Free I Feel Sentence Strip Template
A themed sentence strip that pairs a fixed I feel starter with cut-out feelings cards, so your child can hand you a whole sentence about how they feel instead of melting down.
- Free printable PDF
- Editable in browser
I feel ___ ___ ___
Cut out these cards
Print the picture-card version for a ready-to-cut strip. The blank base is for your own cards.
- Print the strip. The picture-card version prints the base and its cards together.
- Laminate the strip base and cut out the picture cards.
- Add velcro to each card and each blank slot on the strip.
- Your child places cards after the starter word to build a sentence.
The I feel sentence strip gives your child a way to tell you what is going on inside. They start with the fixed I feel opener, then add an emotion card like angry, sad, or happy to finish the sentence. Handing you I feel plus angry is a clear, calm request for help, and it gives you a chance to step in before a feeling boils over.
This template prints in two parts. The blank version is a reusable strip base: the boxless I feel starter followed by empty slots and a label frame, ready to laminate and keep. The with symbols version adds a matching tray of feelings cards, cut to the exact slot size, so every card your child picks drops neatly onto the strip.
Set the strip somewhere your child can reach it, and model a full sentence a few times a day. Name your own feelings out loud as you build the strip, then hand it back and respond when your child names theirs. Over time the strip becomes a reliable, low-stress way for your child to say how they feel.
When to use this template
Best once your child uses single cards and you want to grow emotion words, or any time big feelings lead to meltdowns you would like to catch early.
How to customize this template
- Swap a drawing for a photo of your child making each face, so the card matches the feeling they see in the mirror.
- Keep the words your family already uses, whether that is mad or angry, scared or worried.
- Add a calm-down choice card next to the feelings, like a quiet space, so the next step is right there.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an I feel sentence strip?
- It is a strip that holds a fixed I feel starter next to a blank slot. Your child adds a feelings card, like angry or happy, to finish the sentence, then hands you the whole strip so you can read how they feel at a glance.
- What feelings cards come with this strip?
- The tray covers five clear, high-use emotions: happy, sad, angry, scared, and calm. You can print the tray as is, or open it in the free editor to add the feelings your child needs most.
- What is the difference between the blank and with symbols versions?
- The blank version is the reusable strip base you laminate and keep: the I feel starter, empty slots, and a label frame. The with symbols version adds the matching tray of feelings cards to cut out and drop onto the slots.
- How is this different from single feelings cards?
- Single cards let a child hand over one emotion at a time. The sentence strip pairs a starter with the card so your child builds a fuller I feel sentence, which is usually the step families take once single feelings cards are reliable.
- Is this I feel sentence strip free to print?
- Yes. Download both the blank base and the with symbols version with no email required, or open the strip in the free editor to change the starter, set the number of slots, and swap in your own photos before you print.
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