Lesson Plan
Moving On Together
Students will identify and express feelings about the end-of-year transition through group discussion and drawing activities, building emotional awareness and readiness for change.
This lesson fosters emotional literacy by helping young learners recognize and share their feelings about change, reducing anxiety and promoting confidence as they prepare for the next grade.
Audience
Pre-K
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and hands-on creative activities
Materials
- Chart Paper, - Large Feelings Chart Poster, - Soft Emotion Ball, - Crayons, - Markers, - Feelings Faces Template, and - Memory Pocket Drawing Sheet
Prep
Prepare Classroom Materials
10 minutes
- Print enough copies of Feelings Faces Template and Memory Pocket Drawing Sheet
- Set up Chart Paper and Large Feelings Chart Poster in the discussion area
- Gather crayons and markers in a central spot
- Inflate and test Soft Emotion Ball
Step 1
Welcome and Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Greet students and invite them to sit in a circle in the designated area
- Briefly introduce today’s topic: end-of-year feelings and moving up to a new grade
- Encourage students to share one word about how they feel right now
Step 2
Discussion Circle
7 minutes
- Display the Large Feelings Chart Poster and review each emotion using simple language
- Ask open-ended questions:
- “What feelings do you have when you think about moving to a new class?”
- “Can you share a time this year when you felt proud or excited?”
- Validate all responses and reinforce that all emotions are okay
Step 3
Emotion Ball Toss
5 minutes
- Stand in a circle and pass the Soft Emotion Ball around
- When a child catches the ball, they name an emotion they might feel about the end of Pre-K or starting kindergarten
- Continue until each child has had a turn
Step 4
Feelings Faces Activity
8 minutes
- Distribute Feelings Faces Template and crayons to each student
- Instruct students to draw or color a face that matches how they feel about moving on
- Walk around, ask guiding questions, and offer help as needed
Step 5
Memory Pocket Drawing
5 minutes
- Hand out Memory Pocket Drawing Sheet and markers
- Ask students to draw their favorite memory from this year
- Collect sheets to compile into a class memory book to share at year-end
Slide Deck
Moving On Together
Exploring our feelings about moving to a new grade level.
Welcome everyone! Today we're talking about the end of Pre-K and moving on to the next grade. Use a warm, encouraging tone. Invite each child to say one word about how they feel.
Welcome and Warm-Up
“Share one word to describe how you feel about the end of Pre-K.”
Prompt children to think of one word. Call on volunteers. Write or repeat their words to build a shared word cloud.
Discussion Circle
• Review feelings on the chart
• Ask:
– What feelings do you have about moving to a new class?
– Can you share a time you felt proud or excited this year?
Show the Large Feelings Chart Poster. Point to each face and label the emotion. Ask the questions and give wait time. Acknowledge every response.
Emotion Ball Toss
Pass the ball around. When you catch it, name an emotion you feel about moving on.
Gather the Soft Emotion Ball. Have children stand or sit in a circle. Toss the ball gently. Each child names an emotion when they catch it.
Draw Your Feeling
Use the template and crayons to draw a face showing how you feel about going to a new grade.
Hand out the Feelings Faces Template and crayons. Encourage children to draw or color a face that matches their feeling about moving on. Circulate to offer suggestions.
Draw a Favorite Memory
Draw your favorite memory from this year. We’ll make a class memory book!
Distribute the Memory Pocket Drawing Sheet and markers. Ask them to draw one favorite memory from this year. Collect for the class memory book.
Wrap-Up
Thank you for sharing! All feelings are OK. We’re ready for our next adventure.
Wrap up by praising effort: “Great job sharing today!” Remind children that all feelings are OK and that they’re ready for next year.
Worksheet
Feelings Faces Template
Use this template to draw faces that show each feeling. Look at the word, then draw a face in the space below that matches how that feeling looks. After drawing, you can color your face!
1. Happy
2. Sad
3. Excited
4. Nervous
5. Proud
6. My Own Feeling: Write the feeling word here: _______________
When you’re finished, share your drawings with a friend or the teacher and tell them why you chose each expression!
