Body Mapping - Linking Body Sensations to Feelings and Emotions

Are you looking for an engaging interoception activity to help your students identify their own feelings and emotions? Body mapping is an excellent SEL activity to support students develop their ability to recognise their own emotions.

This is a low-prep interoception activity with a lesson plan, visuals, tip sheet, and open and closure activity which is ready to go. You just need to bring the pens and pencils!

Often students are taught to increase their emotional vocab and identify feelings in others (understanding verbal and non-verbal cues). However, this misses a key part of interoception and emotional regulation - being able to recognise emotions in themselves (which can be tricky!) To do this students need to be able to notice their own body sensations and link these sensations to emotions. Do you work with students who struggle with emotional regulation? They may have trouble noticing small sensations in their body until they feel really large sensations... this is why this is a critical skill for children to learn.

This interoception resource can be used for multiple lessons! Focus on different emotions each lesson, as students progress they will likely become more adept at noticing different body sensations and therefore noticing and recognising feelings in themselves.

I have used this resource with kids from 5 years old to 12 years old. Working 1:1, to small groups or a whole class. It's adaptable and a great tool to have in your kit!

Those students who seem to go from 0-100 without warning? Spend some time working with them to notice emotions for when they are starting to loose control, e.g. frustrated, confused, annoyed.

What's included:

• Body mapping lesson plan (1 page)
• Tip sheet (with talking points) for teaching this lesson
• Warm up activity - three body sensations experiments
• Main activity - body mapping (worksheets provided with blank body outlines)
• Closure activity - body scan mediation to read to student(s)

Digital and Print versions of body mapping provided. Digital version is in PowerPoint - where students are able to drag and place sensations on the body. All other resources in pdf.

See the video preview for a closer look!

Instructions

1) Select an emotion

2) Ask the student(s) to draw an outline of their body on paper or use the body outlines provided

3) Ask the child to draw the facial features for this feeling (e.g. what happens with the eyebrows, eyes & mouth when you feel______)

4) Ask the student(s) to remember the last time they felt that emotion. Ask what sensations they had in their body when they felt ___________.

5) Ask students to draw or write the different sensations for the chosen feeling (you can use the body sensations visuals provided)

You may need to prompt students with some common examples of sensations (e.g. what did you notice about your breathing, did anything happen to your hands…)

Teachers & Therapists like you said: 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Extremely satisfied, Intentional Counselor (TpT Seller)

This was a helpful resource! I like how it came with multiple options for describing different body sensations. My students enjoyed it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Extremely satisfied, Keri K

I love how body sensations are explained in this resource. The interactive warm ups are really nice too!

Other resources that go perfectly with body mapping?

• The body sensation visuals! This pack features 85 different body sensations visuals that can be used to support your visual learners.
• Feelings & Body Sensations Thermometer Activity Bundle. Use this bundle to help students notice and differentiate between small, medium and large body sensations.
• The Interoception Bundle Has a wide range of helpful resources to support students with their body feelings.

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Disclaimer

These activities are intended for general use. This activity is not intended to replace the advice of a physician or occupational therapist. Information provided should not be used for diagnostic or training purposes. If you require specific support contact your physician or OT. Stop any activity if you are unsure about a child’s reaction or ability.

Copyright Occupational Therapy with Soph

All rights reserved by author. This resource is licensed only for the educator or clinician who purchased it. You may share with your own students or case load.

Questions

Any questions, comments, feedback or requests please reach out to me via TPT or at sophia.occupationaltherapy@gmail.com