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Feelings Friends Adventure

Lesson Plan

Feelings Friends Adventure

Students will identify and name basic emotions and practice friendly behaviors through interactive games, matching activities, role-play, and a song, building social-emotional skills and cooperative play habits.

Early emotional literacy helps children understand themselves and others, leading to better communication, empathy, and positive peer interactions essential for lifelong social success.

Audience

PreK

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on activities, movement, and music

Materials

Emotion Circle Chart Poster, Emotion Flashcards, Feelings Charades Cards, Feelings Match Cards, Buddy Role-play Scenario Cards, and Friendship Song Lyrics

Prep

Prepare Materials

12 minutes

Step 1

Circle Time Introduction

4 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle on the floor
  • Show the Emotion Circle Chart Poster
  • Point to each emotion and invite kids to name it and make the face

Step 2

Emotion Flashcards Activity

5 minutes

  • Hold up one of the Emotion Flashcards
  • Ask children to mimic the facial expression and say the emotion aloud
  • Discuss a simple scenario when they might feel that way

Step 3

Feelings Charades

5 minutes

  • Invite a volunteer to pick a card from the Feelings Charades Cards
  • The volunteer acts out the emotion without speaking
  • Class guesses the emotion, then rotate so several children can try

Step 4

Feelings Match Game

5 minutes

  • Distribute Feelings Match Cards face down around the carpet
  • Children take turns flipping two cards, trying to match emotion words to faces
  • When a pair is found, child names the emotion and shares when they’ve felt it

Step 5

Buddy Role-play

5 minutes

  • Pair students and give each pair a Buddy Role-play Scenario Cards
  • Each pair reads the scenario (or the teacher reads) and acts out how to respond kindly to a friend’s feeling
  • Encourage using phrases like “I can help” or “Let’s play together”

Step 6

Friendship Song

3 minutes

  • Introduce the Friendship Song Lyrics
  • Play the song and encourage kids to sing along with simple motions (holding hands, waving)
  • Emphasize lyrics about sharing, caring, and kindness

Step 7

Closing Reflection

3 minutes

  • Sit together in the circle and ask each child to share one new emotion word they learned
  • Ask them to name one friendly action they can do when a friend feels that way
  • Praise everyone for being caring friends today
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Slide Deck

Feelings Friends Adventure

A playful 30-minute PreK lesson to identify emotions and practice friendship skills through games, role-play, and a song.

Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Explain that today they will learn about feelings and being good friends.

Lesson Objectives

• Identify and name basic emotions
• Practice friendly behaviors and cooperation

Point out the two main goals of the lesson so kids know what to expect.

Materials

• Emotion Circle Chart Poster (#emotion-circle-chart-poster)
• Emotion Flashcards (#emotion-flashcards-for-prek)
• Feelings Charades Cards (#feelings-charades-cards)
• Feelings Match Cards (#feelings-match-cards)
• Buddy Role-play Scenario Cards (#buddy-role-play-scenario-cards)
• Friendship Song Lyrics (#friendship-song-lyrics)

Quickly run through each item so the teacher is fully prepared.

Circle Time Introduction

• Sit in a circle on the floor
• Show the Emotion Circle Chart Poster
• Invite children to name each feeling and make the face

Gather children in a circle and use enthusiastic tone. Point to each picture and encourage participation.

Emotion Flashcards Activity

• Show one Emotion Flashcard at a time
• Children mimic the expression and say the feeling
• Ask for a simple example of when they feel that way

Hold up each flashcard slowly. Ask each child to mimic the face and repeat the word.

Feelings Charades

• A volunteer picks a Feelings Charades Card
• Child acts out the emotion silently
• Class guesses and then rotate volunteers

Model one charade first to demonstrate. Keep it light and fun, prompting guesses.

Feelings Match Game

• Spread Feelings Match Cards face-down on the carpet
• Children take turns flipping two cards
• When they match word to face, they name the emotion and share a story

Scatter cards face-down and demonstrate flipping two cards. Encourage sharing when matches are found.

Buddy Role-play

• Pair students and give each a Buddy Role-play Scenario Card
• Read or paraphrase the scenario
• Children act out a kind response (“I can help,” “Let’s play together”)

Pair up students and read each scenario together. Guide them to use kind words and actions.

Friendship Song

• Explain you will sing about sharing and caring
• Play the Friendship Song audio or read lyrics
• Children sing along and do simple motions

Introduce the song with excitement. Encourage movements and singing along.

Closing Reflection

• Ask each child to name one feeling they practiced
• Ask for one friendly action they can do when a friend feels that way
• Celebrate their caring and cooperation

Gather back into the circle. Praise each child’s contribution and reinforce friendly actions.

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