---
title: "Triggers and Causes of Feelings"
description: "Understand that events, thoughts, memories and bodily needs can affect feelings, and begin to notice what may have brought on their own feelings"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/triggers-and-causes-of-feelings-mt_9Y5-GjF2B0
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/triggers-and-causes-of-feelings-mt_9Y5-GjF2B0.md
retrieved: 2026-11-12
---

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# Triggers and Causes of Feelings

Understand that events, thoughts, memories and bodily needs can affect feelings, and begin to notice what may have brought on their own feelings

Subject: Personal & Social Development · Area: Emotional Literacy · Ages 5 to 7
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/triggers-and-causes-of-feelings-mt_9Y5-GjF2B0

## Ready when they can

- Describe something that brought on three different feelings in their own experience, when they can identify it
- Complete 'I felt ___ because ___' sentences using a reason they know
- Identify what brought on a character's feeling when the story gives that reason

## Lesson: What Made You Feel That Way?

A trigger is something that brings on a feeling. It might be an event, a thought or a memory. Being hungry or tired can affect feelings too. Sometimes you do not know why you feel a certain way. You can still name the feeling.

**Example.** Mia's dog knocked over her tower. Mia said, 'I felt angry because my tower fell.' Then she stamped her foot. The tower falling was the trigger she named. Angry was her feeling. Stamping was her response, something she did afterward.

*(drawing: Mia tells us the reason for her feeling. The scene separates the trigger, feeling and response.)*

Ask, 'What might have brought on my feeling?' Think about what happened, what you were thinking and how your body felt. Something happening first does not always mean it caused the feeling. A trusted grown-up can help you think. You can say, 'I do not know yet.'

When you know the reason, try 'I felt ___ because ___.' Name the feeling before 'because' and its reason afterward. For example, 'I felt happy because my aunt visited.' Repeating the feeling does not explain its cause. Check which thing brought on the feeling.

**Recap.** Notice what may have brought on a feeling. Name the feeling, and give its reason when you know it.

*This lesson, quiz and flashcards were written for this dataset about noticing possible causes of feelings.*

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Optional connections

- [Feelings Change and Differ](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/feelings-change-and-differ-mt_ggcamLzXAy)

## Opens up

- [Expressing Feelings with Words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/expressing-feelings-with-words-mt_kvrvpQris4)
- [Culture and Experience Shape Emotions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/culture-and-experience-shape-emotions-mt_nIl1kKZHsk)
- [How emotions feel in your body](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/how-emotions-feel-in-your-body-mt_Ytd8XC3eQr)