My Feelings, My Choices

tgabriel

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

My Feelings, My Choices Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify at least two different feelings (e.g., happy, sad, mad) and recall one strategy for making a positive choice when they feel a strong emotion.

Learning to understand and manage our feelings helps us get along with others, focus better in school, and feel good about ourselves. It's an important step in growing up!

Audience

Pre-K Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Through storytelling, discussion, and interactive practice, students will explore feelings and choices.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector for My Feelings, My Choices Slide Deck, and Feeling Faces Cards (optional, can be drawn or printed)

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Review the My Feelings, My Choices Slide Deck and ensure technology is working.
- If using, prepare 'Feeling Faces Cards' (happy, sad, mad, calm). These can be simple drawings on index cards.
- Read through the My Feelings, My Choices Script to familiarize yourself with the talking points and activities.
- Ensure the classroom is set up for a whole-group discussion (e.g., carpet time, chairs facing the screen).

Step 1

Warm-Up: How Do You Feel?

2 minutes

Begin with the Feeling Check-In Warm-Up.
- Ask students: "How are you feeling right now? Can you show me with your face?"
- Introduce the idea that feelings change throughout the day.

Step 2

Introduction: What Are Feelings?

3 minutes

Display Slide 1: My Feelings, My Choices and Slide 2: What Are Feelings?.
- Use the My Feelings, My Choices Script to guide a discussion about different feelings. Show 'Feeling Faces Cards' or point to faces on the slide deck.
- Emphasize that all feelings are okay to have.

Step 3

Story Time & Choices

5 minutes

Display Slide 3: Feelings Like a Story.
- Tell a very short, simple story about a child experiencing a strong feeling (e.g., getting mad when a toy is taken, feeling sad when a block tower falls). Use the My Feelings, My Choices Script for examples.
- After describing the feeling, ask: "What could our friend do to make a positive choice?"
- Brainstorm 1-2 simple strategies (e.g., deep breaths, asking for help, finding another toy). Display Slide 4: Good Choices Help Us!.

Step 4

Practice: Making Choices

3 minutes

Display Slide 5: Let's Practice Choices!.
- Present a couple of quick scenarios (e.g., "You want the red crayon, but your friend has it. How do you feel? What can you do?").
- Guide students to practice making positive choices by offering options or asking them to demonstrate.
- Reinforce that making good choices helps everyone feel better.

Step 5

Cool-Down: Feeling Strong

2 minutes

Conclude with the Feeling Strong Cool Down.
- Briefly review the feelings discussed and the importance of making positive choices.
- Ask students to share one thing they learned about feelings or choices.

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Slide Deck

My Feelings, My Choices

Understanding our emotions and making smart decisions!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of feelings and choices. Ask them to think about how they are feeling right now.

What Are Feelings?

Happy! 😊
Sad! 😥
Mad! 😠
Scared! 😨
Calm! 😌

Introduce different basic feelings. Show feeling cards or point to illustrations. Emphasize that all feelings are normal.

Feelings Like a Story...

Imagine your block tower falls down! How might you feel?

Present a simple scenario where a child experiences a strong feeling. Use a relatable example for Pre-K students.

Good Choices Help Us!

Take a deep breath. 🌬️
Ask for help. 🙌
Find another toy. 🧸

Introduce simple, positive choices. Focus on 1-2 easy-to-understand strategies like taking a deep breath or asking for help.

Let's Practice Choices!

You want the red crayon, but your friend has it. What can you do?

Facilitate a quick practice session with another simple scenario. Encourage students to suggest or demonstrate choices.

Script

My Feelings, My Choices Script

Warm-Up: How Do You Feel? (2 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Let's start our day with a feeling check-in. How are you feeling right now? Can you show me with your face? Are you happy? (Make a happy face) Are you a little sleepy? (Yawn) Or maybe excited for something? (Show excitement)

Remember, it's okay to feel all sorts of feelings, and our feelings can change throughout the day, just like the weather changes!"

