Feeling Words: Expressing Emotions Through Play

This engaging activity is part of a 4-session lesson designed for a kindergarten boy who does not speak English. In this activity, students will explore and express emotions using interactive visual aids, games, and guided prompts. The activities are carefully designed to build emotional vocabulary and comprehension.

Session Overview

Session 1: Introduction to Emotions

• Objective: Introduce basic emotions using visual aids and gestures.
• Materials:
  • Emotion Cards Visual Aids
  • Facial Expressions Game Guide

Activities:

1. Introduction (5 minutes):

   • Greet the student warmly using simple words and clear gestures.
   • Introduce the concept of emotions by showing a smiling or frowning face.
   • Present one of the emotion cards and say the emotion word clearly.
     
     
     
     

2. Guided Activity (10 minutes):

   • Display different emotion cards one at a time.
   • Ask the student to mimic the facial expression and gesture associated with the card.
   • Reinforce understanding with clear, simple body language.
     
     
     
     

3. Interactive Game (10 minutes):

   • Engage the student in a matching game where they match their expression to the displayed emotion card.
   • Encourage non-verbal expression if the verbal attempt is challenging.
   • Offer praise and positive reinforcement throughout the activity.
     
     
     
     

4. Closure (5 minutes):

   • Recap by reviewing the various emotion cards.
   • Invite the student to pick a favorite emotion and express it on their own.
   • End the session with encouraging feedback and mention the feelings experienced during the session.
     
     
     
     

Additional Materials

• Emotion Cards Visual Aids: These cards feature simple, clear illustrations of different emotions. They are a key tool for helping the student visually recognize and understand a variety of feelings.
• Facial Expressions Game Guide: A structured guide to running the facial expressions game, designed to promote active participation and learning.

Follow-Up and Reflection

After the lesson, consider these follow-up points:

• Ask the student to identify emotions in pictures or in a story during a guided reading session.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Provide multiple opportunities for role-playing activities to practice the expression of emotions.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• If possible, collaborate with parents to reinforce the vocabulary at home through simple games and activities.

This activity is tailored to be both engaging and supportive, ensuring that the student feels comfortable while building essential communication skills through play!

Facial Expressions Game Guide

This game guide provides a structured approach to a simple matching game that encourages the student to match their facial expression to a displayed emotion card. It is designed to support both verbal and non-verbal expression and uses positive reinforcement to develop emotional vocabulary and recognition.

Game Overview

• Objective: Help the student express emotions by matching their own facial expressions to emotion cards.
• Duration: Approximately 10 minutes.
• Materials:
  • A set of Emotion Cards Visual Aids
  • A clear space for movement

Game Instructions

1. Setup:
   

   • Arrange the emotion cards on a table or attach them to a wall at the student's eye level.
     
   • Ensure the area is free of distractions so the student can focus on the activity.
     
     
     

2. Demonstration:
   

   • Begin by showing an emotion card and clearly expressing the emotion using your face (e.g., smiling for happiness, frowning for sadness).
     
   • Explain using simple gestures if needed.
     
     
     
     

3. Matching Activity:
   

   • Invite the student to select an emotion card or point to one.
     
   • Ask the student to mimic the facial expression shown on the card.
     
   • If the student is comfortable, encourage verbal expression of the emotion (e.g., say "happy" for a smiling face).
     
   • If the student prefers non-verbal communication, rely on gestures and facial cues.
     
     
     

4. Positive Reinforcement:
   

   • Celebrate and acknowledge the student's efforts with claps, smiles, and encouraging words.
     
   • Provide gentle guidance if the expression needs adjustment, always focusing on positive feedback.
     
     
     

5. Game Variations:
   

   • Rotate cards to vary the game and keep the student engaged.
     
   • Use different orders or mix up the positions of the cards to challenge recognition and memory.
     
     
     

Follow-Up and Reflection

• During the Game: Observe which emotions the student responds to best and note any that may need extra practice.
  
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• After the Game: Encourage a brief reflection by asking how the student felt about the activity. This can be done through simple gestures or verbal cues.
  
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• Parental Involvement: Share the game guidelines with parents so they can reinforce these skills at home using similar activities.

This Facial Expressions Game Guide is a flexible tool designed to help build the student’s emotional vocabulary and expression skills in a fun, supportive environment.