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My Feelings

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Lesson Plan

Feeling Story Builders

Students will explore and identify various feelings and learn to express them through creative storytelling and art, fostering self-awareness and emotional literacy.

Understanding and expressing feelings is crucial for young children's social-emotional development. This lesson provides a safe and engaging way for Kindergarteners to articulate their inner experiences, building a foundation for healthy emotional regulation and communication.

Audience

Kindergarten Group

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive storytelling, art creation, and group discussion.

Materials

Smartboard or projector, Story Starter Feelings Slide Deck, Drawing paper, Crayons, markers, or colored pencils, and My Feeling Story Book Journal (one per student)

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-up & Introduction (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Begin with a brief discussion about feelings. Ask students: "Who can tell me what a feeling is?" or "What are some feelings you know?"
    - Introduce the idea of being a "Feeling Story Builder" and that today they will create their own feeling stories.

Step 2

Exploring Feelings (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Display the Story Starter Feelings Slide Deck and go through each feeling. For each slide, ask questions like: "What does [feeling] look like?" or "When have you felt [feeling]?"
    - Encourage students to share short personal examples if comfortable.

Step 3

Creating Our Feeling Stories (20 minutes)

20 minutes

  • Distribute drawing paper and art supplies. Explain that each student will choose one feeling from the slide deck (or another feeling they know) and draw a picture of themselves experiencing that feeling.
    - Guide students to think about: "Where does this feeling happen in your body?" and "What is happening in your drawing that makes you feel this way?"
    - As they draw, circulate and prompt them with questions to help them think about the beginning, middle, and end of their story, and how they express their feelings.
    - Distribute the My Feeling Story Book Journal. Explain that after they draw, they will write or dictate a sentence or two in their journal about their feeling story.

Step 4

Sharing & Cool Down (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Bring students back together. Facilitate the Sharing Our Feeling Stories Discussion.
    - Invite volunteers to share their drawing and read their sentence from their My Feeling Story Book Journal.
    - Emphasize that all feelings are okay and that it's good to talk about them.
    - Conclude by asking students how they feel after sharing their stories.
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Slide Deck

Welcome, Feeling Story Builders!

Let's explore our amazing feelings!

Welcome students to feeling story builders. Ask them what they think it means to be a 'feeling story builder'. Explain that today, they'll learn to express their own feelings.

What Are Feelings?

Feelings are what we feel inside our bodies and minds. They can change throughout the day!

Introduce the idea of feelings. Ask students, "What is a feeling?" and "What are some feelings you know?" Allow a few students to share before moving to specific emotions.

Happy!

Joy, glad, cheerful, excited!

Discuss 'Happy'. Ask: "What makes you feel happy?" "What does a happy face look like?" "What does happy feel like in your body?"

Sad...

Gloomy, upset, disappointed, teary.

Discuss 'Sad'. Ask: "What makes you feel sad?" "What does a sad face look like?" "Is it okay to feel sad?"

Mad!!

Angry, frustrated, annoyed, grumpy.

Discuss 'Mad'. Ask: "What makes you feel mad?" "What does a mad face look like?" "What can we do when we feel mad?" (Emphasize healthy coping strategies, not aggressive ones).

Scared?

Frightened, worried, nervous, anxious.

Discuss 'Scared'. Ask: "What makes you feel scared?" "What does a scared face look like?" "What helps you feel brave when you are scared?"

Surprised!

Unexpected, amazed, shocked, startled.

Discuss 'Surprised'. Ask: "What makes you feel surprised?" "What does a surprised face look like?" "Is surprise always a good feeling?"

All Feelings Are Okay!

It's good to have feelings. It's good to talk about them!

Explain that all feelings are okay to have. It's how we show them that matters. Reiterate that they will be drawing and writing about their feeling stories today.

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Journal

My Feeling Story Book

My Feeling Story

I feel...











Here is what makes me feel this way:











My Feeling Drawing

(Draw your feeling story here!)































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































",

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Discussion

Sharing Our Feeling Stories

Discussion Guidelines

  1. Listen with your ears and your heart: When someone is sharing, we listen carefully and show them respect.
  2. It's okay to feel: Remember, all feelings are good feelings to have. It's okay to feel happy, sad, mad, or scared.
  3. Share if you feel ready: You can share your drawing and story, or you can just listen. It's your choice!

Discussion Prompts

  • Who would like to share their feeling drawing and story with the group?


  • Can you tell us about the feeling you drew? What does that feeling look like?


  • What is happening in your story that makes you feel this way?


  • How did it feel to draw and write about your feelings?


  • What did you learn about feelings today?


  • When you hear your friends share, what feelings do you notice?


lenny
lenny