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Feelings & Coping Power!

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Christy Olivieri

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Feelings & Coping Power!

Students will be able to identify different feelings and learn simple coping skills to manage them in a healthy way.

Understanding and managing emotions is a fundamental life skill that helps children navigate challenges, build positive relationships, and develop resilience. This lesson provides foundational knowledge for emotional well-being.

Audience

Kindergarten - 4th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, visual aids, and a hands-on activity to explore feelings and coping.

Materials

Projector and screen, Feelings & Coping Power! Slide Deck, Whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, Coping Skills Challenge Activity Cards (one set per small group), and Music for movement

Prep

Prepare Materials

20 minutes

  • Review the Feelings & Coping Power! Slide Deck and practice the script.
    * Print and cut out the Coping Skills Challenge Activity Cards.
    * Arrange projector and screen for the slide deck.
    * Ensure a whiteboard or chart paper and markers are accessible.
    * Have music ready for the 'Shake Your Sillies Out' activity.

Step 1

Welcome & Hook: What's Your Feeling Forecast?

5 minutes

  • Greet students warmly.
    * Use Feelings & Coping Power! Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).
    * Ask students to silently show with a facial expression how they are feeling right now.
    * Briefly discuss that everyone has feelings, and they change like the weather.

Step 2

Exploring Our Feelings

7 minutes

  • Use Feelings & Coping Power! Slide Deck (Slide 3-6).
    * Introduce various feelings (happy, sad, angry, scared, calm) using expressive visuals.
    * Ask students for examples of when they might feel each emotion.
    * Emphasize that all feelings are okay, it's what we do with them that matters.

Step 3

Coping Skills Power-Up!

12 minutes

  • Use Feelings & Coping Power! Slide Deck (Slide 7-13).
    * Introduce simple coping skills (deep breaths, counting, talking, moving our bodies, drawing).
    * Model each skill with the students (e.g., practice deep breathing together).
    * Play a quick game: "Coping Charades" where students act out a coping skill and others guess. Use Coping Skills Challenge Activity Cards as prompts. Engage several students in acting out different cards.

Step 4

Cool Down: Quick Check-in

6 minutes

  • Ask students to give a thumbs up if they learned a new way to help with big feelings today, a thumbs in the middle if they already knew some, or a thumbs down if they are still feeling a bit confused.
    * Briefly invite a few students to share one coping skill they liked or one thing they learned.
    * Thank students for participating and remind them that they have 'Coping Power!' inside them.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Feelings & Coping Power!

Let's explore our amazing feelings and learn how to be super strong inside!

Welcome students to the assembly. Set an inviting and safe tone.

What's Your Feeling Forecast?

How are you feeling right now?
(Show with your face!)

Happy? Sad? Excited? Calm?

Ask students to show their current feeling with a facial expression. Emphasize that all feelings are okay and can change.

Feeling Happy!

When do you feel happy?

(Share some ideas!)

Happy looks like a big smile and bright eyes!

Introduce the emotion of 'Happy'. Ask students what makes them feel happy.

Feeling Sad...

Sometimes we feel sad.

What makes you feel sad?

It's okay to feel sad. We can comfort ourselves and others.

Introduce 'Sad'. Validate that it's okay to feel sad. Ask about gentle ways to show sadness.

Feeling Angry!

Woah! Sometimes we feel angry.

What makes you feel angry?

It's a big feeling! We need to find safe ways to show it.

Introduce 'Angry'. Explain that anger is a strong feeling and we need safe ways to express it. Ask for examples of what makes them angry.

Feeling Scared or Worried!

Uh oh! Sometimes we feel scared or worried.

What makes you feel scared?

It's normal to feel a little scared sometimes.

Introduce 'Scared' or 'Worried'. Acknowledge that fear is a natural feeling. Ask what they do when they feel scared.

Feeling Calm

Ahhh... and sometimes we feel calm and peaceful.

What helps you feel calm?

It's a wonderful feeling!

Introduce 'Calm'. Explain that this is a peaceful feeling. Ask what makes them feel calm.

What Can We Do With Our Feelings?

All feelings are okay!

But when feelings get too big, we can use our 'Coping Power'!

Transition to coping skills. Explain that these are tools to help us with big feelings.

Coping Power! Deep Breaths

Take a big breath in through your nose (like smelling a flower).

Slowly let it out through your mouth (like blowing out a candle).

Let's try it together!

Introduce Deep Breathing. Guide students through a simple deep breathing exercise (e.g., 'smell the flower, blow out the candle').

Coping Power! Count to 10

When your feelings feel big, you can count slowly to 10.

Let's count together!

Introduce Counting. Explain how counting slowly can help calm down.

Coping Power! Talk About It

Find a grown-up you trust and tell them how you feel.

They can help you!

Introduce Talking About It. Emphasize talking to a trusted adult.

Coping Power! Move Your Body

Do some jumping jacks, run around, or dance to music!

Movement helps our bodies and minds.

Introduce Moving Your Body. Explain how physical activity can help release energy and shift feelings.

Coping Power! Draw or Create

Sometimes drawing what you feel, or just drawing something fun, can help!

Art is a great way to let feelings out.

Introduce Drawing/Creating. Explain how art can be a way to express feelings.

You Have Coping Power!

Remember, all your feelings are okay, and you have special coping power inside you!

Use your tools to feel your best!

Conclude by reiterating that everyone has feelings and everyone has coping power. Encourage students to use their new skills.

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Activity

Coping Skills Challenge Cards

Instructions for Teacher:
Print and cut out these cards. Use them as prompts for a game like "Coping Charades" or for small group discussions.

Card 1: Deep Breaths

Act like you are smelling a flower and blowing out a candle.

Card 2: Count to Ten

Show with your fingers as you slowly count to ten.

Card 3: Talk About It

Pretend to tell a trusted grown-up how you are feeling.

Card 4: Move Your Body

Do some jumping jacks or a silly dance.

Card 5: Draw It Out

Pretend to draw a picture of your feelings or something happy.

Card 6: Get a Hug

Pretend to give yourself a big, comforting hug.

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