Expressing Emotions Appropriately

Cyndi Chadwick-De Bray

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Appropriate Expression Plan for Younger Grades

Recognize and express basic emotions in simple ways.

Supports low IQ students in understanding and communicating their emotions effectively.

Audience

Elementary School Students with Low IQ

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Brief, engaging activities with clear, simple instructions

Materials

Expression Techniques, Role Play Conversations, Expression Practice, and Expression Feedback

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Simplify the Expression Techniques slide deck to focus on basic emotions.
Print visual aids for emotions to support understanding.
Select very simple scenarios for the Role Play Conversations.
Adjust the Expression Feedback rubric to focus on basic recognition and expression.

Step 1

Emotion Faces Game

3 minutes

Play a quick game where students mimic different emotion faces.
Use visual aids to help students identify emotions.

Step 2

Simple Expression Techniques

4 minutes

Present a very simplified version of the Expression Techniques slide deck.
Focus on recognizing and naming emotions.

Step 3

Basic Role Play

6 minutes

Pair students for a very simple Role Play Conversations.
Use scenarios like asking for a toy or saying hello.
Guide students to express emotions with words or gestures.

Step 4

Emotion Drawing

4 minutes

Provide paper and crayons for students to draw a face showing how they feel today.
Encourage sharing with the class.

Step 5

Reflection Circle

3 minutes

Gather students in a circle to share their drawings.
Use a simplified Expression Feedback rubric to provide positive reinforcement.

Slide Deck

Introduction to Expressing Emotions

Understanding the importance of expressing emotions constructively.

Introduce the topic of expressing emotions appropriately. Explain why it's important to express emotions in a constructive way to maintain healthy relationships and personal well-being.

Constructive vs. Destructive Expression

Learn the difference between expressing emotions constructively and destructively.

Discuss the difference between constructive and destructive emotional expression. Provide examples of each and ask students to think of their own examples.

Technique 1: Use "I" Statements

Express your feelings by focusing on your own experiences and emotions.

Introduce the first technique: using "I" statements. Explain how this technique helps in expressing feelings without blaming others.

Technique 2: Active Listening

Listen actively to understand others' emotions and respond appropriately.

Explain the importance of active listening in emotional expression. Discuss how listening can help in understanding and resolving emotional conflicts.

Technique 3: Mind Your Body Language

Use positive body language to reinforce your verbal expressions.

Discuss the role of body language in expressing emotions. Highlight how non-verbal cues can support or contradict verbal messages.

Summary and Practice

Review the techniques and consider how to apply them in real-life situations.

Summarize the techniques covered and encourage students to practice them in their daily interactions. Invite questions and reflections on how these techniques can be applied.

Activity

Role Play Conversations Activity

Objective:
Engage students in role-playing scenarios to practice expressing emotions constructively.

Instructions:

Divide Students into Pairs:
- Organize the class into pairs. Each pair will participate in a role-playing scenario.
Assign Scenarios:
- Provide each pair with a scenario card. Scenarios should reflect common situations where emotions might run high, such as:
  - A disagreement with a friend over a group project.
  - Feeling left out when friends make plans without you.
  - Receiving criticism on a piece of work.
Role Play:
- Instruct students to act out their scenario, focusing on using the techniques from the Expression Techniques slide deck, such as "I" statements, active listening, and positive body language.
Guidance and Feedback:
- Circulate the room to observe and provide guidance. Offer feedback on how well students are applying the techniques.
Switch Roles:
- After a few minutes, have students switch roles within their pair to experience both sides of the conversation.
Group Reflection:
- After the role play, bring the class together to discuss what they learned. Encourage students to share their experiences and any challenges they faced.

Follow-Up Questions:

How did it feel to express your emotions using the techniques?
What was challenging about the role play?
How can you apply these techniques in real-life situations?

Materials Needed:

Scenario cards for each pair
Expression Techniques slide deck for reference

Time Required:

15 minutes for role play and discussion

Assessment:

Use the Expression Feedback rubric to evaluate students' application of the techniques during the role play.

Worksheet

Expression Practice Worksheet

Instructions:

Reflect on the role-playing activity and practice expressing your emotions constructively using the techniques you've learned. Answer the following questions and complete the exercises.

Part 1: Reflection

Describe a situation from the role play where you successfully used an "I" statement. What was the outcome?

2. How did active listening help you understand the other person's emotions during the role play?

3. Reflect on your body language during the role play. How did it support or contradict your verbal expressions?

Part 2: Application

Think of a real-life situation where you might need to express your emotions constructively. Describe the situation.

5. Write a short dialogue using "I" statements and active listening to express your emotions in the situation you described.

6. What challenges do you anticipate when applying these techniques in real life, and how might you overcome them?

Part 3: Goal Setting

Set a personal goal for how you will use these techniques in the next week. Be specific about the situation and the technique you will use.

Remember: Practicing these techniques can help improve your communication and relationships. Keep reflecting on your experiences and continue to develop your skills!

Rubric

Expression Feedback Rubric

This rubric is designed to assess students' ability to express emotions constructively using the techniques taught in the lesson. The criteria focus on the use of "I" statements, active listening, and body language during role play and other activities.

Criteria	Excellent (4)	Good (3)	Satisfactory (2)	Needs Improvement (1)
"I" Statements	Consistently uses "I" statements effectively to express feelings without blaming others.	Frequently uses "I" statements effectively, with minor lapses.	Occasionally uses "I" statements, but often reverts to blaming language.	Rarely or never uses "I" statements; often blames others.
Active Listening	Demonstrates excellent active listening skills, fully engaging with the speaker.	Shows good active listening skills, with some engagement lapses.	Displays basic active listening skills, but often distracted or disengaged.	Rarely demonstrates active listening; frequently interrupts or ignores speaker.
Body Language	Uses positive body language that consistently supports verbal communication.	Generally uses positive body language, with occasional contradictions.	Body language sometimes contradicts verbal communication.	Body language often contradicts verbal communication or is negative.
Application of Techniques	Applies techniques effectively in a variety of scenarios, showing adaptability.	Applies techniques well in most scenarios, with some difficulty adapting.	Applies techniques in familiar scenarios, struggles with new situations.	Struggles to apply techniques in most scenarios.
Reflection and Improvement	Reflects deeply on experiences and sets clear, actionable goals for improvement.	Reflects on experiences and sets general goals for improvement.	Limited reflection on experiences; goals for improvement are vague.	Little to no reflection on experiences; no goals for improvement set.

Instructions for Use:

Use this rubric to evaluate students during the Role Play Conversations and other activities.
Provide feedback based on the criteria to help students understand their strengths and areas for improvement.
Encourage students to reflect on the feedback and set personal goals for enhancing their emotional expression skills.