Lesson Plan
Christmas Feelings Fest
Students will identify and articulate a range of emotions using Christmas-themed cards and role-play, building emotional vocabulary and social awareness.
Naming and discussing feelings strengthens self-regulation, empathy, and peer connections—essential social-emotional skills for 2nd graders, especially during festive times.
Audience
2nd Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive, themed activities & group discussion
Materials
- Emoji Snowflakes Cards, - Polar Express Emotions Wheel, - Christmas Emotions Scenario Cards, - Feelings Chart Poster, and - Whiteboard and Markers
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and cut out the Emoji Snowflakes Cards
- Laminate and attach the Polar Express Emotions Wheel to a bulletin board or magnetic surface
- Print, cut, and shuffle the Christmas Emotions Scenario Cards
- Display the Feelings Chart Poster where all students can see
- Gather whiteboard, markers, and seating area for group discussion
Step 1
Warm-Up Discussion
5 minutes
- Gather students in a circle near the whiteboard
- Introduce the holiday theme: “Today we’ll talk about feelings during Christmas!”
- Point to the Feelings Chart Poster and review emotion words (happy, excited, nervous, etc.)
- Ask: “How do you feel when you see holiday lights?” Have a few students share
Step 2
Snowflake Emotion Matching
10 minutes
- Give each student one Emoji Snowflakes Cards
- Invite students to find the matching emotion word on the Polar Express Emotions Wheel
- When matched, each student says the emotion aloud and shares a quick example of when they’ve felt it
- Encourage peer support: classmates cheer or clap for each student’s sharing
Step 3
Christmas Scenario Role-Play
10 minutes
- Divide students into small groups of 3–4
- Each group draws a card from the Christmas Emotions Scenario Cards
- Groups role-play their scenario, showing the emotion and stating why the character feels that way
- After each role-play, classmates name the emotion and link it to the Feelings Chart Poster
Step 4
Wrap-Up Reflection
5 minutes
- Reconvene in the circle
- Ask each student to share one new emotion word they learned
- Write these words on the whiteboard under a “Holiday Feelings” heading
- Praise students for naming feelings, emphasizing how talking about emotions helps us feel safe and understood
Slide Deck
Christmas Feelings Fest
Objective:
• Students will identify and articulate emotions using Christmas-themed activities.
Materials:
- Emoji Snowflakes Cards
- Polar Express Emotions Wheel
- Christmas Emotions Scenario Cards
- Feelings Chart Poster
- Whiteboard and markers
Welcome teachers! Today’s session guides 2nd graders through a festive, emotion-focused lesson. Introduce yourself and share the lesson objective. Use the “Materials” to ensure you have everything ready.
Warm-Up Discussion
- Gather in a circle near the whiteboard.
- Point to the Feelings Chart Poster and review words: happy, excited, nervous, etc.
- Ask: “How do you feel when you see holiday lights?”
- Invite 3–4 volunteers to share.
Gather students in a circle and revisit the Feelings Chart Poster. Encourage quiet voices and active listening. Prompt them with the holiday question and call on volunteers.
Snowflake Emotion Matching
- Hand out one Emoji Snowflakes Cards per student.
- Students find the matching emotion on the Polar Express Emotions Wheel.
- Say the emotion aloud and share a personal example.
- Peers cheer or clap after each share.
Distribute one Emoji Snowflake Card to each student. Circulate as they match their emoji to the wheel. Encourage students to speak clearly and applaud each other.
Christmas Scenario Role-Play
- Divide into groups of 3–4.
- Each group draws a Christmas Emotions Scenario Cards.
- Role-play the scenario, showing the emotion and explaining why.
- Classmates identify the emotion and reference the Feelings Chart Poster.
Form mixed groups of 3–4. Distribute scenario cards and give groups a minute to plan. Encourage clear role-plays and guide any shy students.
Wrap-Up Reflection
- Reconvene in the circle.
- Ask each student to share one new emotion word they learned.
- Write these words on the whiteboard under “Holiday Feelings.”
- Emphasize: talking about feelings helps us feel safe and understood.
Bring everyone back to the circle. Celebrate all contributions. Record new emotion words visibly to reinforce vocabulary.
Worksheet
Emoji Snowflakes Cards
Instructions: Print this page and cut along the dashed lines to create individual snowflake cards. Each card shows a festive snowflake shape with an emoji at its center. Distribute one card to each student for the “Snowflake Emotion Matching” activity.
| 😊 | 😢 | 😡 | 😲 |
|---|---|---|---|
| (happy) | (sad) | (angry) | (surprised) |
| 😱 | 😍 | 😴 | 😭 |
|---|---|---|---|
| (scared) | (loving) | (tired) | (crying) |
(Teacher Tip: Laminate these cards for durability. Students will match their emoji snowflake to the corresponding emotion word on the Polar Express Emotions Wheel.)
Activity
Polar Express Emotions Wheel
Instructions for Assembly:
- Print the two-page wheel template on sturdy cardstock.
- Laminate both pages for durability.
- Cut out the outer circle (with emotion segments) and the center circle (with train engine arrow).
- Use a brad (paper fastener) through the centers to attach the arrow to the wheel—ensuring it spins freely.
