Emotion Recognition Activity

This activity is designed to help you identify and label different emotions using both visual aids and real-life scenarios. It connects with the ideas we discussed in Session 1: Recognizing Emotions.

Activity Instructions

1. Identify Emotions in Pictures:

   • Look at the visual aids provided by your teacher. Identify the emotion shown in each picture.
   • Write down the emotion you think is being shown (e.g., happy, sad, angry, surprised).
     
     
     

2. Label Emotions in Situations:

   • Listen to the short stories or scenarios shared by your teacher.
   • Tell which emotion you think each character might be feeling. Explain why you think so using clues like facial expressions or body language.
     
     
     
     
     
     

3. Create Your Own Emotion Card:

   • Choose an emotion you feel strongly about or feel you sometimes struggle to manage.
   • On a small card or piece of paper, draw a picture or write a sentence about a time when you felt this emotion. Include a label describing the emotion.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Discussion Questions

• How can you tell if someone is feeling a certain way just by looking at their face or how they act?
  
  
  
• What are some signs in your body that can help you know when you are feeling strong emotions?
  
  
  
• How might recognizing emotions help you feel more in control during tough moments?
  
  
  

Follow-Up Points

• Reflection: At the end of the activity, share which part helped you the most in understanding how emotions work.
  
  
  

• Practice: Think of one situation from your day where you could practice recognizing your emotions. What strategy might you use next time you feel strong emotions?
  
  
  

• Support: If you ever feel overwhelmed by your emotions, remember the calming strategies we discussed, like taking deep breaths or using a calm-down corner.
  
  
  

This activity is a step toward becoming more aware of your feelings and learning how to express them in a safe and healthy way. Enjoy the activity and remember, each step you take is progress in managing your emotions better!

Calm Strategy Game

This game is designed to help reinforce the coping strategies learned in Session 2 by engaging you in a fun and interactive way. In this game, you will practice different calming techniques when faced with challenging situations.

Game Overview

• Objective: Use calming strategies and self-talk to manage difficult emotions in simulated scenarios.
• Duration: Approximately 15-20 minutes per play session.
• Materials: Calm down card deck (can be created with images or words representing calming techniques), timer, and a score sheet.

How to Play

1. Set Up:

   • Place the card deck face down. Each card will have a different scenario or emotion on it (e.g., "Feeling Angry", "Feeling Overwhelmed", "Feeling Sad").
   • Decide on a score: for example, 1 point per correct and calm response.
   • Set a timer for 1 minute per round.

2. Game Rounds:

   • A card is drawn from the deck, revealing a scenario or emotion.
   • You will have 1 minute to decide and perform ONE calming strategy from the ones you practiced (e.g., deep breathing, counting, using a calm-down corner, or saying a calming phrase).
   • After performing the strategy, explain aloud why you chose that strategy and how it helped you feel better.
   • If you demonstrate the strategy effectively and explain your reasoning, you earn a point.

3. Role-Playing:

   • If you are playing with a teacher or a peer, they can help simulate a challenging scenario by describing the situation in greater detail.
   • You continue to role-play the scenario using your calming techniques.

4. Reflection:

   • After each round, take a few seconds to reflect: How did using that strategy make you feel? Could another strategy be tried?
   • Discuss these reflections with your teacher or journal them down.

Discussion Questions After the Game

• Which strategy did you find worked best for you and why?
  
  
  
• Was there a scenario that was more challenging than others? What could you do differently next time?
  
  
  
• How might using these calming strategies help you in real-life situations at school or home?
  
  
  

Follow-Up Points

• Practice Regularly: Try playing this game daily or a few times a week to build a strong habit of using calming strategies.
• Switch Roles: Have the teacher or peer suggest different scenarios to challenge you further.
• Keep a Score: Track your progress over time to see how your responses might improve.

Enjoy playing the Calm Strategy Game, and remember: each time you use a calming strategy, you are becoming more skilled at managing your emotions!

Good luck and have fun being calm and cool!

Reflection Journal

Welcome to your Reflection Journal! This space is designed to help you think about what you've learned and how you've grown over the past few sessions. As you work through each prompt, take your time and write your thoughts in as much detail as you feel comfortable with. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers—your feelings and experiences are what truly matter.

Session 1 Reflection: Recognizing Emotions

• What new emotions did you learn about, and how did you recognize them in yourself or others?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How did the discussion about actions like flipping desks or hitting make you think about your own behavior?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What was one thing that surprised you about understanding emotions?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Session 2 Reflection: Practicing Coping Strategies

• Which coping strategy (like deep breathing or counting) did you try today? How did it make you feel?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Can you describe a moment during the role-play that felt challenging? What did you do to feel calmer?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How do you think practicing these strategies can help you in other situations at school or home?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Session 3 Reflection: Consolidation & Goal Setting

• Looking back at all the sessions, what is one strategy or idea that you found most helpful?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What is a small goal you can set for yourself to use these strategies in everyday life?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How do you feel about your journey in learning to manage your emotions and actions?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Take your time to complete these thoughts. When you're finished, feel free to share your reflections with your teacher or keep them for your personal growth. Every word you write is a step toward understanding and supporting yourself better!