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Emotion Exploration: A Journey Inside

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STACI GILHULY

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Emotion Exploration Lesson Plan

Students will learn to identify, express, and articulate different emotions through artistic expression and storytelling activities, promoting empathy and emotional intelligence.

This lesson helps build emotional literacy, encouraging students to understand and communicate their feelings effectively, which is crucial for social and emotional development.

Audience

Grades 2-4

Time

45-60 minutes

Approach

Engaging art and story activities in a structured framework.

Materials

Emotion Exploration Lesson Plan, Emotion Exploration Slide Deck, and Emotion Exploration Discussion Guide

Prep

Review and Organize Materials

10 minutes

  • Review the Emotion Exploration Slide Deck and Emotion Exploration Discussion Guide before class.
  • Prepare art supplies such as paper, markers, crayons, and pencils.
  • Arrange seating to facilitate pair discussions.
  • Check classroom multimedia equipment.

Step 1

Introduction & Emotion Identification

10 minutes

  • Present the lesson overview using the Emotion Exploration Slide Deck.
  • Engage students in a discussion about various emotions, prompting them to name how different feelings might look or be expressed.

Step 2

Art Activity: Draw Your Emotion

15 minutes

  • Instruct students to create a drawing that represents a specific emotion they have experienced or understand.
  • Encourage the use of colors and symbols to capture the emotion's essence.

Step 3

Pair Sharing & Discussion

15 minutes

  • Have students pair up to share and describe the emotion depicted in their drawing.
  • Use the Emotion Exploration Discussion Guide to facilitate thoughtful questions and conversation.

Step 4

Wrap-Up & Reflection

5 minutes

  • Regroup and ask select students to share insights from their discussions.
  • Summarize the key points and reinforce the importance of understanding and expressing emotions.
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Slide Deck

Emotion Exploration: A Journey Inside

Welcome! Today we will explore and express various emotions through art and storytelling.

Introduce the lesson and the theme of exploring emotions. Emphasize that emotions can be shown differently by everyone. Use colorful visuals to engage students.

What Are Emotions?

Emotions are feelings we experience every day: happy, sad, angry, excited, and more. They help us understand ourselves and each other.

Discuss the various emotions and provide examples. Ask students to share what they think different emotions look like. Use prompts if needed.

Art Activity: Draw Your Emotion

Draw a picture that represents an emotion you've felt. Think about colors and symbols that best express that feeling.

Explain the art activity. Encourage students to choose an emotion and represent it using colors, symbols, and shapes.

Pair Sharing & Discussion

Share your drawing with a partner and explain what emotion it shows. Listen and ask questions about your partner's drawing.

Guide the students into pairing up for sharing their drawings. Remind them to listen carefully and appreciate their partner's unique perspective.

Wrap-Up & Reflection

Let's discuss: What did you learn about emotions today? How did sharing your feelings help you understand them better?

Wrap up the discussion, invite a few pairs to share with the class, and summarize key takeaways about the importance of understanding and expressing emotions.

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Discussion

Emotion Exploration Discussion Guide

This guide is designed to help facilitate a supportive and engaging discussion around the emotions students express in their art and storytelling. Use this guide during the pair sharing session to ask questions and encourage deeper reflection.

Opening Questions

  1. What emotion did you choose to draw?





    • Follow-up: Can you describe what made you feel that emotion?

  2. What colors or symbols did you use in your drawing, and why?





    • Follow-up: How do these elements represent the feeling you experienced?

Exploring Emotions

  1. When have you felt this emotion before?





    • Follow-up: Was there something specific that triggered this emotion? How did you react?

  2. How might someone else understand or see the same emotion differently?





    • Follow-up: Can you think of a different drawing or color choice that might represent this emotion for another person?

Sharing and Reflection

  1. What part of your art or story do you think best shows your emotion?





    • Follow-up: Why do you think this detail is important for understanding your feeling?

  2. How did listening to your partner’s explanation help you understand a different perspective on that emotion?





    • Follow-up: Did you learn something new about the emotion you both explored?

Closing Thoughts

  1. What did you learn from today’s discussion about how others experience emotions?





    • Follow-up: How might this understanding help you when you encounter different emotions in the future?

  2. How can art help us express emotions that are hard to say in words?





    • Follow-up: In what other ways do you think sharing your feelings can build empathy among people?

Use these questions to guide your conversation and remind students to listen carefully, respect each other’s experiences, and appreciate the unique perspective everyone brings to the discussion.

Happy discussing and exploring emotions!

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