- Mount the assembled wheel on a bulletin board or magnetic surface.
Emotion Segments (12 total):
- Happy
- Excited
- Nervous
- Proud
- Calm
- Sad
- Worried
- Angry
- Surprised
- Scared
- Loving
- Tired
How to Use in Class:
- Invite a student to spin the train-engine arrow.
- When it lands on an emotion, ask the student (or the class) to share a moment they’ve felt that way.
- Link the chosen word back to the Feelings Chart Poster to reinforce vocabulary.
Teacher Tip: Keep the wheel visible throughout the lesson. Rotate through students quickly to maintain energy and engagement during the matching and role-play activities.
Worksheet
Christmas Emotions Scenario Cards
Instructions: Print this page and cut along the dashed lines to create individual scenario cards. Shuffle the cards and place them facedown. Each student (or small group) draws one card, role-plays the situation, and then names and explains the emotion their character is feeling.
You wake up on Christmas morning and see a pile of gifts under the tree.
You have to sing a solo in the school’s holiday concert in front of all your classmates.
You receive a gift that isn’t what you expected.
You see your little cousin sobbing because they droppped their cookie.
You finish wrapping every present all by yourself.
You hear a strange noise on the roof while you’re hanging the last ornament.
You taste a new holiday treat that’s extra delicious.
You stay up too late and feel sleepy the next morning when it’s time to open presents.
You realize Santa forgot to leave a gift for you and your heart sinks.
Your friend gives you a big hug because they’re happy to see you.
You accidentally spill hot cocoa on the new holiday sweater you just got.
You find a surprise letter from a pen pal thanking you for a Christmas card you sent.
Rubric
Christmas Feelings Assessment Rubric
This rubric evaluates students’ ability to identify, articulate, and share emotions during the “Christmas Feelings Fest” activities. Teachers can use it to guide observations during the Snowflake Emotion Matching, Polar Express Emotions Wheel spins, and Christmas Scenario Role-Plays.
| Criteria | 4 – Exemplary | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Emotion Identification | Independently and quickly matches every Emoji Snowflakes Cards emoji to the correct emotion word on the Polar Express Emotions Wheel without errors. | Matches most emojis correctly with only 1–2 minor errors; self-corrects when prompted. | Matches some correctly but needs teacher or peer support for others. | Struggles to match emojis to emotion words, even with support. |
| Use of Emotional Vocabulary | Uses a rich variety of emotion words (e.g., excited, worried, proud) during share-outs and role-plays; draws on the Feelings Chart Poster. | Uses basic emotion vocabulary (e.g., happy, sad, angry) accurately in most discussions. | Uses a limited set of words or repeats the same word; may default to general terms like “good” or “bad.” | Rarely uses emotion words or relies solely on gestures to convey feelings. |
| Explanation & Articulation | Provides clear, detailed examples of when they’ve felt a given emotion or why a character feels that way during Christmas Scenario Role-Play. | Gives an example or brief explanation of the emotion, though it may lack detail. | Offers vague or incomplete explanations (e.g., “I feel happy because… stuff”). | Cannot articulate reasons for emotions or examples are unrelated to the scenario. |
| Engagement & Collaboration | Actively participates in all group activities, cheers peers, listens respectfully, and helps classmates connect their emotions to the Feelings Chart Poster. | Joins activities when prompted, cooperates in small groups, and generally follows discussion norms. | Participates inconsistently; may need reminders to share or to listen to classmates. | Offers little to no participation; may be off-task or unresponsive during group work. |
Scoring Guide:
- Total possible points: 16
- 14–16: Exemplary understanding and expression of emotions
- 10–13: Proficient with minor areas for growth
- 6–9: Developing—additional support recommended
- 4–5: Beginning—consider targeted Tier 2 or Tier 3 interventions
Teacher Notes:
- Observe during the Snowflake Emotion Matching and Christmas Scenario Role-Play for real-time formative assessment.
- Use quick check-ins with the Polar Express Emotions Wheel spins to gauge classwide vocabulary comfort.
- Reinforce any new words by adding them to the Feelings Chart Poster and celebrating progress.
Activity
Feelings Chart Poster
Display this poster in your classroom throughout the lesson. Refer to it when naming and discussing emotions!
| Emoji | Feeling | Emoji | Feeling |
|---|---|---|---|
| 😊 | Happy | 😢 | Sad |
| 😃 | Excited | 😠 | Angry |
| 😲 | Surprised | 😱 | Scared |
| 😍 | Loving | 😴 | Tired |
| 😟 | Worried | 😬 | Nervous |
| 😌 | Calm | 😌 | Proud |
Student Additions
Feel free to add new emotion words and icons below as we discover them together:
- ________
- ________
- ________
Teacher Tip: Write new words in a bright marker so they stand out!
Cool Down
Wrap-Up Reflection
Let’s end with a quick reflection on new feelings words we explored today!
- One new emotion word I learned is ________________.
- I might feel this way when I ____________________________________.
- Talking about my feelings helps me to _______________________.
Great job sharing, everyone! Remember, naming our emotions helps us understand ourselves and each other.