Emotion Charades Game

Objective: The student will practice recognizing and expressing emotions nonverbally, strengthening empathy and observational skills.

Overview:
A simple charades-style game where players act out emotions (without words or sounds) and guess each other’s feelings. This helps the student tune into facial expressions, body language, and other nonverbal cues.

Time: 7 minutes

Materials:

• A deck of 12 charades cards, each showing an emotion word and a matching facial illustration:
  • happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared, shy, excited, tired, bored, proud, confused, calm
• Timer or stopwatch (optional)

Instructions:

1. Set Up (1 minute)

   • Shuffle the deck of emotion cards and place them face down.
   • Decide who goes first (teacher or student).

2. Explain Rules (1 minute)

   • On your turn, draw the top card and look at the emotion word/illustration.
   • Act out that feeling using only facial expressions and body movements—no words or sounds allowed.
   • The other player watches and tries to guess the emotion within 30 seconds (or chosen time).

3. Charades Rounds (4 minutes)

   • Round 1: Teacher draws and acts; student guesses.
   • Round 2: Student draws and acts; teacher guesses.
   • Continue alternating turns for as many cards as time allows.
   • After each guess, briefly discuss:
     • “What clues helped you know that was ___?”
     • “How might noticing these clues help you understand a friend’s feelings?”

4. Reflection (1 minute)

   • Ask the student:
     • “Which emotion was hardest or easiest to act or guess? Why?”
     • “How does noticing someone’s body language or face help us show we care?”

Transition:
After the game, note how reading nonverbal cues is a key part of empathy. Explain that in the next session they will build on these skills using role-play scenarios.

Feelings Reflection Worksheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: ___________

1. Draw the Feeling

Draw a face showing one emotion you felt today.

2. Label the Feeling

What is the name of this feeling? Write the word below.

Feeling: ____________________________

3. Helping a Friend

Imagine a friend feels this way. What are two things you could do or say to help them feel better?

2. _______________________________________________________

Great job reflecting on your feelings and thinking about how to help friends!

Empathy Project Rubric

This rubric assesses the student’s final kindness project on three key criteria: Empathy Demonstration, Creativity, and Explanation. Each criterion is scored on a 1–4 scale.

Scoring Guide:

• 1 (Beginning): Needs significant support to understand empathy concepts.
• 2 (Approaching): Partial understanding; some guidance still needed.
• 3 (Meets): Demonstrates solid understanding and application of empathy and creativity.
• 4 (Exceeds): Exceptional demonstration of empathy skills, creativity, and reflective explanation.

Use this rubric to give clear, objective feedback and help the student build on their empathy and creative skills.

Empathy Collage Project

Objective: The student will create a visual collage that shows different emotions and actions to help others, demonstrating understanding and expression of empathy.

Time: 20 minutes

Materials:

• Magazines or printed pictures
• Construction paper or poster board
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Markers or crayons
• Empathy Project Rubric for self-assessment

1. Brainstorm Emotions (3 minutes)

• Review three emotions you’ve learned (e.g., happy, sad, excited).
• Name each emotion and think of a picture or drawing that shows it.

2. Collect & Cut Images (5 minutes)

• Browse magazines or printed pictures.
• Cut out or sketch images representing each chosen emotion.

3. Create Your Collage (7 minutes)

• Glue or draw your pictures onto the poster board.
• Arrange them clearly so each emotion stands out.

Collage Space

4. Add Helping Actions (3 minutes)

• Next to each emotion, write one way you could help someone feeling that way:

1. Emotion: __________________
   Help: ____________________________
   
   
   
2. Emotion: __________________
   Help: ____________________________
   
   
   
3. Emotion: __________________
   Help: ____________________________

5. Reflect & Share (2 minutes)

• Look at your collage and pick one emotion.
• Tell a partner (or teacher): “I chose this emotion because ___ and I can help by ___.”

Use the Empathy Project Rubric to check your work. Great job showing empathy and creativity!

Perspective Role-Play Cards

Objective:
Help the student practice stepping into someone else’s shoes by acting out everyday scenarios and responding with caring words and actions.

How to Use:

1. Shuffle the cards and place them face down.
2. Take turns drawing a card:
   • The reader reads the scenario aloud.
   • One person acts as the character showing that feeling (using voice, face, body).
   • The other practices an empathetic response (what to say and do).
   • Switch roles and repeat.
3. After each round, discuss:
   • “How did you know how they felt?”
   • “What words or actions helped them feel better?”

Card 1
Your friend just fell and scraped their knee at recess. They are holding their knee and look teary-eyed.

Card 2
A new student sits alone at lunch, looking down at their tray and not talking to anyone.

Card 3
Your little sister lost her favorite toy and is crying softly under the bed.

Card 4
A classmate turned in a math test with many wrong answers and looks worried while the teacher returns it.

Card 5
Your friend wasn’t picked for a team game and is standing off to the side, arms crossed and frowning.

Card 6
A cousin forgot their lunch box at home and is staring at their empty plate at lunchtime.

Card 7
Your neighbor’s dog ran away—your neighbor is sitting on the porch, looking sad and quiet.

Card 8
A classmate is about to give a presentation but looks nervous, fidgeting with their notes.

Use these Perspective Role-Play Cards in Session 2 to practice noticing feelings and offering support!

Role-Play Reflection Worksheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: ___________

1. Scenario

Think about one of the role-play situations you acted out. Describe or draw the scene below.

Scenario: ___________________________________________________________

2. Emotion Noticed

What feeling did you notice in the person? Write the emotion and show it with a drawing or words.

Feeling Noticed: ____________________________

3. Empathetic Response

What did you say or do to help them feel better? List two actions or kind words you used.

2. ________________________________________________________________

Great job reflecting on your empathy and helping actions!

Empathy Collage Materials

Materials Needed:

• Magazines or printed pictures
• Construction paper or poster board
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Markers or crayons
• Empathy Collage Project
• Empathy Project Rubric

Kindness Card Project

Objective: The student will design and create a thoughtful Kindness Card for someone in their life and reflect on how the message and design demonstrate empathy.

Time: 20 minutes

Materials:

• Blank card stock or folded paper
• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
• Stickers or decorative materials (optional)
• Envelope (optional)
• Empathy Project Rubric

1. Choose a Recipient (3 minutes)

• Think of a friend, family member, classmate, or neighbor who might need a kind message.
• Say aloud who you’re making the card for and why (e.g., “My friend Sam feels lonely sometimes”).

2. Plan Your Message (5 minutes)

• Brainstorm one or two sentences you want to include.
• Make sure your words show you notice their feelings and want to help.
• Examples: “I hope you feel better today” or “You’re a great friend when I’m sad.”

3. Create the Card (7 minutes)

• On the front: draw a picture that shows caring (e.g., helping hand, heart, smile).
• Inside: write your message neatly.
• Decorate with colors, stickers, or designs that make the card feel warm and friendly.

4. Reflect on Empathy (4 minutes)

• Below your message, answer these questions:
  1. Who is this card for and why did you choose them?
     
     
     
     
  2. How do you think reading your card will help them feel supported?
     
     
     
     
     

5. Self-Assessment with Rubric (1 minute)

• Use the Empathy Project Rubric to score your card on:
  • Empathy Demonstration (noticing feelings and caring)
  • Creativity (design and originality)
  • Explanation (clarity of your reflective answers)

Great work! Your Kindness Card shows you understand others’ feelings and want to help. Share it to spread empathy and kindness.