Christmas Feelings Exploration

Rosemary Pinkerton

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Christmas Feelings Exploration

Christmas feelings

This lesson helps kindergarten students explore and express their feelings during the Christmas season. Using a trauma-informed approach, the lesson includes a reading activity, a video, and a coloring sheet to engage students and help them understand and articulate their emotions. This lesson is important as it supports emotional literacy and provides a safe space for students to express their feelings, fostering a supportive classroom environment.

Audience

Kindergarten

Time

20min

Approach

Trauma-Informed Teaching

Materials

Video: The Feelings Song, Christmas Feelings Coloring Sheet, and Reading: Christmas Feelings Story

Step 1

Introduction

3 mins

Gather students in a circle on the carpet.
Briefly discuss the Christmas season and ask students how it makes them feel.
Explain that today they will learn about different feelings and how to express them.

Step 2

Reading Activity

5 mins

Read the Christmas Feelings Story about a character experiencing different emotions during Christmas.
Pause to ask students how they think the character feels and why.

Step 3

Video Viewing

5 mins

Show the video The Feelings Song.
Encourage students to sing along and identify different feelings mentioned in the song.

Step 4

Coloring Activity

5 mins

Distribute the Christmas Feelings Coloring Sheet.
Ask students to color the sheet based on how they feel about Christmas.
Encourage them to use colors that represent their emotions.

Step 5

Closure

2 mins

Gather students back in a circle.
Invite a few students to share their coloring sheets and explain their feelings.
Reinforce the idea that all feelings are okay and it's important to express them.

Worksheet

Christmas Feelings Coloring Sheet

A coloring sheet designed to help students express their feelings about Christmas through art. Students can use colors to represent different emotions they associate with the holiday.

Color the Christmas tree with colors that show how you feel about Christmas.

Use colors that represent your emotions, like blue for calm or red for excitement.

Reading

Christmas Feelings Story

A short story about a character experiencing different emotions during the Christmas season, designed to help students relate to and understand their own feelings.

Title: Emma's Christmas Surprise

Emma loved Christmas. She loved the twinkling lights, the smell of cookies baking, and the sound of carols playing softly in the background. But this year, Emma felt a little different. She was excited, but also a bit nervous. Her family was visiting her grandparents in a new town, and she wasn't sure what to expect.

As they arrived, Emma's heart raced with excitement. The house was beautifully decorated, and the tree sparkled with ornaments. But when she saw her cousins, she felt a little shy. They were playing a game she didn't know, and she wasn't sure how to join in.

Emma took a deep breath and remembered what her mom always said: "It's okay to feel nervous. Just be yourself." Gathering her courage, she asked if she could play too. Her cousins smiled and welcomed her into the game.

By the end of the day, Emma felt happy and proud. She had made new friends and had a wonderful time. As she snuggled into bed that night, she realized that Christmas was about more than just presents and decorations. It was about being with family and feeling all kinds of emotions, and that was okay.