Lesson Plan
Sorting the Smiles
Students will recognize and label three emotions—happy, sad, and calm—by sorting pictures and objects into corresponding zones, building emotional vocabulary and self-regulation.
This lesson supports Pre-K learners in developing emotional awareness and self-regulation through tactile sorting activities and clear visual supports, key foundations for positive social-emotional growth.
Audience
Pre-K Small Group
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Hands-on sorting of emotion images into distinct zones.
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Print enough copies of My Feeling Sort Sheet for each student
- Review the correct categories in Zone Sort Guide
- Label sections on the Zone Sorting Tray as “Happy,” “Sad,” and “Calm”
- Load or print images from Zone Picture Sort
- Gather any additional manipulatives or emotion cards for tactile learners
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Invite students to sit in a circle and briefly discuss times they have felt happy, sad, or calm
- Show selected images from Zone Picture Sort and ask, “How does this face feel?”
- Introduce the three labeled areas on the Zone Sorting Tray as special zones for each emotion
Step 2
Sorting Activity
10 minutes
- Demonstrate sorting one image: place a happy face into the Happy zone and name it
- Distribute pictures or My Feeling Sort Sheet to each student
- Students take turns choosing a picture, naming the emotion, and placing it in the matching zone
- Prompt with questions: “Why did you choose the Sad zone?” and refer to the Zone Sort Guide for support
- Offer extra visual cues or one-on-one assistance for students needing more guidance
Step 3
Closure & Assessment
5 minutes
- Review each zone: pick one item from each and ask the group to name the emotion
- Ask students to share one thing that makes them feel happy, sad, or calm
- Use the Zone Sort Guide to check for accuracy and note any patterns or misconceptions
- Provide positive reinforcement; for learners needing extra support, offer simplified two-choice sorting next time; for advanced learners, ask them to explain their reasoning
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Slide Deck
Zone Picture Sort
Happy • Sad • Calm
Today we're going to look at pictures of faces and talk about how they feel. Introduce the idea of sorting feelings into zones: Happy, Sad, and Calm.
What Are Feelings?
Feelings tell us how we feel on the inside. Today we will learn three feelings:
• Happy
• Sad
• Calm
Explain that feelings help us know how we feel inside. Use simple language and ask kids to name times they've felt these emotions.
Happy Faces
😀 😄 😊 😁
Show each happy face and ask, “How does this face feel?” Encourage students to say “Happy!”
Sad Faces
☹️ 😢 😞 😭
Point to each sad face and ask, “What feeling is this?” Help students say “Sad.”
Calm Faces
😌 🙂 😴 😇
Show calm faces and ask, “What do you notice about these faces?” Guide students to say “Calm.”
Sorting Time!
Now it’s your turn!
• Pick a picture
• Name the feeling
• Place it in the Happy, Sad, or Calm zone
Introduce the Zone Sorting Tray. Explain that each picture will go into one of the three zones.
Great Job!
What did we learn?
• Happy pictures go in the Happy zone.
• Sad pictures go in the Sad zone.
• Calm pictures go in the Calm zone.
Review each zone by picking one picture from each. Ask the group to name the feeling and share when they feel that way.
Activity
Zone Sorting Tray
Description:
A three-section tray labeled Happy, Sad, and Calm. Students place emotion cards or objects into the section that matches how the face or item makes them feel. This hands-on tool supports sensory engagement and helps children practice identifying and sorting emotions.
Materials (in tray or nearby):
- A large plastic or cardboard tray (or shallow box)
- Three colored labels or printed cards: “Happy,” “Sad,” “Calm”
- Emotion picture cards or small objects (from Zone Picture Sort or your own)
Setup Instructions (5 minutes):
- Use colored tape or markers to visually divide the tray into three equal sections.
- Attach or place the three labels (“Happy,” “Sad,” “Calm”) above or inside each section.
- Optionally, place one example card in each zone as a visual reminder.
Usage Instructions (during activity):
- Invite a student to choose an emotion card or object.
- Ask the student to name the emotion (e.g., “This face looks sad—Sad!”).
- The student places the card/object into the matching zone in the tray.
- Provide gentle prompts if needed: “Why did you choose the Happy zone?”
- Continue until all students have had a turn.
Teacher Tips:
- For students needing extra support, work one-on-one and give fewer choices (e.g., only Happy vs. Sad).
- For advanced learners, ask them to explain why they placed an item in a zone.
- Rotate cards and objects to keep the activity fresh and engaging.
Use this tray alongside Sorting the Smiles and My Feeling Sort Sheet for a complete sensory sorting lesson.
