Lesson Plan
Mirror Game Plan
Students will learn to recognize and label four basic emotions—happy, sad, mad, and scared—by observing facial expressions in themselves and peers. They will practice making emotion faces and verbalizing labels to build emotional vocabulary and self-awareness.
Developing emotion identification skills supports self-awareness, communication, and social-emotional growth in young learners. This lesson helps Pre-K students label feelings and understand peers’ emotions, fostering empathy and effective communication.
Audience
Pre-K
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Modeling, hands-on mirror practice, peer-sharing.
Materials
- Mirror Game Guide, - Feelings Faces Slides, - Teacher Script with Prompts, - Handheld Mirrors Set, and - Draw Your Feeling Sheet
Prep
Preparation
10 minutes
- Gather [Handheld Mirrors Set] and arrange in a circle space
- Print enough copies of [Draw Your Feeling Sheet] for each student
- Queue up [Feelings Faces Slides] on your device and test projector/screen
- Review [Teacher Script with Prompts] to familiarize prompts and transitions
- Keep Mirror Game Guide handy for reference
Step 1
Warm-Up Song and Emotion Naming
5 minutes
- Play an emotions-themed song (e.g., “If You’re Happy and You Know It”) to engage students
- Encourage children to sing along and show a happy face
- Pause periodically to ask students to freeze and name the emotion they see
Step 2
Mirror Modeling
5 minutes
- Gather students in a circle, each holding a handheld mirror
- Teacher uses a mirror to model each emotion: happy, sad, mad, scared
- Use [Teacher Script with Prompts] to guide language: “Watch my face. How do you think I feel?”
Step 3
Emotion Mimic and Label
8 minutes
- Hand each student a mirror and display one emotion at a time on [Feelings Faces Slides]
- Call out an emotion and have students look in their mirror to make that face
- After each, students turn to a neighbor and say the emotion name aloud
Step 4
Partner Pair-Share
7 minutes
- Pair students and give each pair a mirror
- Student A makes a chosen emotion; Student B guesses and names it
- Switch roles after each emotion
- Teacher circulates and offers guidance using [Teacher Script with Prompts]
Step 5
Reflection Discussion
5 minutes
- Bring class back together in the circle
- Prompt: “When did you feel happy/sad/mad/scared today?” rotating through emotions
- Invite students to share brief examples
- Praise students for accurate labeling and active listening
Slide Deck
Feelings Faces Mirror Game
Let’s learn about feelings together!
We will look at four faces:
• Happy
• Sad
• Mad
• Scared
Welcome the class and introduce the slide deck. Say: “Today we are going to play the Feelings Faces Mirror Game. We will learn four feelings—happy, sad, mad, and scared—and practice making faces in our mirrors!”
Happy
😊
This is a happy face.
Show this slide and point to the icon. Say: “This is the happy face! When you feel happy, you might smile big like this. Everyone, look in your mirror and try it!”
Sad
😢
This is a sad face.
Display this slide and say: “Here is the sad face. When you feel sad, your mouth turns down and your eyebrows go up. Let’s all make a sad face in our mirrors!”
Mad
😠
This is a mad face.
Point to the angry face icon. Say: “This is the mad face. Your eyebrows come together and your mouth might be straight or frowning. Let’s practice a mad face in our mirrors!”
Scared
😨
This is a scared face.
Show this slide and say: “Here is the scared face. When you feel scared, your eyes open wide and your mouth might open. Let’s make a scared face together!”
Script
Teacher Script with Prompts
Use this word-for-word script to guide each step of your Feelings Faces Mirror Game lesson. Be sure to reference and display the linked materials as noted.
1. Warm-Up Song and Emotion Naming (5 minutes)
Teacher (claps hands): “Good morning, friends! Today we’re going to sing and talk about feelings. Let’s stand up in our circle!”
Play an emotions-themed song (like “If You’re Happy and You Know It”).
Teacher (singing): “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!”
(Encourage students to clap and sing along.)
Teacher (pause music): “Freeze! Look at your face. What feeling do you think you’re showing?”
Possible student responses: “Happy!”
Teacher: “That’s right, you look happy! Let’s try one more.”
Resume song with a different emotion cue (“If you’re sad and you know it…”).
Teacher (after second freeze): “Great job! You just showed two feelings: happy and sad.”
2. Mirror Modeling (5 minutes)
Teacher (holds up a mirror): “Friends, let’s sit down and each hold your handheld mirror. I have mine too. Watch me closely.”
Teacher (looks in mirror, makes big smile): “I’m making this face. How do you think I feel?”
Pause; wait for guesses.
Teacher: “Yes, I’m feeling happy!”
