Lesson Plan
Feelings & Fitness Fun
Students will be able to identify at least three different emotions and demonstrate one physical activity to help manage each emotion.
Learning to recognize and manage feelings is a crucial life skill. Physical activity provides a healthy outlet for emotions, helping young children develop self-regulation and coping strategies.
Audience
Kindergarten
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive gym activities linked to various emotions.
Materials
Feelings & Fitness Slides, Open Space (gymnasium or large classroom), Soft Balls (optional), and Music Player & Age-Appropriate Music
Prep
Prepare Materials & Space
10 minutes
- Review the Feelings & Fitness Slides to familiarize yourself with the content and activity instructions.
- Ensure a safe, open space is available for physical activity.
- Prepare a music playlist with upbeat and calming songs.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Body Check-In
5 minutes
- Begin with a quick Warm-Up: How Are We Feeling? to gauge students' current emotional state.
- Ask students to gently stretch and move their bodies, focusing on how they feel physically and emotionally.
- Play light, engaging music during this time.
Step 2
Introducing Feelings & Movement
5 minutes
- Use the Feelings & Fitness Slides to introduce different feelings (e.g., Happy, Sad, Angry, Calm, Excited).
- For each feeling, ask students: 'What does this feeling look like? How does it feel in your body?'
- Introduce the idea that our bodies can help us with our feelings.
Step 3
Activity: Move Your Mood!
15 minutes
- Explain the Activity: Move Your Mood! where different movements correspond to different feelings.
- Happy: Jumping jacks, dancing freely, skipping.
- Excited: Running in place, high fives, silly wiggles.
- Angry/Frustrated: Stomping feet (gently!), squeezing hands, pushing against a wall (safely), roaring like a lion.
- Sad: Slow walking, gentle swaying, quiet stretches.
- Calm: Deep breaths (balloon breathing), slow arm raises, gentle swaying.
- Guide students through each emotion and its corresponding movement. Encourage them to act out the feelings with their bodies.
- Provide scenarios (e.g., 'You just got a new toy! How do you feel? What movement can you do?') and have them choose an appropriate movement.
Step 4
Cool-Down: Feeling Fine
5 minutes
- Bring students back to a calm state with the Cool-Down: Feeling Fine.
- Lead gentle stretches and deep breathing exercises.
- Ask students to share one way they can use movement to help with a feeling they might have later today.
Slide Deck
Welcome to Feelings & Fitness!
Let's explore our feelings and how moving our bodies can help!
Welcome students and set a positive tone. Explain that today we'll learn about feelings and how our bodies can help us feel better.
Body Check-In!
How are you feeling right now?
Let's do some gentle stretches!
Ask students how their bodies feel right now. Encourage them to do gentle stretches. 'How do you feel in your mind? How about your body?'
Feeling Happy?
When you're happy, your body wants to DANCE and JUMP!
(Show jumping jacks or free dancing)
Introduce 'Happy'. Ask: 'What makes you happy? What does happy look like?' Show the movement: jumping jacks/dancing.
Super Excited!
Got lots of energy? Let's run in place or give some high fives!
(Show running in place)
Introduce 'Excited'. Ask: 'What makes you excited? How do you feel when you're excited?' Show the movement: running in place/high fives.
A Little Angry?
It's okay to feel angry! We can stomp our feet (gently!) or squeeze our hands tight!
(Demonstrate safe stomping)
Introduce 'Angry/Frustrated'. Emphasize safe expression. Ask: 'What does angry feel like? What can we do when we feel angry?' Show the movement: safe stomping/squeezing hands.
Feeling Sad?
When you're sad, maybe a slow walk or a gentle sway can help.
(Show slow, gentle swaying)
Introduce 'Sad'. Ask: 'What does sad feel like? What can we do to help when we're sad?' Show the movement: slow swaying/gentle stretches.
Time to Be Calm!
Take a deep breath in, and let it out slow. Like a balloon!
(Demonstrate balloon breathing: arms up, then down)
Introduce 'Calm'. Ask: 'What helps you feel calm? What does calm look like?' Show the movement: deep breaths/slow arm raises.
Move Your Mood Activity!
Let's use our bodies to show how we feel and to help us feel better!
Transition to the 'Move Your Mood' activity. Explain that they will get to choose movements for different feelings.
Cool Down: Feeling Fine
Gentle stretches and deep breaths. Remember, movement helps our feelings!
Explain the cool-down. Guide them through simple stretches and review the lesson's main point.
Warm Up
Warm-Up: How Are We Feeling?
Teacher Script:
"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Let's get our bodies ready for some fun today. Before we start, I want us to do a quick 'body check-in.'"
"Stand up tall, spread your feet a little, and let's reach for the sky! (Demonstrate a gentle stretch). Now, touch your toes! (Demonstrate). Roll your shoulders forward, then backward. How does your body feel right now? Maybe a little sleepy? Energized? relaxed?"
"Now, let's think about our feelings. Close your eyes for a moment if you feel comfortable. What feeling is in your heart right now? Are you happy, excited, a little tired, or maybe even a little silly?"
"Open your eyes! Great job checking in with your amazing bodies and feelings. Keep thinking about how you feel as we move and learn today!"
