Lesson Plan
All Feelings Are Okay
Students will be able to identify and express a range of emotions, understanding that all feelings, including sadness or anger related to grief, are valid and acceptable.
It's important for children to learn that feelings are natural and that it's okay to experience them all, especially during difficult times like grief. This lesson provides a safe space to explore and validate their emotional experiences.
Audience
K-3rd Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through interactive media, discussion, and hands-on activities.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Speakers for video playback, All Feelings Are Okay Slide Deck, Feelings Exploration Worksheet, Emotion Sorting Game Cards, Emotion Charades Activity Guide, Feelings Fortune Teller Game, My Grief Journey Project Guide, Drawing paper, and Crayons or markers
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
- Review the All Feelings Are Okay Slide Deck and ensure all links and content are accessible.
- Print and cut out the Feelings Exploration Worksheet and Emotion Sorting Game Cards.
- Gather drawing paper and art supplies (crayons, markers).
- Ensure video and audio equipment are working for
Step 1
Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling Today?
3 minutes
- Greet students and ask them to share one feeling they are experiencing today, without judgment. Reassure them that all feelings are okay.
- Teacher Note: Use All Feelings Are Okay Slide Deck Slide 1-2.
Step 2
Introduction: What Are Feelings?
5 minutes
- Use All Feelings Are Okay Slide Deck to introduce the concept of feelings.
- Discuss different emotions: happy, sad, angry, scared. Ask students to share what these feelings look like or feel like in their bodies.
- Emphasize: 'All feelings are okay. Feelings come and go like waves.'
Step 3
Video & Discussion: Big Bird Talks About Sadness
7 minutes
- Show the
Step 4
Book Reading: When Dinosaurs Die
7 minutes
- Read selected pages from
Step 5
Activity: Emotion Sorting Game
5 minutes
- Distribute Emotion Sorting Game Cards.
- Students sort the cards into categories of happy, sad, angry, or scared. Encourage discussion about why they placed cards in certain categories.
- Teacher Note: Facilitate discussion by asking questions like: 'Why might someone feel happy when a new baby arrives?' or 'Why might someone feel sad when a pet dies?'
Step 6
Worksheet: Feelings Exploration
5 minutes
- Hand out the Feelings Exploration Worksheet and art supplies.
- Students will draw or write about a time they felt happy, sad, or a different emotion.
- Encourage them to think about what made them feel that way and what they did.
- Teacher Note: Circulate and provide support. Reiterate that all feelings are okay.
Step 7
Cool Down: Sharing One New Idea
3 minutes
- Ask students to share one new idea they learned about feelings today.
- Thank them for sharing their feelings and thoughts. Reaffirm that they are brave for talking about their emotions.
- Teacher Note: Use All Feelings Are Okay Slide Deck Slide 10.
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Slide Deck
Welcome! How Are You Feeling Today?
It's okay to feel whatever you feel!
Welcome students and set a warm, inviting tone. Ask each student to share one feeling they have right now, encouraging them to know that all feelings are okay.
What Are Feelings?
Feelings are like colors in a rainbow! They make us who we are.
- Happy!
- Sad!
- Angry!
- Scared!
- And so many more...
Introduce the idea that we all have many feelings. Explain that feelings are like messages from our bodies. Happy, sad, angry, scared – all are important!
All Feelings Are Okay!
Just like waves in the ocean, feelings come and go.
It's okay to feel happy.
It's okay to feel sad.
It's okay to feel angry.
It's okay to feel scared.
Every feeling is okay to have!
Emphasize that all feelings are okay. Use the analogy of waves – feelings come and go. Reassure students that there's no 'right' or 'wrong' way to feel.
Even Big Bird feels sad sometimes. Let's see what he has to say.
Introduce the video. Explain that Big Bird is going to talk about feeling sad, which is a very normal feeling, especially when we miss someone.
Talking About Sadness
What did Big Bird feel?
Why did he feel that way?
What did his friends do to help?
What did you learn about feeling sad?
After the video, facilitate a brief discussion. Ask students what Big Bird felt and why. How did his friends help him? What did they learn about sadness?
Reading Time: When Dinosaurs Die
This book helps us understand big feelings we might have when someone dies. It's okay to ask questions and share what you think.
Introduce the book. Explain that it talks about death and feelings. Reassure them that the book helps us understand these big feelings.
Game Time: Emotion Sorting!
We have cards with different pictures and words. Your job is to sort them into these feeling groups:
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Scared
Talk with your group about why you sort them the way you do!
Explain the Emotion Sorting Game. Show them the cards and explain how they will sort them into feeling categories. Emphasize that there are no wrong answers in how they feel.
