Teacher Script: My Feeling Friends

Warm-Up: Feeling Check-In (5 minutes)

"Hello, my wonderful feeling friends! I'm so happy to see you all today. Before we dive into our lesson, let's do a quick 'feeling check-in'. How are you feeling right now? Can you show me with your face? Or maybe with your body?"

(Pause and observe student responses. Call on a few students to share, e.g., "I see [Student Name] is showing a happy face! What makes you feel happy today?")

"That's great! It's so interesting how we can feel so many different things. Today, we're going to talk even more about our amazing feelings and learn some new words for them!"

Story Time: Exploring Emotions (10 minutes)

"To help us learn about feelings, I have a special book to read!"

(Read a chosen picture book about feelings. Pause at key moments.)

"Look at [character's name] on this page. How do you think [character's name] is feeling? What makes you think that? Do you see their eyebrows? Their mouth? Their body?"

(Allow students to respond.)

"Have any of you ever felt that way? What happened?"

*(After reading the story, introduce the four main feelings with the help of the My Feeling Friends Slide Deck.)

"Okay, friends, let's learn about some important feelings!"

Happy!

(Display "Happy!" slide)

"This is a happy face! When are you happy? Maybe when you play with your friends, or when you get a hug! Happy feels warm and light inside, doesn't it? What makes you feel happy?"

(Allow a few students to share.)

Sad...

(Display "Sad..." slide)

"Sometimes we feel sad. Our faces might look like this. Sad feelings can happen when you miss someone, or when something doesn't go your way, like if your block tower falls down. It's okay to feel sad. What helps you when you feel sad?"

(Allow a few students to share. Validate their responses.)

Mad!

(Display "Mad!" slide)

"Uh oh, this is a mad face! Feeling mad can happen if someone takes your toy without asking, or if you're trying really hard to do something and it's not working. It's okay to feel mad, but it's important to find safe ways to show it. What can you do when you feel mad instead of yelling or hitting?"

(Guide responses towards positive strategies like taking deep breaths, asking for help, or using words.)

Scared!

(Display "Scared!" slide)

"Sometimes we feel a little scared or worried. Maybe when you hear a loud noise, or if it's dark outside. Our hearts might beat a little faster. It's totally normal to feel scared sometimes. Who can help you when you feel scared?"

(Guide responses towards trusted adults.)

Activity: Feeling Sort (10 minutes)

(Display "Time to Sort Feelings!" slide)

"Now that we've talked about happy, sad, mad, and scared, let's play a sorting game! I have some special Feeling Faces Cards. I'm going to give each of you a few cards. Your job is to tell me what feeling you see, and then we're going to sort them into our 'happy pile,' 'sad pile,' 'mad pile,' and 'scared pile.'"

(Distribute the Feeling Faces Cards and guide students through the sorting process using the Feeling Sort Activity as a visual aid. For each card, ask:)

"What feeling do you see on this card? When might you feel this way? What can you do when you feel this?"

(Encourage discussion, help students verbalize their thoughts, and reinforce that all feelings are okay.)

Cool Down: How Do I Feel? (5 minutes)

(Display "My Feeling Picture" slide)

"You all did such a great job learning about feelings today! For our cool-down, I want you to draw a picture of one feeling you learned about today. It could be happy, sad, mad, or scared! Then, think about one thing you can do when you feel that way."

(Distribute paper and markers/crayons.)

"When you're done, we'll quickly share our pictures and what we can do with that feeling."

(Collect drawings and have students share their work and strategies. End with a positive message.)

"Remember, it's okay to feel all sorts of feelings. We're learning to be super feeling detectives and understand what our feelings are telling us! Great job today, everyone!"

Feeling Check-In Warm Up

Instructions:

1. Ask: "How are you feeling right now?"
2. Invite: "Can you show me with your face or with your body?"
3. Observe & Share: Have students take turns sharing how they feel. Encourage them to use facial expressions or body language to convey their emotion.
4. Prompt: Ask follow-up questions like, "What makes you feel that way today?" or "Is there a word for that feeling?"

(Teacher Note: Validate all feelings and acknowledge responses briefly before moving to the main lesson. This helps gauge the group's current emotional state and sets a safe tone.)

Feeling Sort Activity

Materials Needed:

• Feeling Faces Cards (one set per small group, or a class set to be used on a board)
• Optional: Large posters or designated areas on a table for "Happy", "Sad", "Mad", and "Scared" categories.

Instructions:

1. Preparation: Print and cut out the Feeling Faces Cards. You can print multiple copies if each student or small group will have their own set to sort. If using for whole group, have them large enough to display.

2. Introduce the Activity: "Now that we've talked about happy, sad, mad, and scared, let's play a sorting game! I have some special cards with feeling faces on them. Your job is to help me figure out what feeling each face is showing, and then we'll sort them!"

3. Demonstrate: Hold up one card (e.g., a happy face). "What feeling do you see on this face? That's right, happy! We'll put this in our 'Happy' pile."

4. Student Sorting (Individual or Group):

   • Small Group: Give each student a few Feeling Faces Cards.
   • Whole Group: Show one card at a time to the whole group.

5. Discussion for Each Card: For each card, ask the following questions to encourage emotional vocabulary and understanding:

   • "What feeling do you see on this card?"
   • "When might you feel this way?"
   • "What can you do when you feel this feeling?"

6. Sort: Guide students to place the cards into the correct feeling category (e.g., into designated piles, under posters, or by taping to a board).

7. Reinforce: Continuously praise students for identifying feelings and for sharing their experiences and coping strategies.

(Teacher Note: Be mindful of individual student needs and provide extra support or simplification as necessary. The focus is on recognition and expression, not perfect answers.)

Feeling Faces Cards

Instructions: Print and cut out these cards. Consider laminating them for repeated use. Each card should feature a clear, simple illustration of a face expressing one of the four core emotions: Happy, Sad, Mad, or Scared.

Card 1: Happy Face

![Happy Face Drawing]











(A simple drawing of a smiling face, possibly with eyes crinkling up at the corners)

Card 2: Sad Face

![Sad Face Drawing]











(A simple drawing of a frowning face, possibly with a tear drop or downturned eyes)

Card 3: Mad Face

![Mad Face Drawing]











(A simple drawing of a face with furrowed brows, possibly a small frown or teeth clenched)

Card 4: Scared Face

![Scared Face Drawing]











(A simple drawing of a face with wide eyes and possibly a slightly open mouth, looking apprehensive)

(Teacher Note: You can create multiple cards for each emotion to allow for more sorting practice or to give each student a varied set.)

How Do I Feel? Cool Down

Instructions:

1. Prompt: "You all did such a great job learning about feelings today! For our cool-down, I want you to think about one feeling you learned about today – happy, sad, mad, or scared."

2. Draw & Reflect: "On your paper, draw a picture of that feeling. Then, think about one thing you can do when you feel that way."

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Share (Optional): Invite students who are comfortable to share their drawing and tell the group what they can do when they feel that emotion.

(Teacher Note: This activity serves as a quick assessment of their understanding and ability to connect feelings with coping strategies. Reiterate that all feelings are okay and manageable.)