Lesson Plan
Emotion Garden Blueprint
Students will identify an emotion, “plant” it as a seed, and track its growth over time to build emotional literacy and a growth mindset through hands-on reflection.
This lesson makes abstract feelings tangible, helping 1st graders recognize, name, and manage emotions while fostering self-awareness and resilience.
Audience
1st Grade Student
Time
40 minutes per session
Approach
Kinesthetic planting and reflective journaling.
Materials
Seed to Feeling Slides, Emotion Garden Poster, Growth Reflection Pages, Paper Seeds and Small Pot, and Colored Pencils and Stickers
Prep
Material and Environment Setup
15 minutes
- Print one copy of the Emotion Garden Poster and a set of Growth Reflection Pages for the student
- Load the Seed to Feeling Slides on your device and review the slide order
- Gather paper seeds, a small plant pot, colored pencils, and emotion-themed stickers
- Arrange seating in a calm, distraction-free corner of the room
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Greet the student and explain that today they’ll be planting an “emotion seed” to learn about feelings
- Show the first slide on Seed to Feeling Slides: What is an emotion seed?
- Ask the student to name a feeling they’ve experienced recently (happy, sad, angry, etc.)
- Discuss how emotions can grow or change, just like plants
- Transition: Explain that they’ll choose one emotion seed to plant today
Step 2
Planting the Emotion Seed
10 minutes
- Display slide: Choosing Your Emotion Seed on Seed to Feeling Slides
- Have the student select or draw a paper seed representing their chosen emotion
- On the Emotion Garden Poster, help them place the seed in the “soil” area
- Ask guiding questions: What does your emotion seed look like? Why did you choose this color or shape?
- Encourage the student to decorate the seed with colored pencils and stickers
Step 3
Growth Reflection
15 minutes
- Introduce the first page of the Growth Reflection Pages
- Prompt the student to write or draw how the emotion feels now compared to before planting
- Discuss signs of growth: Has the emotion changed? How might it grow in the next session?
- Encourage them to set a small goal: What can you do if this emotion returns?
- Record the date and initial observations on the poster and journal page
Step 4
Closing & Assessment
10 minutes
- Review the emotion garden: Ask the student to summarize what they learned about their emotion seed
- Provide positive feedback on their reflections and creativity
- Slide: Next Steps on Seed to Feeling Slides – explain that you’ll revisit this seed in the next session
- Ask the student to share one strategy for caring for their emotion seed
- Collect materials and remind them that their garden will grow over time
Slide Deck
What Is an Emotion Seed?
An emotion seed is a feeling—like happy, sad, or excited—that we plant and watch grow. Just like a real seed, our feelings can grow bigger or smaller over time.
Today we’ll introduce the idea that our feelings can grow like plants. Use simple, warm language; encourage the student to share examples from their day.
Choosing Your Emotion Seed
• Think about a feeling you had recently.
• Pick one feeling to be your emotion seed (happy, sad, angry, or excited).
• Draw or color a little paper seed that shows how you feel.
Prompt the student: “What feeling did you have today?” Show picture cards if needed. Help them choose one emotion word.
Planting Your Emotion Seed
• Place your emotion seed on the soil area of the Emotion Garden Poster.
• Tell me: Why did you choose this seed color or shape?
• Decorate around your seed with stickers or colors.
Guide the student to place their paper seed on the poster. Ask about their color and shape choices.
Growth Reflection
• Open the first page of the Growth Reflection Pages.
• Draw or write: How does your emotion seed feel now compared to before?
• Let’s talk about what might help your seed grow in a good way.
Introduce the reflection page. Encourage drawing or simple words—whatever the student prefers.
Next Steps
• Great job planting and reflecting!
• Next time, we’ll check on your seed and help it grow.
• Think of one thing you can do if this feeling comes back (take a deep breath, talk to a friend, etc.).
Help the student set one small goal for caring for this seed (e.g., take a deep breath).
Project Guide
Emotion Garden Poster
Overview:
This poster serves as a visual “garden” where students attach their paper emotion seeds, decorate around them, and track each seed’s growth over multiple sessions.
Poster Layout:
-
Header
- Title: My Emotion Garden
- Space for student’s name and date
-
Plant Pot & Soil Area
- A large illustrated flower pot at the bottom center
- Above it, a curved “soil” band where seeds are placed
-
Session Seed Spots
- Six evenly spaced circles above the soil band, labeled Session 1 through Session 6
- Each circle has a tiny tab pointing to the soil area (so students know “this seed grows here”)
-
Growth Arrows & Decorations
- Between each session circle, an arrow indicating “growth” from one session to the next
- Blank decorative border around the poster where students can add stickers or doodles
-
Reflection Labels
- Under each session circle: a small line labeled “How I felt:” for a one-word note or sticker
- Beside it: a line labeled “My care tip:” for students to write a strategy (take deep breaths, talk to a friend)
Printing & Use:
- Print at poster size (11" × 17" recommended) or larger
- Provide paper emotion seeds (cut-outs) for student to color and attach with tape or glue
- After each session, student places their new emotion seed, decorates, and records short reflections under that session spot
Materials:
- Printed Emotion Garden Poster
- Paper seeds (colored and cut)
- Tape or glue dots
- Colored pencils and stickers
Tips for Teachers:
- Laminate the poster for reuse; use sticky tack for seeds
- Encourage creative decoration to make the garden feel personal
- Review past seeds quickly at start of each session to reinforce growth mindset
Let the garden grow and watch emotions bloom!
Journal
Growth Reflection Pages
Use one page per session to reflect on your emotion seed. Fill in the date, write or draw how you feel, observe any growth or change, and plan a care strategy.
Session ____
Date: ________________
How I feel today:
Draw your emotion seed or show how the feeling looks:
How has this emotion grown or changed since last time?
What can you do to care for your emotion seed?