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My Feelings, My Choices

Lesson Plan

My Feelings, My Choices

Students will be able to identify different emotions and choose appropriate ways to respond to strong feelings, fostering early self-regulation skills.

Understanding and managing emotions is a crucial life skill. This lesson helps young children build a foundation for emotional intelligence, leading to better social interactions and coping mechanisms in the future.

Audience

Pre-K Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive story reading, discussion, and a hands-on activity.

Materials

Picture book: "Hands Are Not For Hitting" by Martine Agassi, Feeling Faces Cards, Crayons or Markers, and Paper or Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling?

5 minutes

  • Greet students and ask them to share one emotion they are feeling right now. Use simple prompts like 'Are you happy, sad, or silly?'
  • Introduce the concept of feelings and how we all have them.
  • Transition to reading the book to explore more about feelings and choices.

Step 2

Story Time: "Hands Are Not For Hitting"

10 minutes

  • Read aloud "Hands Are Not For Hitting" by Martine Agassi.
  • Pause during the story to ask questions:
    • "What is the character feeling here?"
    • "What choice did the character make? Was it a good choice? Why or why not?"
    • "What could the character do instead?"
  • Emphasize that all feelings are okay, but not all choices are okay.

Step 3

Activity: Feeling Faces & Choices

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Feeling Faces Cards to each student or display them prominently.
  • Ask students to pick a 'feeling face' card.
  • For each card, ask: 'If you feel [emotion on card], what is a safe and kind choice you can make?'
  • Guide students to brainstorm appropriate responses (e.g., 'If I'm mad, I can stomp my feet, count to ten, or ask for a hug.').
  • Have students draw or dictate their chosen 'safe choice' for one of the feelings on a paper/worksheet.

Step 4

Cool-Down: My Best Choice

5 minutes

  • Ask each student to share one 'best choice' they learned today when they have big feelings.
  • Reiterate that practicing these choices helps us be in charge of our feelings.
  • Thank students for sharing and participating.
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Slide Deck

My Feelings, My Choices

Welcome to our Feelings Adventure!

What feeling do you have right now?

Welcome students! Ask them to share a feeling they have right now. Use simple language and acknowledge all responses. Introduce the topic of feelings.

Our Story: Hands Are Not For Hitting

Let's read about how we can use our hands for good choices, even when we have big feelings!

Introduce the book. Explain that the story is about feelings and making good choices. Point to the cover and ask about the characters' expressions.

Talking About Our Story

What did we learn about feelings and choices?

All feelings are okay!

What choices can we make?

After reading the story, lead a brief discussion. Ask questions like: 'What feelings did the characters have?', 'What choices did they make?', 'What could they have done differently?'. Emphasize that all feelings are okay, but some choices hurt others or ourselves.

Feeling Faces! My Choices!

Look at the feeling faces!

What do they feel?

What good choice can we make when we feel that way?

Explain the Feeling Faces Activity. Show the Feeling Faces Cards. Ask students to identify the emotions on the cards. Then, for each emotion, guide them to brainstorm a safe and kind choice.

Draw Your Safe Choice

Choose one feeling.

Draw a picture of a safe and kind choice you can make!

Distribute paper and crayons. Ask students to draw or dictate a safe choice for one of the feelings they discussed. Circulate and provide support and encouragement. This is also a good time to reference the Feeling Faces Cards.

Our Super Choices!

What is one good choice you will remember?

You are in charge of your feelings!

Conclude the lesson by having each student share their drawing or a good choice they learned. Reiterate the main message: we can learn to be in charge of our feelings by making good choices.

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Activity

Feeling Faces Cards Activity

Instructions for Teacher:

  1. Print and Prepare: Print these cards and cut them out. Laminate for durability if desired. You will need one set of cards for the group, or one set per student if you want them to hold their own cards.
  2. Introduction: Before starting the activity, review different feelings with the students using the cards. Ask them to make the faces and describe what each feeling looks like and feels like in their bodies.
  3. Discussion & Choices: For each feeling card, ask the students to brainstorm and discuss:
    • "What makes us feel this way?"
    • "What does this feeling look like?"
    • "What is a safe and kind choice we can make when we feel this way?"
  4. Application: During the activity described in the My Feelings, My Choices Lesson Plan, have students select a card and then draw or describe a positive coping strategy.

Feeling Cards

Happy Face

😊 Happy!

I feel happy when...


My good choice when I'm happy is...





Sad Face

😢 Sad!

I feel sad when...


My good choice when I'm sad is...





Mad Face

😡 Mad!

I feel mad when...


My good choice when I'm mad is...





Scared Face

😨 Scared!

I feel scared when...


My good choice when I'm scared is...





Silly Face

🤪 Silly!

I feel silly when...


My good choice when I'm silly is...





Calm Face

😌 Calm!

I feel calm when...


My good choice when I'm calm is...





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My Feelings, My Choices • Lenny Learning