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Feeling Friends

Lesson Plan

Feeling Friends Lesson Plan

The student will learn to identify three basic emotions—happy, sad, angry—and practice a simple calming strategy to self-regulate using emotion cards and a glitter calming bottle.

Building emotional awareness and self-regulation at an early age helps students communicate needs, reduce meltdowns, and engage more positively in learning and social interactions.

Audience

Kindergarten Individual Support

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive emotion sorting and hands-on calming tool practice.

Materials

Prep

Review Materials and Setup

5 minutes

Step 1

Greeting and Check-In

2 minutes

  • Welcome the student and sit together in a quiet spot.
  • Ask “How are you feeling today?” and listen.
  • Explain: “Today we’ll learn about feelings and a way to feel calm.”

Step 2

Emotion Identification

4 minutes

  • Spread out Feeling Friends Emotion Cards.
  • Invite the student to pick the card that shows their current feeling.
  • Name the emotion together and ask when they felt it before.

Step 3

Introduce Coping Strategies

3 minutes

  • Show the Feeling Friends Coping Strategies Chart.
  • Point to the glitter bottle strategy and explain: “We can watch the glitter settle to feel calm.”
  • Model a slow breath in and out, counting to three.

Step 4

Practice Calming Tool

4 minutes

  • Give the student the calming bottle/jar.
  • Ask them to shake it and then take three slow breaths as glitter falls.
  • Encourage noticing how their body feels as they breathe.

Step 5

Reflection and Wrap-Up

2 minutes

  • Ask: “How do you feel after watching the glitter?”
  • Reinforce: “You can use this anytime you feel upset.”
  • Praise effort, share a high-five, and end on a positive note.
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Slide Deck

Feeling Friends

Today we’ll learn about feelings and a way to feel calm.

Welcome the student in a calm voice. Ask “How are you feeling today?” Listen patiently. Explain: “Today we are Feeling Friends. We’ll learn about our feelings and a way to feel calm.”

How Are You Feeling Today?

Pick the card that shows how you feel right now.

Spread out the Feeling Friends Emotion Cards. Invite the student to pick the card that shows their current feeling. Say the emotion name together and ask, “When have you felt this before?”

Our Feeling Cards

Happy  Sad  Angry

Show the three emotion cards: happy, sad, angry. Briefly point to each and say a simple definition: “Happy feels good inside,” “Sad feels like you want to cry,” “Angry feels hot in your body.” Emphasize it’s okay to feel any of these.

Calm with Glitter

Shake the bottle, watch the glitter, and take 3 slow breaths.

Display the Coping Strategies Chart and point to the glitter bottle picture. Explain: “When we feel big feelings, we can shake this bottle and watch glitter settle. Let’s try a slow breath in and out while we watch.” Model inhaling and exhaling with your hand on your belly.

Let’s Practice

Shake. Breathe. Notice calm.

Give the student the calming bottle. Guide them: “Shake it up!” Once glitter is swirling, count softly with them: “1…2…3…” Encourage them to notice how their body feels as the glitter settles.

You Did It!

How do you feel? You can use this anytime you feel upset.

Ask: “How do you feel after watching the glitter?” Listen and validate. Praise their effort: “Great job staying calm!” Offer a high-five. Remind them: “You can use this glitter bottle anytime you feel upset.”

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Worksheet

Feeling Friends Emotion Cards

Instructions for Teacher:
Print this page and cut out each card along the solid border. Laminate or back cards for durability if you’d like. During the lesson, invite the student to pick the card that shows how they feel.

+-----------------------------+
| |
| 🙂 HAPPY |
| |
+-----------------------------+

+-----------------------------+
| |
| 😢 SAD |
| |
+-----------------------------+

+-----------------------------+
| |
| 😡 ANGRY |
| |
+-----------------------------+

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Worksheet

Feeling Friends Coping Strategies Chart

Instructions for Teacher:
Print this chart and display it where the student can see it. Point to each picture and read the words aloud. Encourage the student to choose one strategy when they feel big feelings.

🧴 Glitter Bottle

Shake the bottle and watch the glitter swirl.
Take 3 slow breaths as the glitter settles.
• Inhale… 1-2-3
• Exhale… 1-2-3


🎈 Balloon Breaths

Pretend your tummy is a balloon.
• Breathe in to fill it up.
• Breathe out to let the air go.


🗣️ Ask for Help

Find a grown-up or friend.
Tell them how you feel and what you need.
They can help you feel better.


You can use any of these ideas whenever you feel upset!

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Worksheet

Feeling Friends Reflection

Instructions: Circle or draw your answers to help remember how you feel and how you calm down.


1. How are you feeling right now?

Circle one and draw a picture of yourself feeling this way:

🙂 HAPPY  😢 SAD  😡 ANGRY





2. Which calming tool did you use?

Circle one:

🧴 Glitter Bottle  🎈 Balloon Breaths  🗣️ Ask for Help





3. Draw yourself using that tool:












4. How do you feel now?

Write or draw your answer:







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