Lesson Plan
Feeling Faces Fun!
Students will be able to identify and verbally express common emotions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared) in themselves and others.
Understanding and naming emotions is a foundational social-emotional skill. It helps students communicate their needs, build empathy for peers, and navigate social situations more effectively.
Audience
1st Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, drawing, and a charades game.
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Feeling Faces Lesson Plan, Feeling Faces Slide Deck, and Feeling Faces Script.
- Print copies of the My Feeling Face Worksheet for each student.
- Print and cut out the Emotion Charades Cards.
- Ensure projector/smartboard is ready for the slide deck.
Step 1
Introduction: What Are Feelings?
5 minutes
- Use the Feeling Faces Slide Deck and Feeling Faces Script to introduce the concept of emotions.
- Ask students what feelings are and why they are important.
- Discuss examples of different feelings: happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared.
Step 2
Feeling Faces Drawing Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute the My Feeling Face Worksheet to each student.
- Instruct students to draw a face showing one of the emotions discussed (e.g., happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared).
- Encourage them to think about what their body might look like when they feel that emotion.
- Have a few students share their drawings and explain what emotion they drew and why they might feel that way.
Step 3
Emotion Charades Game
10 minutes
- Explain the Emotion Charades game using the Feeling Faces Slide Deck.
- Divide the class into small groups or call on individual students.
- Have students pick an Emotion Charades Card and act out the emotion without speaking.
- Other students guess the emotion. Reinforce correct naming of emotions.
- Play several rounds, ensuring different emotions are acted out.
Step 4
Cool Down: Sharing One Feeling
5 minutes
- Use the Cool Down: One Word, One Feeling material.
- Bring the class back together.
- Ask students to think about one feeling they have right now or one feeling they learned about today.
- Go around the room and have each student share one feeling word.
- Thank students for their participation and remind them that all feelings are okay to have.
Slide Deck
Feeling Faces Fun!
Let's explore our amazing feelings!
Welcome students and introduce the lesson with enthusiasm. Ask them to think about what feelings are.
What Are Feelings?
Feelings are what we experience inside, like happy, sad, or excited!
We can often see feelings on our faces and in our bodies.
Engage students by asking, 'What are feelings?' or 'How do we know how we feel?' Guide them to understand that feelings are inside us and show on our faces and bodies.
Happy!
When we feel good inside, like when we play with friends or get a hug.
Introduce 'Happy'. Ask students: 'What makes you happy?' 'What does a happy face look like?' Encourage them to make happy faces.
Sad...
When we feel down, like when we miss someone or something doesn't go our way.
Introduce 'Sad'. Ask students: 'What makes you sad?' 'What does a sad face look like?' Emphasize it's okay to feel sad sometimes.
Angry! 😠
When we feel frustrated or upset, like when someone takes our toy or we can't do something.
Introduce 'Angry'. Ask students: 'What makes you angry?' 'What does an angry face look like?' Discuss safe ways to show anger.
Surprised! 😲
When something unexpected happens, like a sudden noise or a fun surprise party!
Introduce 'Surprised'. Ask students: 'What makes you surprised?' 'What does a surprised face look like?'
Scared! 😱
When we feel worried or afraid, like during a thunderstorm or when we hear a loud bang.
Introduce 'Scared'. Ask students: 'What makes you scared?' 'What does a scared face look like?' Reassure them it's normal to feel scared.
My Feeling Face Activity
Draw a picture of a face showing one of the feelings we talked about.
What does your body look like when you feel that way?
Explain the drawing activity. Tell students they will each get a worksheet to draw one feeling face.
Emotion Charades Game!
Let's play a game!
Pick a card and act out the feeling without talking.
Can your classmates guess your feeling?
Explain the rules for Emotion Charades. Model an example if needed. Remind them no talking, only acting!
Cool Down: One Word, One Feeling
Let's share one feeling word that describes how you feel right now, or one feeling you learned today.
Transition to the cool down. Ask students to think about their current feeling or one they learned about.
Great Job, Feel-Detectives!