Teacher (frowns, eyebrows up): “Now I look like this. What feeling am I showing?”
Pause.
Teacher: “I feel sad.”
Teacher (eyebrows together, mouth flat): “How about this face?”
Student guesses: “Mad!”
Teacher: “Exactly, I’m mad.”
Teacher (eyes wide, mouth open slightly): “Last one—what about this surprised look… or maybe scared?”
Student guesses: “Scared!”
Teacher: “Yes, this is scared. You all watched carefully—way to go!”
3. Emotion Mimic and Label (8 minutes)
Teacher: “Now it’s your turn! Keep your mirror. I will show an emotion slide on Feelings Faces Slides, and you will make that face in your mirror.”
- Display the Happy slide
Teacher: “This is Happy. Look in your mirror—show me your happiest smile!”
Pause for practice.
Teacher: “Turn to your neighbor and say, ‘I am happy!’”
- Display the Sad slide
Teacher: “This is Sad. Let’s all make a sad face together.”
Pause.
Teacher: “Turn and tell your friend, ‘I feel sad.’”
- Display the Mad slide
Teacher: “This is Mad. Show me your mad face in your mirror.”
Pause.
Teacher: “Turn and say, ‘I am mad.’”
- Display the Scared slide
Teacher: “This is Scared. Show me your scared look.”
Pause.
Teacher: “Turn to your partner and say, ‘I am scared!’”
Teacher: “You all did a fantastic job naming those feelings!”
4. Partner Pair-Share (7 minutes)
Teacher: “Let’s find a partner and sit together—mirrors in hand.”
Teacher (whispers to class): “Partner A will show an emotion in the mirror without saying it. Partner B will guess and say the feeling word. Then swap!”
Teacher (models with a volunteer):
– Teacher: (makes a sad face) “...”
– Student: “Sad!”
– Teacher: “Great job!”
– Swap roles.
Teacher (circulating):
– “Very good eye contact! Remember to use your feeling words.”
– “I love how you checked with your partner.”
5. Reflection Discussion (5 minutes)
Teacher: “Let’s all come back to our circle and set our mirrors aside.”
Teacher: “I’m going to ask a question. If you want to share, raise your hand.”
-
Teacher: “When were you happy today?”
Allow 2–3 students to share brief examples. -
Teacher: “When did you feel sad today?”
2–3 students share. -
Teacher: “What made you feel mad?”
2–3 share. -
Teacher: “And when did you feel scared?”
2–3 share.
Teacher: “Thank you for sharing your feelings! You’re becoming feeling experts—great listening and great telling.”
Teacher (smiles): “Next, we’ll draw a feeling on your Draw Your Feeling Sheet. But first, let’s give ourselves a big round of applause!”
End of Script – proceed to distribute Draw Your Feeling Sheet for independent drawing.
Activity
Mirror Game Guide
Overview
A quick-reference guide for teachers leading the Feelings Faces Mirror Game. Use this to keep the lesson flowing and ensure clear transitions between activities.
Duration
Total Time: 30 minutes
Prep Time: ~10 minutes
Materials
- Feelings Faces Slides (projected)
- Handheld Mirrors Set
- Draw Your Feeling Sheet
- Optional: emotions-themed music for warm-up
Lesson Steps
-
Warm-Up Song & Emotion Naming (5 min)
• Play a familiar emotion song (e.g., “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
• Pause the music: “Freeze! What face are you showing?” -
Mirror Modeling (5 min)
• Sit in a circle with mirrors in hand
• Use Feelings Faces Slides to model Happy, Sad, Mad, Scared
• Ask, “How do you think I feel?” as you make each face -
Emotion Mimic & Label (8 min)
• Display one slide at a time
• Students mimic in mirrors and turn to name the feeling aloud: “I am ___!” -
Partner Pair-Share (7 min)
• In pairs, Student A makes a face (no words) while B guesses
• Swap roles; circulate and offer praise/clarification -
Reflection Discussion (5 min)
• Gather in circle, mirrors aside
• Prompt: “When did you feel happy/sad/mad/scared today?”
• Invite 2–3 students per emotion to share briefly
Teacher Tips
- Use clear, simple language and model enthusiasm.
- Keep mirror demonstrations slow so Pre-K students can follow.
- Praise attempts at naming feelings, even if guesses aren’t perfect.
- If a child struggles, model again side-by-side rather than on your own.
- Encourage eye contact and listening during partner share.
- Have extra mirrors ready for students who need a spare.
Keep this guide handy and refer to exact timings to maintain lesson pace.
Worksheet
Draw Your Feeling Sheet
Draw a face for each of these feelings in the boxes below.
|
**Happy** |
**Sad** |
|
**Mad** |
**Scared** |