Lesson Plan
Feelings Face-Off!
Students will be able to identify and name basic emotions (happy, sad, angry, scared) using visual cues.
Understanding and expressing emotions is crucial for social development. This lesson helps kindergarteners build a vocabulary for feelings, fostering empathy and self-awareness.
Audience
Kindergarten Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, visual aids, and a cooperative game.
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Feelings Face-Off! Slide Deck content and teacher notes.
- Print and cut out the cards for the Feeling Faces Game.
- Ensure you have a way to display the slide deck to the class.
- Gather any optional emotion-themed picture books or puppets if desired.
Step 1
Warm-Up: How Do You Feel?
5 minutes
- Greet students and ask them to show you with their face how they are feeling right now.
- Briefly discuss a few student responses, modeling how to name the feeling (e.g., 'I see a happy face!').
- Introduce the idea that we all have different feelings.
Step 2
Introducing Feelings: Happy, Sad, Angry, Scared
10 minutes
- Use the Feelings Face-Off! Slide Deck to introduce each feeling one by one.
- For each slide, show the visual and describe the feeling.
- Ask students: 'What does a happy face look like?' 'When do you feel happy?' 'Show me your happy face!'
- Repeat for sad, angry, and scared, encouraging students to make the facial expressions and share simple examples (e.g., 'I feel sad when my toy breaks.').
- Emphasize that all feelings are okay to have.
Step 3
Feeling Detective Game
10 minutes
- Introduce the Feeling Faces Game. Explain that students will be 'feeling detectives.'
- Divide students into small groups or pairs.
- Distribute the game cards.
- Explain the rules: Students take turns picking a card and identifying the feeling shown. They can also share a time they felt that emotion. The other students can help if needed.
- Circulate and provide support and positive reinforcement.
Step 4
Cool Down: Feeling Check-Out
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Ask students to identify one feeling they learned about today.
- Ask: 'What is one way we can show kindness to someone who is feeling sad?' (e.g., give them a hug, ask what's wrong).
- Thank students for being amazing feeling detectives!
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Feelings Face-Off! 😜 What's That Feeling?
Let's learn about all the amazing feelings we have!
Welcome students and introduce the idea of learning about feelings. Ask them to show you with their face how they are feeling right now.
What Are Feelings?
Feelings are what we feel inside! Sometimes we feel happy, sometimes we feel sad, and sometimes we feel other things too. All feelings are okay!
Explain that feelings are emotions we have inside us, and they can change! Point to the different faces and ask what feelings they might be showing.
Happy! 😄
When you feel happy, you might:
- Smile a big smile
- Laugh
- Feel joyful and light
When do you feel happy?
Show the happy face. Ask: 'What does a happy face look like?' 'When do you feel happy?' 'Show me your happy face!' Emphasize smiling and bright eyes.
Sad! 😥
When you feel sad, you might:
- Have a frown
- Cry
- Feel like you want a hug
When do you feel sad?
Show the sad face. Ask: 'What does a sad face look like?' 'When do you feel sad?' 'Show me your sad face!' Emphasize downturned mouth, tears.
Angry! 😠
When you feel angry, you might:
- Have a frown or scowl
- Make a tight face
- Feel frustrated or mad
When do you feel angry?
Show the angry face. Ask: 'What does an angry face look like?' 'When do you feel angry?' 'Show me your angry face!' Emphasize furrowed brows, tight lips. Discuss that it's okay to feel angry, but it's important to show it safely.
Scared! 😨
When you feel scared, you might:
- Have wide eyes
- Feel like you want to hide
- Feel a bit shaky
When do you feel scared?
Show the scared face. Ask: 'What does a scared face look like?' 'When do you feel scared?' 'Show me your scared face!' Emphasize wide eyes, open mouth. Discuss that it's okay to feel scared and we can ask for help.
All Our Feelings! 😊😥😠😨
We learned about Happy, Sad, Angry, and Scared!
All feelings are a part of us!
Review all the feelings. Ask students to quickly show each face as you name the feeling.
Game
Feeling Faces Game: Feeling Detectives!
Objective: To help students identify and name basic emotions (happy, sad, angry, scared) in a fun, interactive way.
How to Play: Feeling Detectives!
- Preparation: Print and cut out the "Feeling Cards" provided below. You can print multiple copies to have enough cards for small groups or pairs.
- Introduction: Gather students in small groups or pairs. Explain that they are going to be "Feeling Detectives" and their job is to identify the feelings shown on the cards.
- Taking Turns: Shuffle the cards and place them face down in a pile. Students take turns drawing one card.
- Identify and Share: When a student picks a card, they must:
- Identify the feeling shown on the card (e.g., "This face is happy!").
- (Optional, for older or more verbally expressive students) Share a time they felt that emotion or what makes them feel that way. For example, "I feel happy when I play with my friends!"
- Identify the feeling shown on the card (e.g., "This face is happy!").
- Group Discussion: Encourage other students in the group to agree or gently help if the feeling is misidentified. Provide positive reinforcement for correct identifications and participation.
- Continue Playing: Students continue taking turns until all cards are drawn or for a set amount of time.
Feeling Cards (Examples to Print and Cut)
(Teacher: Create simple drawings or print images of diverse children's faces clearly showing the following emotions. Each emotion should have several cards to ensure variety.)
Happy Cards
- A child smiling broadly, eyes crinkling.
- A child giggling with an open mouth.
- A child with bright, cheerful eyes and a gentle smile.
Sad Cards
- A child with a downturned mouth and watery eyes.
- A child with a quivering lip, looking down.
- A child with a slumped posture and a small frown.
Angry Cards
- A child with furrowed brows and tight lips.
- A child with a red face and a frustrated expression.
- A child with a scowl, arms crossed.
Scared Cards
- A child with wide eyes and slightly open mouth.
- A child cowering slightly, looking apprehensive.
- A child with eyebrows raised and a worried expression.