Emotion Sleuth

Worksheet Description

This worksheet places students in the role of an “emotion detective” who studies a scene involving a child and a dog. Students examine facial expressions, body language, and the surrounding environment to infer what might have happened before the moment shown. They answer questions about possible emotions the child might be experiencing and identify clues that helped them reach those conclusions. The worksheet also encourages students to imagine possible thoughts and events that may have influenced the child’s feelings.

Working through this activity builds strong observation and reasoning skills as students learn to gather clues from visual details. It also promotes empathy by encouraging learners to consider what another person might be feeling or thinking. Students develop emotional literacy as they connect behaviors, situations, and expressions with specific emotions. These abilities support stronger interpersonal understanding and help students become thoughtful problem-solvers in social situations.

This worksheet is part of our emotional regulation toolkit DBT Therapy worksheet series.