Feelings Match: Which Moment Fits the Face?
Eight feelings shown as faces. For each one the child finds an everyday moment that could cause it, like a lost toy or a birthday party.
How to run it
Read each moment aloud first so reading is not the barrier. When a face appears, ask the child to name it before matching, then talk about the match: why could a thunderstorm feel scary? Accept a sensible reason even when it is not the one on the card. One child is thrilled by thunder, and saying so is good perspective-taking, not an error.
Cueing ladder
Start at the top. Add support one step at a time.
- IndependentSet up the situation and wait for the student to respond on their own.Log as correct
- Nonverbal cueUse a look, a gesture or a point to the visual cue card.Log as cued
- Indirect promptAsk 'What could you say now?' or 'How do you think they feel?'Log as cued
- ModelShow what to say or do, then run the moment again so the student can try it.Log as cued
Adjust it
Use fewer feelings at a time, starting with the most different ones, like happy and sad.
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 feeling words, each shown with its face: happy, sad, scared, surprised, angry, tired, lonely and confused. Below them sit eight everyday moments, like a birthday party with friends or a loud thunderstorm at night. The child looks at the face, names the feeling, and finds a moment that could bring it on. It links what a face shows to why someone might feel that way.
What to listen for
Watch whether the child matches on the feeling or on surface words. A child who links sad to the ice cream cone because ice cream is nice is matching on the object, not the feeling. Listen for the reason as much as the choice. Lonely and sad are often swapped, which is a good moment to talk about how being left out feels.
Carrying it home
At home, play feeling detective during the day: when something happens, ask how someone might feel and why. Share your own feelings in simple words, such as I feel tired after work today. Reading a picture book together and pausing on a character's face works well too.
What's in this activity
- happy a birthday party with friends
- sad an ice cream cone falls on the ground
- scared a loud thunderstorm at night
- surprised a present you did not expect
- angry someone knocks your tower down on purpose
- tired bedtime after a long busy day
- lonely eating lunch with no one to sit with
- confused directions that did not make sense
Questions
- Who is this for?
- Kindergarten through second grade students building emotion vocabulary and learning that feelings have causes. It suits small groups as well as one-to-one sessions.
- 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 freeFree for SLPs. No card, no trial clock.