Emotions in Action
Students will identify and analyze social emotions such as empathy, jealousy, and guilt through real-life scenarios, aiming to articulate how these emotions impact relationships and decision-making.
Understanding social emotions fosters self-awareness and healthy peer interactions by equipping students to recognize and manage feelings that influence choices and relationships.
Interactive definitions, scenario analysis, and guided discussion
Prep
Gather and Review Materials
10 minutes
- Print enough copies of Emotion Definitions Handout and Social Scenarios Worksheet for each student
- Cut the scenario sections into individual index cards if using printed cards
- Arrange the classroom into groups of 3–4 students
- Ensure the whiteboard or smart board is ready for note-taking and discussion
Step 1
Introduction to Social Emotions
5 minutes
- Distribute Emotion Definitions Handout
- Briefly review key definitions: empathy, jealousy, guilt, pride, shame
- Ask students to share a quick personal example of experiencing one of these emotions
Step 2
Group Scenario Analysis
15 minutes
- Divide students into small groups and provide each group with several scenario cards from the Social Scenarios Worksheet
- Instruct groups to read each scenario, identify the primary social emotion, and discuss its impact on characters’ decisions and relationships
- Have students record their analysis on the back of each scenario card or on separate index cards
Step 3
Class Discussion and Reflection
7 minutes
- Reconvene as a class and invite each group to share one scenario, the emotion identified, and their insights on its effect
- Facilitate discussion with prompts: "How might the outcome differ if the characters approached the situation with a different emotion?"
- Highlight how empathy can lead to more positive relationship outcomes
Step 4
Closure and Takeaway
3 minutes
- Summarize key insights: recognizing and understanding social emotions helps manage relationships more effectively
- Prompt students to write a one-sentence reflection: "Name one social emotion you will monitor this week and how you'll apply today's learning"
