Lesson Plan
Emotion Explorers Lesson Plan
Students will identify and express five core emotions and practice empathy by completing an illustrated worksheet and sharing with peers, building self-awareness and social awareness.
Understanding and naming emotions supports emotional regulation and helps students communicate feelings and empathize with others, laying groundwork for positive relationships and well-being.
Audience
3rd Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on exploration with charts, discussion, and a creative worksheet.
Materials
- Emotions Chart Poster, - Emotion Explorer Worksheet, - Colored Markers, - Paper, and - Timer
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and assemble the Emotion Explorer Worksheet.
- Laminate or prepare to display the Emotions Chart Poster where all students can see.
- Gather colored markers, paper, and a timer.
- Review the core emotions featured on the chart before class.
Step 1
Feelings Icebreaker
5 minutes
- Sit students in a circle and introduce yourselves as “Emotion Explorers.”
- Ask each student to name one feeling they’ve had today.
- Point to the matching emotion on the Emotions Chart Poster as they share.
Step 2
Emotion Identification
10 minutes
- Display the Emotions Chart Poster featuring happy, sad, angry, surprised, and scared.
- Briefly describe each emotion and invite students to offer examples of times they felt that way.
- Ask follow-up questions: “How did your body feel? What did you do?”
Step 3
Emotion Explorer Worksheet Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute the Emotion Explorer Worksheet and markers.
- Instruct students to draw a face for each emotion and write a short sentence about a time they experienced it.
- Circulate to support students in labeling and illustrating feelings correctly.
Step 4
Empathy Circle Cool-Down
5 minutes
- Invite volunteers to share one emotion and their drawing from the worksheet.
- Encourage classmates to respond with empathetic statements like “I understand how that felt.”
- Reinforce positive listening and supportive language.
Slide Deck
Emotion Explorers
Welcome, 3rd graders! Today we’ll become Emotion Explorers as we learn about five core feelings: happy, sad, angry, surprised, and scared.
Welcome the students and introduce the “Emotion Explorers” theme. Explain that today we’ll learn about five emotions and practice sharing and listening.
Feelings Icebreaker
- Sit in a circle and become Emotion Explorers
- Name one feeling you’ve had today
- Watch as we point to it on our Emotions Chart Poster
Display the Emotions Chart Poster. Model by naming one feeling you had today, then invite each student to share. Point to the matching emotion as they speak.
Emotion Identification
- Look at the Emotions Chart Poster
- Name each emotion together
- Share an example: How did your body feel? What did you do?
Go through each emotion on the chart. Ask for a quick show of hands or examples from the class. Prompt students to notice body signals.
Worksheet Activity
- Draw a face showing each emotion
- Write a sentence about a time you felt it
- Color and decorate your worksheet with markers
Hand out the worksheets and markers. Encourage neat drawings and complete sentences. Walk around and help with words or spelling.
Empathy Circle Cool-Down
- Share one drawing and sentence with the class
- Classmates respond: “I understand how that felt.”
- Practice listening and kind words
Invite volunteers to share one of their drawings. Model an empathetic response. Encourage classmates to use kind, understanding language.
Great Job, Emotion Explorers!
You identified emotions and practiced empathy! Keep noticing feelings and supporting each other every day.
Reinforce their effort and remind them to keep using these skills. Thank everyone for participating.
Worksheet
Emotion Explorer Worksheet
Use your Emotions Chart Poster to guide you. For each emotion below:
- Draw a face that shows that feeling.
- Write a sentence about a time you experienced it.
1. Happy
Draw a happy face here:
Write about a time you felt happy:
2. Sad
Draw a sad face here:
Write about a time you felt sad:
3. Angry
Draw an angry face here:
Write about a time you felt angry:
4. Surprised
Draw a surprised face here:
Write about a time you felt surprised:
5. Scared
Draw a scared face here:
Write about a time you felt scared:
Great work, Emotion Explorer! Remember to share one of your drawings and sentences during our Empathy Circle Cool-Down.