Worksheet
Memory Pocket Drawing Sheet
Name: _____________________________________
Draw Your Favorite Memory
Draw a picture of your favorite memory from this year inside the pocket below:
Tell About Your Memory
My favorite memory is: ____________________________________________________________
When you’re finished, share your drawing and story with a friend or the teacher!
Script
Moving On Together – Teacher Script
Welcome and Warm-Up (5 minutes)
(Invite children to sit in a circle on the carpet.)
Teacher: “Good morning, friends! I’m so glad to see each of you today. We have a big day talking about how we feel when we finish Pre-K and get ready for our next adventure—kindergarten!”
Teacher: “Let’s share one word that tells how you feel right now. I’ll go first: I feel excited!”
– (Choose a volunteer.)
Teacher: “Thank you, ___. You feel happy—that’s wonderful! Who wants to share next?”
(Continue until most children have shared. Validate each word: “That’s so brave of you to say you feel nervous—all feelings are okay!”)
Discussion Circle (7 minutes)
(Display the Large Feelings Chart Poster.)
Teacher: “Let’s look at our big feelings chart. These faces show different emotions.”
– (Point to each face.)
Teacher: “This one is happy. Can you show me your happiest face? Great! This one is sad—show me a sad face. Very good!”
Teacher: “Now, thinking about moving to kindergarten, what feelings do you have?”
(Wait quietly; nod or say “Mmm-hmm.”)
– Possible prompts:
• “Can you tell me more about that feeling?”
• “When did you feel that way this year?”
Teacher: “Can someone share a time this year when they felt really proud or excited?”
(Validate all answers: “I love how brave you were, ___!” or “That sounds like a proud moment—thank you for sharing.”)
Emotion Ball Toss (5 minutes)
(Have children stand or stay seated in the circle and pass the Soft Emotion Ball.)
Teacher: “We’re going to play the Emotion Ball game! When you catch the ball, name an emotion you might feel about finishing Pre-K or starting kindergarten.”
– (Teacher models: catch ball → “I might feel curious!” → toss gently.)
– (Continue until every child has a turn.)
Teacher: “Great job, everyone! I heard lots of feelings—some happy, some a bit nervous, and that’s all okay.”
Feelings Faces Activity (8 minutes)
(Distribute Feelings Faces Template and crayons.)
Teacher: “Now it’s time to draw! Look at your Feelings Faces Template. Pick one feeling—happy, sad, excited, or nervous—and draw a face that shows that feeling. Then color it in.”
– Circulate and ask:
• “Tell me about your drawing—how does this face show excited?”
• “What made you choose this color for your happy face?”
Teacher: “If you finish early, you can draw your own feeling in Box 6 or show your picture to a friend.”
Memory Pocket Drawing (5 minutes)
(Hand out Memory Pocket Drawing Sheet and markers.)
Teacher: “Next, let’s draw our favorite memory from this year. In the big pocket, draw a picture of that special moment. Then below, finish the sentence: ‘My favorite memory is…’”
– Offer support:
• “Can you tell me more about that part of your picture?”
• “I love how you used blue for the sky—was it a sunny day?”
Teacher: “When you’re done, hold your sheet up so I can see your awesome memory.”
Wrap-Up (2 minutes)
(Have children gather back in the circle.)
Teacher: “Wow, you all did an amazing job sharing your feelings and memories today!”
Teacher: “Remember, all feelings are okay—happy, sad, nervous, or proud—and talking about them helps us feel ready for change.”
Teacher: “Kindergarten is a big adventure, and I know you are all ready. Let’s give ourselves a big round of applause!” 👏
Teacher: “Thank you for sharing. Now, let’s move on to our next fun activity!”
Cool Down
Feelings Check-Out
Name: ____________________________
Circle the face that shows how you feel right now:
🙂 😢 😃 😟 😎
Happy Sad Excited Nervous Proud
Tell your teacher which face you circled when it’s time to go!