Introduction: What Are Feelings? (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Today we're going to talk all about our feelings and the smart choices we can make! Look at our first slide, My Feelings, My Choices Slide Deck - Slide 1."
(Display Slide 1: My Feelings, My Choices)

Teacher: "Now look at this slide! (My Feelings, My Choices Slide Deck - Slide 2) These are some of the feelings we might have. Can you tell me what this face looks like? (Point to happy face) Yes, happy! How about this one? (Point to sad face) Sad. And this one? (Point to mad face) Mad! It's okay to feel happy, sad, or even mad. Everyone feels these things sometimes! What's important is what we do when we have those big feelings."

Story Time & Choices (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Let's imagine a story together! Look at our next slide. (My Feelings, My Choices Slide Deck - Slide 3) Imagine a little friend named Leo. Leo was building a really tall tower with blocks. He worked very hard, and it was almost to the ceiling! But then, WHOOSH! Another friend accidentally bumped it, and all of Leo's blocks fell down! How do you think Leo might feel? (Pause for responses) Yes, he might feel really, really mad or sad! It's okay to feel those feelings.

Now, here's the important part. What could Leo do when he feels so mad or sad? We want to make a positive choice, a choice that helps us feel a little better and doesn't hurt anyone or anything. Look at this slide! (My Feelings, My Choices Slide Deck - Slide 4) Leo could take a deep breath. Can we all try that? (Guide students in a deep breath) He could also ask the teacher for help to rebuild, or he could find another toy to play with for a bit. These are all good choices!"

Practice: Making Choices (3 minutes)

Teacher: "You all did a great job helping Leo! Now let's practice some more. Look at our next slide. (My Feelings, My Choices Slide Deck - Slide 5) Here's a new story: You want the red crayon, but your friend already has it. How do you feel? (Pause for responses) Maybe a little frustrated or sad that you can't have it right away. What can you do to make a positive choice? (Guide responses: 'Can I have it next?', 'I can use a different color for now', 'I can ask the teacher for another red crayon'). Great ideas! Making good choices helps everyone in our classroom feel happy and safe."

Cool-Down: Feeling Strong (2 minutes)

Teacher: "You are all becoming so good at understanding your feelings and making smart choices! Today we learned that it's okay to feel happy, sad, or mad, but we can also choose how we act. We can take deep breaths, ask for help, or find new things to do. What is one thing you learned today about feelings or choices? (Call on 1-2 students) You are all feeling strong and making great choices! Give yourselves a pat on the back!"

Warm Up

Feeling Check-In

Objective: To activate students' awareness of their current emotions.

Instructions:

Teacher: "Good morning, wonderful friends! Let's start our day by checking in with our feelings. How are you feeling right now?"
Visual Cue: "Can you show me with your face? Or maybe with your hands?"
- (Teacher models a few feelings: happy, sleepy, excited, calm)
Share (Optional): "If you want to, you can quietly tell your neighbor or me how you're feeling today. Remember, all feelings are okay!"

Teacher Notes: This quick warm-up helps gauge the emotional state of the class and sets the stage for a discussion about emotions. Encourage non-verbal expressions for younger children.

Cool Down

Feeling Strong Cool Down

Objective: To reinforce the day's learning about identifying feelings and making positive choices.

Instructions:

Teacher: "Wow, you all did such a great job today learning about feelings and choices! Give yourselves a big stretch!"
Review: "Can someone tell me one new thing they learned today about feelings or making choices?"
- (Call on 1-2 students for quick shares, or have them do a thumbs up/down if they understood.)
Positive Affirmation: "Remember, it's okay to feel all your feelings, but you are strong enough to make good choices. When you feel a big feeling, you can take a deep breath, ask for help, or find something new to do. You are all 'feeling strong' choosers!"
Action: "Let's show our 'feeling strong' muscles! (Have students flex their arm muscles.)"

Teacher Notes: This cool-down quickly summarizes key takeaways and ends on a positive, empowering note, reinforcing the idea of agency over one's reactions.