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Feelings & Flex!

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Christy Olivieri

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Feelings & Flex!

Students will be able to identify basic emotions and learn simple movement-based coping strategies.

Understanding and managing emotions is a foundational life skill. This lesson provides children with concrete, physical tools to recognize their feelings and develop healthy ways to respond to them, promoting overall well-being and a positive classroom environment.

Audience

K-4 Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive games and physical activities to explore emotions and coping.

Materials

Feelings & Flex! Slide Deck, Movement Cards, Emotion Faces Worksheet, Open Space (Gymnasium), and Music (optional)

Prep

Prepare Materials & Space

15 minutes

  • Review the Feelings & Flex! Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
    - Print and cut out Movement Cards.
    - Ensure the gymnasium is clear and safe for movement activities.
    - Set up projector/screen for Feelings & Flex! Slide Deck.

Step 1

Warm-Up: How Do You Feel?

5 minutes

  • Begin with a quick check-in. Ask students, 'How are you feeling right now?'
    - Show Feelings & Flex! Slide Deck Slide 1-2.
    - Have students show a facial expression that matches their feeling or point to an emotion on the slide.
    - Briefly discuss that it's okay to feel different emotions.

Step 2

Emotion Exploration Game: Freeze Dance Feelings

10 minutes

  • Explain that we're going to play a game to explore different feelings.
    - Show Feelings & Flex! Slide Deck Slide 3-5.
    - Play music and have students dance. When the music stops, call out an emotion (e.g., 'Happy!', 'Sad!', 'Excited!', 'Calm!').
    - Students 'freeze' in a pose that shows that emotion.
    - Briefly discuss what each emotion might feel like in their body.

Step 3

Movement Coping Strategies: Flex Your Feelings!

10 minutes

  • Introduce the idea that movement can help us with our feelings.
    - Show Feelings & Flex! Slide Deck Slide 6-8.
    - Demonstrate and practice 3-4 Movement Cards (e.g., 'Shake It Out', 'Deep Breath Stretch', 'Wiggle Worm').
    - Ask students: 'When might you use this movement?' Discuss examples like feeling frustrated, too excited, or sleepy.
    - Emphasize that these are tools they can use anytime they need to feel better or re-focus.

Step 4

Cool-Down & Reflection: What's Your Flex?

5 minutes

  • Gather students for a cool-down. Ask: 'What was your favorite way to 'flex your feelings' today?'
    - Show Feelings & Flex! Slide Deck Slide 9-10.
    - Distribute the Emotion Faces Worksheet for students to draw or write one feeling and one 'flex' strategy they learned.
    - Reiterate that all feelings are okay, and we have tools to help us manage them.
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