Lesson Plan
Feelings Flower Lesson Plan
Students will recognize and name feelings of grief and create a ‘Feelings Flower’ craft to express those emotions, building vocabulary and comfort in sharing feelings.
This lesson fosters emotional literacy, normalizes grief expression, and creates a supportive circle where Pre-K children feel seen and comforted while processing loss.
Audience
Pre-Kindergarten Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Story, craft, and guided discussion
Materials
- The Memory Flower Storybook, - Feelings Flower Craft Template, - Crayons, - Safety Scissors, - Glue Sticks, and - Construction Paper
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print one copy of the Feelings Flower Craft Template per student.
- Review the Feelings Flower Lesson Plan and read through The Memory Flower Storybook.
- Gather crayons, safety scissors, glue sticks, and construction paper for each child.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Feelings Check
5 minutes
- Seat children in a circle and show three emotion faces (happy, sad, neutral).
- Ask, “How do you feel today?” and encourage naming feelings.
- Introduce the idea that sometimes we feel sad or miss someone we love.
Step 2
Read-Aloud: The Memory Flower
8 minutes
- Show and read The Memory Flower Storybook clearly and slowly.
- Pause to ask, “How is the character feeling? How do you know?”
- Validate responses and name grief-related feelings (sad, missing, lonely).
Step 3
Guided Craft: Feelings Flower
10 minutes
- Hand out the Feelings Flower Craft Template, crayons, scissors, and glue.
- Instruct children to color the flower’s center (what brings comfort) and petals (things that make them miss someone or feel sad).
- Assist with cutting and gluing petals onto construction paper.
Step 4
Sharing Circle
5 minutes
- Invite volunteers to show their completed Feelings Flowers.
- Encourage each child to name one feeling or memory they drew.
- Affirm feelings and thank them for sharing.
Step 5
Cool-Down: Mindful Breaths
2 minutes
- Have children imagine holding their flower.
- Guide two deep “smell-the-flower” breaths in and slow breaths out.
- End with a gentle clap to celebrate their courage in sharing.
Slide Deck
Feelings Flower
Today, we will learn about our feelings and how to express them, especially when we miss someone. We will read a story, make a Feelings Flower craft, and share our feelings together!
Welcome everyone! Today we will talk about our feelings, especially when we miss someone we love. We’ll read a story, make a Feelings Flower craft, and share our feelings safely together.
Warm-Up: Feelings Check
• Show three faces: 🙂 Happy 🙁 Sad 😐 Neutral
• Ask: “How do you feel today?”
• Talk about times we feel sad or miss someone.
Show three simple face images (happy, sad, neutral). Invite each child to point to a face and name how they feel. Validate every answer.
Read-Aloud: The Memory Flower
We will read The Memory Flower Storybook together.
Listen carefully and think about how the character feels.
Hold the storybook up so all can see. Read slowly, pausing to ask: “How is the character feeling? How do you know?” Use simple language and validate responses.
Guided Craft: Make Your Feelings Flower
• Take a Feelings Flower Craft Template, crayons, scissors, and glue.
• Color the center with what makes you feel loved or comforted.
• On each petal, draw something you miss or that makes you feel a bit sad.
• Cut out petals and glue them around your flower center.
Demonstrate one flower: center colored with something comforting, petals with things they miss. Circulate to help with cutting and labeling feelings.
Sharing Circle
• Who would like to show their Feelings Flower?
• Share one thing from your flower and the feeling it represents.
Model sharing first to set tone. Invite a few volunteers. Acknowledge each child’s bravery and thank them.
Cool-Down: Mindful Breaths
• Hold your flower picture.
• Breathe in like smelling a flower (count 1-2).
• Breathe out slowly (count 1-2).
• Let’s clap once to celebrate our sharing!
Guide with a calm, slow voice. Count breaths aloud. Encourage children to imagine smelling their flower centers.
Reading
The Memory Flower
Page 1:
Lily had a special flower in her garden. It was bright and soft, and it smelled like sunshine. Every morning, Lily smiled when she saw its petals open.
Page 2:
One day, Lily felt a little sad. She missed someone she loved very much. Her heart felt heavy, like a tiny raincloud inside her.
Page 3:
Lily sat by her flower and whispered, “Can you help me remember good times?” The flower’s petals glowed softly and swayed in the gentle breeze.
Page 4:
When Lily gently touched a petal, she remembered warm hugs and happy laughter. A small smile peeked across her face.
Page 5:
Lily realized that each petal was like a memory. Red petals reminded her of birthdays and cake. Blue petals reminded her of calm bedtime stories.
Page 6:
Yellow petals felt like sunny days in the park. Green petals brought thoughts of gentle walks in the grass. Lily’s Memory Flower held all these memories.
Page 7:
Whenever Lily felt sad or missed her loved one, she looked at her Memory Flower. She closed her eyes, breathed in its sweet scent, and felt comfort in her heart.
Page 8:
“Even when I miss you,” Lily said softly, “you bloom in my heart.”
The Memory Flower will always grow where love and memories live.
Activity
Feelings Flower Craft Template
Teacher Preparation: Print one copy of this template per student (or draw it freehand on construction paper) before class.
Template Layout
- Center Circle: A large blank circle in the middle of the page. Children will color or draw inside this circle what makes them feel safe, loved, or comforted.
- Six Oval Petals: Six blank ovals arranged evenly around the circle. Children will color or draw in each petal something they miss or that makes them feel a bit sad.
Below is a simple outline to guide your printing or drawing:
[ Petal ] [ Petal ] [ Petal ]
\ | /
\ | /
[ Petal ]( ○ ) [ Petal ]
/ | \
/ | \
[ Petal ] [ Petal ] [ Petal ]
• Leave all shapes blank for students to personalize.
• After decorating, students cut out the center and petals, then glue them onto a separate sheet of construction paper to assemble their Feelings Flower.
Materials Needed for This Template
- Printed template or teacher-drawn equivalent
- Crayons or markers
- Safety scissors
- Glue sticks
- Construction paper background for flower assembly