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Emotional Intelligence Game

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Slide Deck

Emotional Intelligence Game

Learn to identify, understand, and manage emotions through fun role-play scenarios.

Welcome students and introduce today’s activity. Explain that they will play a game to practice emotional intelligence skills. Share the learning goal: identifying, understanding, and managing emotions through role-play.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence helps us recognize and understand our own feelings and the feelings of others.

Define Emotional Intelligence (EI). Ask students: “What emotions have you felt today?” Highlight how recognizing feelings is the first step.

Why EI Matters

  • Builds strong, positive relationships
  • Improves communication and teamwork
  • Helps solve conflicts calmly

Discuss why EI is important. Invite students to share times when understanding someone’s emotions helped them. Emphasize real-life benefits.

Game Rules

  1. Form groups of 3–4 students
  2. Choose a scenario card
  3. Role-play for 2 minutes
  4. Rotate roles and repeat
  5. Discuss feelings and solutions afterward

Explain the rules clearly. Demonstrate one quick example. Remind students to respect each other’s ideas and feelings during role-play.

Role-Play Scenario 1

Classroom Disagreement

Two friends want to use the same tablet game at once. Practice calming down, naming feelings, and finding a fair solution.

Present Scenario 1. Read it aloud. Assign roles: Person A, Person B, Observer. Encourage students to use ‘I feel…’ statements.

Role-Play Scenario 2

Sports Team Conflict

Teammates disagree on game strategy during recess. Practice listening actively and proposing compromises.

Introduce Scenario 2. Let groups choose which scenario to play next or use both if time allows.

Reflection Questions

  1. How did you feel during the role-play?
  2. Which strategies helped calm the situation?
  3. What would you do differently next time?

After role-plays, guide a whole-class discussion. Encourage Observers to share what they noticed and suggest improvements.

Wrap-Up & Takeaways

• Name your emotions early
• Listen with empathy
• Use calm-down strategies (deep breaths, kind words)
Keep practicing to build strong relationships!

Summarize key EI skills practiced today. Encourage students to notice emotions and use these strategies at home and school.

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Game

Emotion Role-Play Game Details

Material Link: Emotion Role-Play

Game Overview

Students work in small groups to practice identifying, expressing, and managing emotions by acting out real‐life scenarios. Each student will take turns playing two roles in conflict and one as an observer, then rotate.

Game Components (Data Structure)

• Rules – Step-by-step instructions for play
• Roles – Descriptions and responsibilities for Person A, Person B, and Observer
• Scenario Cards – Four situational prompts to role-play
• Reflection Questions – Guided prompts for post-play discussion
• Debrief Prompts – Observer-led feedback questions

How to Play

  1. Form groups of 3–4 students.
  2. Shuffle the Scenario Cards and draw one.
  3. Assign roles:
    • Person A: Shares their feelings and perspective.
    • Person B: Listens actively and responds with empathy.
    • Observer: Watches body language, tone, and notes effective strategies.
  4. Role-play the scenario for 2 minutes, using “I feel…” statements.
  5. Rotate roles and draw a new card.
  6. After all have played each role, use Reflection Questions and Debrief Prompts to discuss.




Reflection Questions

  1. How did you feel when speaking? And when listening?
  2. Which strategies helped calm the situation?
  3. What could you do differently next time?







Ready to integrate this into your lesson? Use alongside the Emotional Intelligence Game Slides for a complete 45-minute session!

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Lesson Plan

Emotional Intelligence Game Plan

Students will learn to identify, understand, and manage emotions by participating in guided role-play scenarios and completing a reflection worksheet to build emotional literacy and interpersonal skills.

Developing emotional intelligence helps students recognize their own feelings, empathize with others, and resolve conflicts positively—skills essential for healthy relationships and academic success.

Audience

Grades 4–6

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive role-play and guided reflection

Materials

Emotional Intelligence Game Slides, Emotion Role-Play, and Emotional Intelligence Reflection Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Display the first slide of the Emotional Intelligence Game Slides.
  • Read the lesson objective aloud: identifying, understanding, and managing emotions.
  • Ask: “What emotions have you felt today?” to engage prior knowledge.

Step 2

Define Emotional Intelligence

5 minutes

  • Advance to the “What is Emotional Intelligence?” slide.
  • Define EI and discuss why recognizing feelings is important.
  • Invite 2–3 students to share an example of a feeling they noticed in themselves or others.

Step 3

Explain Game Rules

5 minutes

  • Show the “Why EI Matters” and “Game Rules” slides.
  • Walk through the rules from Emotion Role-Play: roles (Person A, Person B, Observer), timing, and use of “I feel…” statements.
  • Model a brief 1-minute example role-play with a volunteer.

Step 4

Role-Play Activity

20 minutes

  • Divide students into groups of 3–4.
  • Distribute Scenario Cards from Emotion Role-Play and set a 2-minute timer per role-play.
  • Rotate roles after each scenario draw.
  • Circulate to support groups, prompt use of EI language, and notice positive strategies.

Step 5

Worksheet Reflection

8 minutes

  • Hand out the Emotional Intelligence Reflection Worksheet.
  • Students individually complete:
    • Emotion Vocabulary section (identify emotions and coping strategies).
    • Role-Play Reflection prompts (feelings, strategies used, improvements).
    • Strategy Planning (choose one emotion to practice managing at home/school).

Step 6

Wrap-Up

2 minutes

  • Reconvene whole class and invite 2–3 students to share one insight from their worksheet.
  • Show the “Wrap-Up & Takeaways” slide and review key EI skills:
    • Name your emotions early
    • Listen with empathy
    • Use calm-down strategies
  • Encourage continued practice beyond today’s lesson.
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Worksheet

Emotional Intelligence Reflection Worksheet

1. Emotion Vocabulary

For each emotion you experienced during the role-play, write the name, define it, and describe one coping strategy.

  1. Emotion:



    Definition:



    Coping Strategy:


  2. Emotion:



    Definition:



    Coping Strategy:


  3. Emotion:



    Definition:



    Coping Strategy:


2. Role-Play Reflection

  • How did you feel when you were speaking?





  • How did you feel when you were listening?





  • Which emotion-management strategy did you use? How did it help?





  • What would you do differently next time?





3. Strategy Planning

  • Choose one emotion you want to practice managing:


  • Describe a situation where you might feel this emotion:





  • List two strategies you will try:





  • How will you remind yourself to use these strategies?



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Emotional Intelligence Game • Lenny Learning