cue card.Log as cued
Step 3Indirect promptAsk 'What could you say now?' or 'How do you think they feel?'Log as cued
Step 4ModelShow what to say or do, then run the moment again so the student can try it.Log as cued

Adjust it

Easier

Use fewer feelings at a time, starting with the most different ones, like happy and sad.

Harder

Role-play with a new partner, or add a twist the student has not planned for.

Matching IEP goal

Given pictures of faces and short situations, Student will name the feeling shown and one reason someone might feel that way in 8 of 10 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions, given no more than an indirect prompt.

Send it home through the parent portal →

About this activity

Eight faces described in words rather than pictures: a mouth that turns up at the corners, eyebrows that pull down and together, eyelids that droop. For each description the student chooses the feeling the face might be showing, from happy, sad and angry to confused, tired and embarrassed. Describing the clues puts attention on the parts of the face that carry the message.

What to listen for

Notice which parts of the face the student uses. Some students rely on the mouth alone and miss eyebrow clues, which is why scared and surprised get mixed up. Listen for whether they can name the clue as well as the feeling. If they choose a different feeling and can explain a sensible reason, talk it through rather than marking it wrong in your head.

Carrying it home

At home, pause a show or a picture book on a face and ask what the eyebrows and mouth are doing, then what the person might feel. Say out loud what your own face is doing when you feel something. Keep it light, and remember that many people, autistic people among them, show feelings in ways that do not match these textbook faces.

What's in this activity

Her mouth turns up at the corners and her eyes crinkle. What might she be feeling?
- Happy
- Sad
- Scared
His eyebrows go up high and his mouth makes a round O. What might he be feeling?
- Bored
- Surprised
- Angry
Her eyebrows pull down and together and her lips press tight. What might she be feeling?
- Excited
- Sleepy
- Angry
His mouth turns down and his eyes look wet. What might he be feeling?
- Sad
- Proud
- Silly
Her eyes open very wide and her eyebrows pull up and together. What might she be feeling?
- Calm
- Scared
- Happy
His eyebrows squish together and his head tilts to one side. What might he be feeling?
- Confused
- Thrilled
- Sleepy
Her eyelids droop and she yawns. What might she be feeling?
- Furious
- Surprised
- Tired
His cheeks turn red and he looks down at the floor after he trips. What might he be feeling?
- Proud
- Embarrassed
- Hungry

Questions

Who is this for?: Students in grades 1 through 4 learning which parts of a face carry emotional clues. It suits pragmatics and social communication goals for facial expressions.
Why does every question say might?: Because a face is a clue, not a certainty. Someone can smile when nervous or look serious when happy. Teaching might keeps the skill honest and leaves room for people who express feelings differently.
Can I change the items?: Yes. Open it in the Activity Studio, edit or add items and keep the same board, or switch it to another template that fits the content.
Is it free?: Yes. It plays free in the browser with no login. An account adds session data, goal scoring and assignment to a student.

Use this board with your caseload

With a free account, every correct, cued and incorrect mark is saved to the student and scored against their IEP goal, with the data written up for you. Assign it as home practice through the parent portal.

Track progress free

Free for SLPs. No card, no trial clock.