Remember, all feelings are okay to have, and it's good to know how you and others are feeling!
Thank students for participating and reinforce that all feelings are important.
Script
Feeling Faces Script
Introduction: What Are Feelings? (5 minutes)
(Teacher): "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going on an adventure to explore something super important: our feelings! Has anyone ever heard of feelings before? Give me a thumbs up if you have!"
(Teacher): "That's great! Feelings are what we experience inside. Sometimes they make us feel bubbly and light, and sometimes they make us feel a little squishy or heavy. They're all the amazing ways our hearts and bodies tell us how we're doing. And guess what? We often show our feelings right here on our faces!"
"Why do you think it's important to know about our feelings?"
(Teacher): "Those are wonderful ideas! It's important because when we know what we're feeling, we can understand ourselves better. And when we understand our own feelings, it helps us understand our friends and family too! It helps us be kind to ourselves and to others."
"Today, we're going to talk about some common feelings and even practice showing them!"
Feeling Faces Drawing Activity (10 minutes)
(Teacher): "Alright, super feel-detectives! We've talked about happy, sad, angry, surprised, and scared. Now it's your turn to show me a feeling!"
"I'm going to hand out a My Feeling Face Worksheet to everyone. On this paper, I want you to draw a face showing one of the feelings we just discussed. You can choose happy, sad, angry, surprised, or scared. Think about what that feeling looks like on your face. What do your eyebrows do? What about your mouth?"
"And don't forget to think about what your body might look like when you feel that emotion! Maybe your shoulders are up when you're scared, or your arms are crossed when you're angry."
(Teacher): "Take about 7 minutes to draw your amazing feeling face. When you're done, put your pencils down and look at me."
(Circulate and provide encouragement as students draw.)
(Teacher): "Wonderful drawings, everyone! Who would like to share their feeling face and tell us what emotion they drew and why they might feel that way?"
(Call on 2-3 students to share.)
Emotion Charades Game (10 minutes)
(Teacher): "That was fantastic! Now, let's play a game called Emotion Charades! This is where we get to be actors and actresses!"
"Here's how we play: I have a bunch of Emotion Charades Cards, and each card has a feeling on it. When it's your turn, you'll pick a card, and you have to act out that feeling using your face and your body, but without saying any words! Your classmates will try to guess what emotion you're showing."
"Remember, no talking! Only showing! And let's be good guessers – raise your hand if you think you know the feeling."
(Model one emotion yourself first, e.g., happy, to demonstrate how to play.)
(Teacher): "Who wants to go first?"
(Play for about 10 minutes, ensuring many students get a chance to participate. Encourage students to make big, clear expressions and body language.)
Cool Down: Sharing One Feeling (5 minutes)
(Teacher): "You are all such great actors and guessers! Let's bring it back together now for our cool down activity, One Word, One Feeling."
"I want everyone to take a moment and think. What is one feeling you are feeling right now, in this very moment? Or, what is one new feeling word you learned today?"
"When I point to you, just share one feeling word. You don't need to explain, just share the word."
(Go around the room, allowing each student to share one word. If a student struggles, gently prompt them with the feelings discussed.)
(Teacher): "Thank you all for sharing your feelings today. Remember, it's okay to feel happy, sad, angry, surprised, or scared. All your feelings are important, and it's good to know what they are! You did an amazing job today. Give yourselves a quiet pat on the back!"
Worksheet
My Feeling Face!
Name: ____________________________
Draw a face showing one of these feelings: Happy, Sad, Angry, Surprised, or Scared!
Remember to think about what your face and body look like when you feel this way!
I drew a _________________________ face.
Activity
Emotion Charades Cards
Cut along the dotted lines to create individual cards. Use these for the Emotion Charades game.
HAPPY
SAD
---\n
ANGRY
SURPRISED
SCARED
EXCITED
SILLY
SLEEPY
Cool Down
Cool Down: One Word, One Feeling
Think about our lesson today. What is one feeling you are feeling right now? Or, what is one feeling word you learned about today?
Write or draw your one word/feeling in the space below.
My one word/feeling is: ____________________________________