Lesson Plan
Feelings & Faces!
Students will be able to identify and express at least three basic emotions (happy, sad, angry) using facial expressions and words.
Understanding and expressing emotions is a critical social-emotional skill for young children. It helps them communicate their needs, build empathy for others, and navigate social situations more effectively. This lesson provides a safe and fun way to explore these important feelings.
Audience
Kindergarten Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, visual aids, and creative expression.
Materials
Whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, Emotion Flashcards, Feelings & Faces Slide Deck, and Optional: Small mirrors for students to practice facial expressions
Prep
Lesson Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Feelings & Faces Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
- Print and cut out the Emotion Flashcards.
- Ensure projector/screen is set up for the Feelings & Faces Slide Deck.
- Gather markers and whiteboard/chart paper.
Step 1
Warm-Up: How Do You Feel?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students, "How are you feeling today?" and encourage them to show with a facial expression or a word.
2. Introduce the idea that we all have different feelings and that's okay. Use Feelings & Faces Slide Deck Slide 1.
Step 2
Exploring Emotions
10 minutes
- Show the Emotion Flashcards one by one (Happy, Sad, Angry).
2. For each emotion, ask: "What does 'happy' look like? What makes us feel happy?"
3. Have students make the facial expression for each emotion. Encourage them to look at their neighbors (or optional mirrors). Discuss examples of when they might feel that way. Use Feelings & Faces Slide Deck Slides 2-4.
Step 3
Story Time & Emotion Match
10 minutes
- Read a very short story (or create a scenario) that features characters experiencing different emotions (e.g., a character loses a toy and feels sad, then finds it and feels happy).
2. After each emotional event in the story, pause and ask students to identify the emotion and show the corresponding facial expression.
3. Discuss how we can tell what others are feeling by looking at their faces. Use Feelings & Faces Slide Deck Slide 5.
Step 4
Cool-Down: Show Me How You Feel Now
5 minutes
- Ask students, "How do you feel now after learning about emotions?"
2. Have each student make a facial expression that represents how they feel and share one word if they feel comfortable.
3. Reiterate that all feelings are okay and it's good to talk about them. Use Feelings & Faces Slide Deck Slide 6 and the Cool-Down: My Feeling Face activity.
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Slide Deck
How Are We Feeling?
It's okay to feel different ways!
Can you show me with your face?
Greet students and ask them to show with a facial expression or a word how they are feeling. Emphasize that all feelings are welcome.
Feeling Happy!
What does 'happy' look like?
What makes you feel happy?
Show the 'Happy' flashcard. Discuss what makes students happy and have them practice a happy face. Use an expressive and encouraging tone.
Feeling Sad?
What does 'sad' look like?
What makes you feel sad?
Show the 'Sad' flashcard. Discuss what makes students sad and have them practice a sad face. Validate their feelings.
Feeling Angry!
What does 'angry' look like?
What makes you feel angry?
Show the 'Angry' flashcard. Discuss what makes students angry and have them practice an angry face. Talk about safe ways to express anger.
Story Time: Emotion Match!
Let's read a story and look for clues about feelings!
What emotion do you see?
Explain that during story time, students should try to guess the feelings of the characters by their facial expressions and actions. Encourage participation.
My Feeling Face
How do you feel right now?
Show me with your face!
Ask students to show their current feeling with their face and optionally share one word. Reiterate the main takeaway: all feelings are okay and talking about them helps.
Activity
Emotion Flashcards
Cut out these flashcards to use during the lesson!
HAPPY
SAD
ANGRY
Cool Down
Cool-Down: My Feeling Face
Think about how you are feeling right now. Draw a picture of your face showing that feeling, or describe it in one word!
Script
Feelings & Faces Script
Warm-Up: How Do You Feel? (5 minutes)
(Teacher says) "Good morning, wonderful learners! Today, we're going to talk about something super important: our feelings! Can you show me with your face right now, how are you feeling? You can make a happy face, a sleepy face, or maybe even a silly face!"
(Pause for student responses, acknowledge a few by name or by describing their expression.)
(Teacher says) "It's okay to feel different ways, and it's good to know how we're feeling. We all have lots of feelings inside us!"
(Transition to Feelings & Faces Slide Deck Slide 1)
Exploring Emotions (10 minutes)
(Teacher says) "Let's explore some feelings together! I have some special cards to help us. Our first feeling is... HAPPY!"
(Show the 'Happy' Emotion Flashcards and display Feelings & Faces Slide Deck Slide 2)
(Teacher says) "What does a happy face look like? Can everyone make a happy face? Good job! What makes you feel happy?"
(Allow a few students to share briefly. Repeat for 'Sad' and 'Angry', using the corresponding Emotion Flashcards and Feelings & Faces Slide Deck Slides 3 and 4. For 'Angry', discuss briefly safe ways to express it, like counting to ten or taking a deep breath.)
Story Time & Emotion Match (10 minutes)
(Teacher says) "Now, let's play a game with our feelings! I'm going to tell you a very short story. As I tell the story, I want you to look for clues and tell me what feeling the characters have!"
(Display Feelings & Faces Slide Deck Slide 5)
(Teacher says) "Once upon a time, there was a little bear named Barnaby. Barnaby loved his red ball more than anything. One sunny morning, he went to play with his ball, but... oh no! He couldn't find it anywhere! Barnaby looked under his bed, behind the couch, and in his toy box. He felt so... [pause for students to guess and show 'sad' face] ... SAD! Show me your sad faces!"
(Continue with the story, e.g., Barnaby's friend helps him look, and they find the ball in the garden. Barnaby feels... [pause for students to guess and show 'happy' face] ... HAPPY! Show me your happy faces!)
(Teacher says) "Great job! We can often tell how someone is feeling by looking at their face, can't we?"
Cool-Down: Show Me How You Feel Now (5 minutes)
(Teacher says) "We've learned so much about feelings today! Now, how do you feel right now, after learning about all these emotions? Take a moment to think."
(Display Feelings & Faces Slide Deck Slide 6)
(Teacher says) "Can you show me with your face? If you want to, you can also share one word about how you're feeling. Then, on your Cool-Down: My Feeling Face paper, you can draw your feeling face!"
(Collect papers or allow students to share if time permits. Reiterate the key message.)
(Teacher says) "Remember, all our feelings are important, and it's always good to talk about them! Great work today, everyone!"