My Feelings Exploration
Now it's your turn to explore your feelings!
You can draw or write about:
- A time you felt happy
- A time you felt sad
- Or any other feeling you want to share!
Remember, all your feelings are okay.
Introduce the worksheet. Explain that they will get to express their feelings through drawing or writing. Encourage them to be creative and honest.
Reflecting on Our Feelings
What is one new thing you learned about feelings today?
Remember:
- All your feelings are okay!
- It's brave to talk about how you feel.
- Feelings can change, and that's normal.
Conclude by reiterating the main message. Ask students to share one thing they learned. Thank them for their participation and courage.
Worksheet
My Feelings Exploration
It's okay to feel all sorts of feelings! Draw or write about a time you felt each of these emotions.
When I felt HAPPY...
I felt happy when:
It felt like:
When I felt SAD...
I felt sad when:
It felt like:
When I felt ANGRY...
I felt angry when:
It felt like:
When I felt SCARED...
I felt scared when:
It felt like:
Activity
Emotion Sorting Game Cards
Instructions for Teacher: Print these cards and cut them out. Students will sort them into categories: Happy, Sad, Angry, Scared. Encourage discussion about why they placed cards in certain categories.
Categories:
HAPPY
SAD
ANGRY
SCARED
Image/Scenario Cards (Print multiple copies for sorting):
- A child laughing and playing with friends.
- A child getting a new toy.
- A child hugging their parent.
- A child with a big smile and bright eyes.
- A child losing their favorite stuffed animal.
- A child watching a sad movie.
- A child saying goodbye to a friend moving away.
- A child with tears in their eyes.
- A child whose tower of blocks fell over.
- A child stomping their foot and frowning.
- A child being told they can't have more candy.
- A child with crossed arms and a red face.
- A child hearing a loud unexpected noise.
- A child alone in a dark room.
- A child imagining a monster under the bed.
- A child with wide eyes and a gasping mouth.
Game
Feelings Fortune Teller Game
Instructions for Teacher: Print these instructions and guide students in folding their own 'Feelings Fortune Teller' (also known as a cootie catcher). This game encourages students to talk about different feelings in a fun, interactive way.
Materials:
- One square piece of paper per student (8.5x8.5 inches works well)
- Markers or crayons
Folding Instructions (Guide students step-by-step):
-
Start with a square piece of paper, color side up (if applicable).
-
Fold the paper in half diagonally, then unfold. Repeat with the other diagonal. You should have an 'X' crease.
-
Fold all four corners into the center point where the creases meet.
-
Flip the paper over.
-
Fold all four new corners into the center point.
-
Now you should see four smaller squares on the outside. Write one feeling word on each of these squares: HAPPY, SAD, ANGRY, SCARED.
-
Flip the paper over again. You should see four flaps. Under each flap, write two numbers (1-8). For example, under the 'Happy' flap, you might write '1' and '2'. Under 'Sad', '3' and '4', etc.
-
Now, lift each of these flaps (where you wrote the numbers). Inside, under each number, write a question about feelings.
Question Examples:
- (Under HAPPY, number 1):
Project Guide
My Grief Journey Project Guide
Project Title: My Feelings Tree
Objective: To provide students with a creative and reflective way to acknowledge and express the various emotions they experience, especially those related to grief, understanding that all feelings are part of their journey.
Audience: K-3rd Grade Students
Materials:
- Large sheet of paper or construction paper
- Crayons, markers, colored pencils
- Stickers, glitter, craft materials (optional)
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
-
Draw Your Tree (10 minutes): On your large paper, draw a big tree with branches. This tree represents you and your feelings. It can be any kind of tree you like!
-
Leaves of Feeling (15 minutes): Cut out many small leaf shapes from different colored papers (or draw and color them). Each leaf will represent a feeling you have.
- On some leaves, write or draw about happy feelings you have.
- On other leaves, write or draw about sad feelings you have.
- On some, show angry feelings.
- And on others, scared feelings.
- You can also add other feelings you know!
-
Attach Your Leaves (10 minutes): Glue your feeling leaves onto the branches of your tree. You can put them anywhere on the tree, showing how all your feelings are a part of you.
-
Share Your Tree (Optional, 5 minutes per student): If you feel comfortable, share your Feelings Tree with your group. You can tell us about some of the feelings on your tree and why they are there. Remember, there are no right or wrong feelings, and it's brave to share.
Assessment Criteria:
- Participation: Engaged in creating the Feelings Tree and discussing emotions (if shared).
- Expression: Demonstrated an attempt to represent different emotions through drawing or writing on the leaves.
- Understanding: Showed an understanding that all feelings are okay and part of their personal experience.