Worksheet
My Feeling Sort Sheet
Instructions: Cut out pictures from magazines or draw your own pictures of things that make you feel Happy, Sad, or Calm. Paste or draw each picture in the correct box. Then, write one example of something that makes you feel that way.
Happy
Draw or paste pictures here:
Write one thing that makes me feel happy:
Sad
Draw or paste pictures here:
Write one thing that makes me feel sad:
Calm
Draw or paste pictures here:
Write one thing that makes me feel calm:
Use this sheet alongside Sorting the Smiles and the Zone Sorting Tray to practice sorting and talking about your feelings!
Answer Key
Zone Sort Guide (Answer Key)
Use this guide to quickly check students’ sorting and support them with accurate feedback. For each picture or object, verify the placement and refer to Key Cues to prompt discussion or correct misunderstandings.
Happy Zone
| Example Item | Correct Zone | Key Cues / Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 😀 😄 😊 😁 (Smiling Faces) | Happy | Upturned mouths, bright eyes – signal joy or excitement |
| 🎂 (Birthday Cake) | Happy | Celebrations and parties make us feel joyful |
| ☀️ (Sun) | Happy | Warmth and light often make people feel cheerful |
| 🎈 (Balloons) | Happy | Party decorations, associated with fun events |
Teacher Prompt: “What do you notice about these faces? How do they make you feel inside?”
Sad Zone
| Example Item | Correct Zone | Key Cues / Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| ☹️ 😢 😞 😭 (Tearful Faces) | Sad | Downturned mouths, tears – signal sadness or disappointment |
| ☔️ (Rain Cloud) | Sad | Dark weather can feel gloomy or make us feel blue |
| 😔 (Pensive Face) | Sad | Closed or lowered eyes, neutral mouth – quiet sorrow |
Teacher Prompt: “Why did you choose Sad? What might make you feel this way?”
Calm Zone
| Example Item | Correct Zone | Key Cues / Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 😌 🙂 😴 😇 (Relaxed Faces) | Calm | Soft smiles, closed or gentle eyes – show relaxation |
| 🌊 (Waves or Water) | Calm | Gentle sounds of water often help us feel peaceful |
| 🧸 (Teddy Bear / Soft Toy) | Calm | Comfort objects help us feel safe and relaxed |
| 🛌 (Pillow / Bed) | Calm | Associated with rest and quiet time |
Teacher Prompt: “What do you notice in these pictures? When do you feel calm?”
Troubleshooting & Scaffolding
- Wrong Placement: Gently ask, “What clues in the picture tell us how this character feels?”
- Limited Choices: For students who struggle, offer only two zones (Happy vs. Sad, or Sad vs. Calm).
- Extension: For advanced learners, invite them to explain why two similar items belong in different zones (e.g., 😞 vs. 😌).
- Note Patterns: Record any repeated confusions (e.g., mixing Calm and Sad) and offer targeted follow-up activities.
Use this guide alongside hands-on sorting in Zone Sorting Tray and reflections on My Feeling Sort Sheet to reinforce accurate emotion identification and self-regulation vocabulary.
Activity
Emotion Picture Cards
Description:
A set of printable cards showing children’s faces expressing Happy, Sad, or Calm. Use these cards for sorting, matching, and discussion to help students identify and name emotions.
Materials:
- Emotion Picture Cards (print on cardstock): 6–8 different faces for each emotion (Happy, Sad, Calm)
- Scissors or paper cutter
- Optional: laminator and laminating pouches for durability
- Envelopes or small bins labeled Happy, Sad, Calm for storage and sorting
Setup Instructions (5 minutes):
- Print the Emotion Picture Cards on sturdy cardstock.
- Cut apart each card along the outline.
- (Optional) Laminate the cards and trim edges for durability.
- Group the cards by emotion and place each pile into a labeled envelope or bin.
Usage Instructions (during activity):
- Invite a student to pick one card from the pile or envelope.
- Ask the student, “What feeling does this face show?”
- Have the student name the emotion and place the card into the matching zone on the Zone Sorting Tray.
- After sorting, use the Zone Sort Guide to confirm placement and discuss key cues.
- Repeat until all cards have been sorted, providing prompts and support as needed.
Teacher Tips:
- Vary the cards over time: include different ages, skin tones, and facial expressions to broaden recognition skills.
- For students needing extra support, point out distinguishing features (e.g., “See the downturned mouth and tears—that tells us it’s Sad.”).
- For more advanced learners, ask them to describe a situation that might make someone feel the same way as the card.
- Store cards in labeled envelopes for quick setup in future lessons.
Use these Emotion Picture Cards alongside Zone Picture Sort and My Feeling Sort Sheet for a complete hands-on exploration of feelings!