Rubric
Emotion Explorer Rubric
This rubric assesses students’ ability to identify and express emotions through drawing and writing, as well as their participation in empathy-building activities. Use a 4-point scale for each criterion.
| Criterion | 4 – Exemplary | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drawing Accuracy | • All five faces show distinct, accurate emotion cues (eyes, mouth, eyebrows) and use of color enhances each feeling. | • Four faces clearly show accurate cues; one may lack detail or color. | • Two or three faces are recognizable; others lack clear emotion signals or color. | • Most faces are unclear or do not match the intended emotion; minimal detail or color. |
| Written Expression | • Each sentence clearly describes a personal experience tied to the emotion, with vivid details (who, what, where, how). | • Sentences describe experiences and relate to the emotion, though details may be general. | • Sentences mention the emotion but lack relevance or are incomplete (missing context or detail). | • Sentences are off-topic, too brief to convey understanding, or missing entirely. |
| Use of Emotional Vocabulary | • Uses a variety of precise emotion words (e.g., excited, disappointed) in addition to the five core feelings. | • Uses the five target emotion words correctly (happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared). | • Uses some target words but occasionally mislabels or omits emotion vocabulary. | • Rarely or incorrectly uses emotion words; little evidence of emotion vocabulary knowledge. |
| Empathy & Participation | • Actively shares work in the Empathy Circle, listens attentively, and offers thoughtful, supportive responses to peers. | • Shares and listens when prompted; gives at least one appropriate empathetic comment. | • Participates minimally; offers short or generic responses with teacher prompts. | • Does not share, listen, or respond empathetically during the circle. |
Scoring Guide:
- 16–14 points: Exemplary understanding and empathy skills
- 13–10 points: Proficient with minor areas to develop
- 9–6 points: Developing; needs additional practice
- 5–4 points: Beginning; significant support required
Use this rubric to provide targeted feedback and guide students toward stronger emotional awareness and empathy skills.
Reading
Emotions Chart Poster
Use this poster to help you recognize and name your feelings. When you complete your Emotion Explorer Worksheet, point to the picture that matches how you feel.
😊 Happy
• Feeling: Joy, excitement, or contentment.
• Body signals: Smiling mouth, bright eyes, relaxed posture.
😢 Sad
• Feeling: Sorrow, disappointment, or loss.
• Body signals: Frowning or downturned mouth, teary eyes, quiet voice.
😠 Angry
• Feeling: Frustration, irritation, or upset.
• Body signals: Furrowed brow, clenched fists, tense shoulders.
😲 Surprised
• Feeling: Shock, amazement, or wonder.
• Body signals: Raised eyebrows, wide-open eyes, open mouth.
😨 Scared
• Feeling: Fear, worry, or nervousness.
• Body signals: Trembling body, quick breathing, tight muscles.
Keep this poster nearby to help you name your emotions and share how you feel with others!
Cool Down
Empathy Circle Cool-Down
Time: 5 minutes
Purpose
Wrap up the lesson by giving each Emotion Explorer an opportunity to practice empathetic listening, reflect on their experience, and transition calmly to the next activity.
Materials
- Completed Emotion Explorer Worksheet
- Optional: soft chime or bell for a mindfulness signal
Steps & Script Prompts
1. Gather in a Sharing Circle (1 minute)
- Teacher: “Let’s form our Emotion Explorers circle. Place your worksheet in front of you so we can see everyone’s hard work.”
- Signal start with a gentle chime or simply say, “Ready?”
2. Round-Robin Sharing (2 minutes)
- Teacher: “I’ll start. I chose happy because I felt proud when I learned to ride my bike without training wheels. Now, Explorer [Name], please share your emotion and why.”
- After each share, classmates respond: “I understand how that felt.”
- Teacher tip: Keep each share to about 20 seconds—use a timer if helpful.
3. Reflective Questions (1 minute)
- Teacher poses to the whole group:
- “Which emotion was the easiest to draw and talk about?”
- “Which emotion felt hardest, and why?”
- Give students a moment to think silently before inviting one or two volunteers to speak.
4. Mindful Transition (1 minute)
- Teacher: “Great work today, Emotion Explorers. Let’s calm our bodies for a moment before moving on.”
- Lead a simple breathing exercise:
- Inhale slowly for 3 seconds (count out loud).
- Exhale slowly for 3 seconds.
- Repeat twice.
- Teacher: “Thank you for sharing and listening so kindly. Now we’re ready for our next adventure!”
Extension (if time allows):
Invite students to jot down one new thing they learned about themselves or a friend during today’s lesson in a journal or on the back of their worksheet.
Note to Teacher:
Encourage brevity in sharing to ensure every student has a turn. Use positive reinforcement—acknowledge both sharing and empathetic listening behaviors.