Cool Down
Cool-Down: Feeling Fine
Teacher Script:
"Alright, everyone, great job moving your bodies and exploring your feelings! Now it's time to slow down and cool our bodies and minds."
"Let's find a comfortable spot to sit or stand quietly. Take a big breath in through your nose, like you're smelling a yummy flower. (Demonstrate). Hold it for a moment, and then slowly breathe out through your mouth, like you're blowing out a candle. (Demonstrate). Let's do that two more times. Feel your body getting calm and peaceful."
"Now, let's do some gentle stretches. Reach one arm across your body and give yourself a little hug. (Demonstrate). Switch arms. Gently roll your neck from side to side. Feel how relaxed your muscles are."
"Remember today we learned that our bodies can help us with our feelings. Can someone share one way they can use movement to help them with a feeling later today?"
(Allow 2-3 students to share)
"Fantastic! You all did an amazing job today. Give yourselves a pat on the back for being so smart about your feelings and your bodies!"
Activity
Activity: Move Your Mood!
Objective: Students will physically express different emotions and use movement as a tool for emotional regulation.
Materials: Open space, Feelings & Fitness Slides, music player with age-appropriate music (optional)
Instructions:
1. Introduce the Concept: "We're going to play 'Move Your Mood'! I'll say a feeling, and you'll show me with your body how that feeling looks or how you can use movement to help with that feeling. There's no wrong way to move, as long as it's safe!"
2. Demonstrate and Practice Each Feeling:
* Happy: "When we're happy, we might want to jump and dance! Let's do some happy jumps! (Lead students in jumping jacks, skipping, or free dancing. Play upbeat music.)"
* Excited: "Sometimes we get super excited, like when it's your birthday! When we're excited, we have lots of energy. Let's run in place super fast! Or give a high-five to a friend!"
* Angry/Frustrated: "It's okay to feel angry sometimes. When you feel angry, you might want to stomp your feet! Let's stomp gently. (Demonstrate gentle stomping, squeezing fists, or roaring like a lion). Remember, we stomp gently so we don't hurt ourselves or others."
* Sad: "If you're feeling a little sad, sometimes it helps to move slowly and gently. Let's do some slow, gentle swaying. (Lead slow swaying, quiet stretches.)"
* Calm: "When we want to feel calm, our bodies like slow movements and deep breaths. Let's take a big balloon breath – breathe in as you raise your arms up, and breathe out as you let them slowly fall. (Demonstrate balloon breathing.)"
3. Scenario Play: "Now, I'm going to tell you a short story, and you show me how you feel and how you would move!"
* "You just built a giant tower with blocks, and it fell over! How do you feel? What can you do?" (Students might stomp, sigh, or try to be calm.)
* "Your favorite song just came on! How do you feel? What can you do?" (Students might dance, jump, or sing.)
* "You're getting ready for bed, and you want to relax. How do you feel? What can you do?" (Students might do deep breaths, gentle stretches.)
4. Free Movement to Music (Optional): Play various types of music (fast, slow, silly) and encourage students to move their bodies in ways that match the music or how it makes them feel.
Worksheet
My Feelings & Movement Worksheet
Name: _______________________
Today we learned about feelings and how our bodies can help us!
## 1. How do you feel when you are HAPPY?
Draw a happy face and show what movement you can do!
Movement: _________________________________________
## 2. How do you feel when you are ANGRY?
Draw an angry face and show what movement you can do safely!
Movement: _________________________________________
## 3. How do you feel when you want to be CALM?
Draw a calm face and show what movement you can do!
Movement: _________________________________________
Activity
Feelings Flashcards - Teacher Guide
Objective: To help students visually identify and discuss various emotions.
Materials: Printed or drawn flashcards of different emotions (e.g., Happy, Sad, Angry, Surprised, Scared, Excited, Calm).
Instructions:
1. Prepare Flashcards: Create simple flashcards with clear images or drawings representing different emotions. You can draw stick figures with distinct facial expressions or use print-outs.
2. Introduction: Hold up one flashcard at a time. "Class, look at this face. How do you think this person is feeling?" Allow students to call out answers.
3. Discussion for Each Card: For each flashcard, ask:
* "What clues do you see in the picture that tell us how they feel?" (e.g., smiling mouth, eyebrows, tears)
* "When have you felt this way?" (Encourage short, simple examples, or just a nod if they prefer not to share.)
* "What does this feeling feel like in your body?" (e.g., happy might feel light, angry might feel hot.)
* "What movement could we do if we felt this way?" (Connect back to the 'Move Your Mood' activity or brainstorm new ideas.)
4. Match the Movement: Lay out several flashcards. Call out a movement (e.g., "Show me your happy dance!") and have students point to or pick up the corresponding feeling flashcard.
5. Story Time Connection (Optional): Read a short children's book that features characters experiencing different emotions. Pause at key points and ask students to identify the character's feeling and what movement might help them.
Tip: Keep the discussion brief and engaging for Kindergarteners. Focus on recognition and simple connection to movement. You can use these flashcards as a recurring warm-up or cool-down activity.
Warm Up
Warm-Up: How Are We Feeling?
Teacher Script: