Emotion Charades Game

Objective: Students will identify and express a variety of emotions through acting and guessing activities, then connect personally by sharing experiences.

Materials:

• Emotion Charades Cards

Setup:

1. Shuffle the emotion cards and place them face-down in a stack at the center of each group.
2. Divide students into small groups of 4–5, sitting in a circle.

Instructions:

1. The first student in each group draws a card without showing it to others.
2. They silently act out the emotion using facial expressions and body language for up to 30 seconds.
3. Group members take turns guessing. When someone guesses correctly:
   • The guesser names the emotion aloud.
   • The guesser shares a moment they felt that emotion (1–2 sentences).
     
     
     
4. Return the card to the bottom of the pile. Rotate roles so each student has a turn.
5. Continue until time is up or all students have acted.

Time: 10 minutes

Variation:

• Whole‐class Charades: Project one card at a time and invite volunteers to act while the rest of the class guesses.

Reflection:

• Gather in your circle and discuss:
  • Which emotion was easiest to act? Which was hardest?
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Gratitude Bingo Game

Objective: Students will practice gratitude by mingling with peers, asking thoughtful questions, and celebrating the kindness they notice in classmates.

Materials:

• Gratitude Bingo Cards
• Gratitude Bingo Tokens
• Pencils or markers

Setup:

1. Distribute one Gratitude Bingo Card and a handful of tokens to each student.
2. Explain that each square contains a statement about something kind or helpful a classmate may have done.

Instructions:

1. Students stand up and move around the room, asking classmates if the statement in a square applies to them (e.g., “Did you help someone with a project?”).
2. If a classmate responds “Yes,” the student places a token on that square and writes the classmate’s name in the box.
3. Continue mingling until a student gets five tokens in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) and calls out “Bingo!”
4. Pause to celebrate the winner. Ask the student to share one gratitude story from their Bingo card.
5. Clear tokens and play additional rounds as time allows.

Time: 15 minutes

Variation:

• Full Card Challenge: Instead of a single row, see who can fill their entire card first.

Reflection:

• Reconvene as a class and discuss:
  • Which gratitude square was easiest to find?
  • Which was hardest?
  • How did it feel to both ask and answer gratitude questions?
  
  
  
  

Group Gratitude Share & Cool-Down

Time: 10 minutes

1. Gratitude Sharing (5 minutes)

• Have students sit in a circle. Explain that with kindness in our hearts, we’ll take turns sharing one thing we’re grateful for today.
• Invite 3–4 volunteers to stand, share their gratitude in one clear sentence, then quietly return to their seat.
  
  
  

2. Gratitude Notes (3 minutes)

• Pass out sticky notes and markers. Ask each student to write a short gratitude message to someone in our class or to the group as a whole (e.g., “Thank you, Sarah, for helping me tie my shoes”).
• After writing, they post their note on our class Gratitude Wall for everyone to read.
  
  
  

3. Calming Close (2 minutes)

• Lead the class in three slow, deep breaths together: inhale on a count of 4, hold for 2, exhale on a count of 4.
• End with our Feelings Fiesta cheer: “Feelings Fiesta—hip hip hooray!”

Great job today celebrating our feelings and showing gratitude—here’s to a wonderful year ahead!

Emotion Charades Cards

Print and cut along the grid lines to create individual cards. Each card shows an emotion word with a simple icon—shuffle and place face-down for your Emotion Charades game.

Instructions:

• Cut each card into individual squares.
• Shuffle the cards and place them face-down in a stack.
• Students take turns drawing a card and acting out the emotion without words.
• The group guesses the emotion and then shares a moment they felt it before returning the card to the bottom of the pile.

Gratitude Bingo Cards

Directions: Mingle with classmates to find someone who matches each prompt. When you do, write their name in the box and place a token. Try to get five in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) and call “Bingo!”