Lesson Plan
Emotions in Motion Lesson Plan
Students will identify and express a range of emotions through guided movement and reflective journaling, strengthening emotional awareness and peer empathy.
Linking physical expression with emotional understanding helps students recognize and articulate their feelings, fostering self-awareness, empathy, and social–emotional learning skills.
Audience
Middle and High School Students
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Guided movement activities paired with journaling and group reflection.
Materials
- Music Player or Speaker, - Emotion Movement Slide Deck, - Emotion Dance Activity Cards, - Emotion Journal Handout, and - Pens or Pencils
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and review Emotion Journal Handout
- Familiarize yourself with the Emotion Movement Slide Deck
- Arrange open floor space and test the music player or speaker
- Shuffle and organize the Emotion Dance Activity Cards
Step 1
Warm-Up and Grounding
5 minutes
- Invite students to stand in a circle
- Lead deep breathing: inhale for 4, exhale for 4 (×3 rounds)
- Explain: today we’ll explore emotions through movement and reflection
Step 2
Emotion Charades Movement
10 minutes
- Divide students into small groups of 4–5
- Give each group 2–3 Emotion Dance Activity Cards
- One student mimes the emotion through dance for 30 seconds; peers guess the emotion
- Rotate until each student has demonstrated at least once
- Discuss: How did moving feel? Which emotions were easy or hard to express?
Step 3
Guided Free-Expression Dance
15 minutes
- Play a neutral music track from the Emotion Movement Slide Deck
- Prompt 1: Move as if you feel joy—focus on big, expansive gestures (2 minutes)
- Prompt 2: Move as if you feel sadness—use small, inward movements (2 minutes)
- Prompt 3: Transition between two self-chosen emotions, exploring contrast (4 minutes)
- Allow open free dance: choose any emotion and express it through movement (5 minutes)
Step 4
Journaling Reflection
10 minutes
- Distribute Emotion Journal Handout
- Students respond to prompts:
- Which movement felt most authentic? Why?
- Describe one emotion that surprised you during the dance.
- How do physical gestures connect to your feelings?
- Encourage honest, personal entries
Step 5
Group Sharing and Empathy Building
10 minutes
- Invite volunteers to share one journal excerpt
- After each share, ask peers to reflect "I notice…" or "I wonder…"
- Highlight connections: different students express the same emotion uniquely
Step 6
Closure and Assessment
10 minutes
- Summarize key takeaways: body–emotion link, self-awareness, empathy
- Quick exit ticket: each student names one emotion they’ll pay attention to this week and how they might express it safely
- Collect journals or review exit tickets to assess understanding and participation
Slide Deck
Emotions in Motion: Understanding and Expressing
A 60-minute lesson for middle and high school students
Explore emotions through movement and dance to build self-awareness and empathy.
Greet students and introduce the session. Explain that today we’ll explore how our bodies and emotions connect through movement and reflection.
Lesson Objectives
- Identify and express a range of emotions through guided movement
- Reflect on personal emotional experiences in writing
- Strengthen self-awareness and empathy toward peers
Read each objective aloud. Encourage students to notice these goals throughout the activities.
SEL Standards
- Self-Awareness: Recognizing one’s emotions
- Self-Management: Regulating and expressing emotions effectively
- Social Awareness: Empathizing with others’ feelings
Explain these SEL competencies and why they matter in everyday life.
What Are Emotions?
Emotions are physical and mental responses to experiences.
Common examples:
- Joy: Energetic, expansive movements
- Sadness: Slow, inward gestures
- Anger: Sharp, forceful actions
- Fear: Tense, guarded posture
- Surprise: Quick, unexpected gestures
Define emotion and ask students for examples of how they feel and move when experiencing these emotions.
Movement & Emotion Connection
Our body language expresses what we feel:
- Open vs. closed postures
- High vs. low energy levels
- Sharp vs. smooth gestures
Pay attention to your own movements to tune into emotions.
Demonstrate contrasting postures (open vs. closed) and ask students to mirror you.
Activity 1: Emotion Charades Movement
- Divide into groups of 4–5
- Use Emotion Dance Activity Cards
- One student dances an emotion for 30 seconds
- Peers guess and discuss
- Rotate until everyone has led
Explain rules, hand out cards, and monitor each group’s process. After, lead a brief discussion.
Play the neutral track while students dance. Offer verbal prompts at each interval.
Journaling Reflection
Respond to:
- Which movement felt most authentic? Why?
- Describe an emotion that surprised you during the dance.
- How do gestures connect to your feelings?
Distribute journals or handouts. Read prompts aloud and allow quiet writing time.
Closure & Exit Ticket
- Share one insight from your journal
- Exit Ticket: Name one emotion you’ll observe this week and how you’ll express it safely
Invite volunteers to share. Guide peers to respond with “I notice…” or “I wonder….” Collect exit tickets.
Activity
Emotion Dance Activity Cards
Below are cards students can use for the Emotion Charades Movement activity. Each card lists an emotion and a simple movement prompt to guide the mime/dance.
| Emotion | Movement Prompt |
|---|---|
| Joy | Big, expansive gestures; reach upwards and jump lightly. |
| Sadness | Slow, downward movements; draw arms inward and slump. |
| Anger | Sharp, forceful actions; clench fists and stomp feet. |
| Fear | Tense, guarded posture; take small, hesitant steps. |
| Surprise | Quick, unexpected gestures; bring hands to face. |
| Love | Gentle, flowing motions; place hands over heart. |
| Excitement | Fast, bouncy movements; wave arms energetically. |
| Calm | Smooth, balanced gestures; sway gently side to side. |
| Frustration | Repetitive stomping or short arm flails. |
| Confusion | Tilt head side-to-side; shrug shoulders. |
| Pride | Stand tall with chest out and hands on hips. |
| Embarrassment | Bring hands to cheeks and look downward. |
Teachers can print these cards, cut them out, and place them face down. Students draw a card and express the emotion through dance while peers guess the emotion.
Journal
Emotion Journal Handout
Use the prompts below to reflect on today’s movement and how it connects to your emotions. Write thoughtfully; there are no right or wrong answers.
1. Authentic Movement
Which movement or gesture in today’s activities felt most authentic to you? Describe what you did and why it felt true to your emotions.
2. Surprising Emotion
Think about an emotion that surprised you during the dance exercises. What was surprising about it, and what did you learn about yourself?
3. Body–Feeling Connection
How do your physical gestures (posture, speed, force) connect to what you’re feeling? Give specific examples from today’s class.
4. Beyond the Classroom
Recall a moment outside of today’s lesson when you expressed an emotion through movement (e.g., dancing at home, playing sports, everyday gestures). Describe the situation, how it felt, and how others reacted.
5. Looking Ahead
Name one emotion you’ll pay attention to this week. How might you express that emotion through movement or another safe, positive action?
When you finish, keep your journal for next class or share an insight during our group discussion. Remember: honest reflection builds self‐awareness and empathy!