Lesson Plan
Safe and Sound Lesson Plan
Introduce first graders to expressing emotions safely and understanding help, using an interactive activity and discussion in a 30-minute session.
Helping young children understand and express emotions safely builds a healthy foundation for dealing with feelings and recognizing when to seek help.
Audience
1st Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive activity combined with discussion.
Prep
Preparation
5 minutes
- Review the Safe and Sound Lesson Plan to understand the objectives and instructional steps.
- Prepare the classroom by arranging a circle seating area for discussion.
- Ensure the Slide Deck, Activity Guide, and Discussion Prompts are ready for display.
- Familiarize yourself with the interactive activity steps and discussion prompts to guide students gently through sensitive topics.
Step 1
Introduction & Setting the Tone
5 minutes
- Welcome the students and introduce the concept of emotions using simple terms.
- Use the Safe and Sound Slide Deck to show emotive pictures and discuss feelings in a gentle manner.
Step 2
Interactive Activity: Emotion Express
10 minutes
- Hand out safe emotion cards or use visual prompts from the Safe and Sound Activity Guide.
- Have the children express how they feel by selecting a card or mimicking an emotion shown on the slides.
- Encourage sharing with a peer or the whole group in a safe, structured manner.
Step 3
Guided Discussion
7 minutes
- Facilitate a discussion using gentle prompts from Safe and Sound Discussion Prompts.
- Ask students questions like 'What can you do when you feel sad?' and guide them to express ideas of seeking help from a trusted adult.
- Emphasize that it’s okay to feel a range of emotions and that sharing feelings is a safe step.
Step 4
Closure and Reaffirmation
3 minutes
- Summarize the key points of expressing emotions safely.
- Reiterate that whenever they feel overwhelmed, they should talk to a safe adult.
- Provide reassurance and encourage a supportive classroom environment.
Slide Deck
Welcome to Safe and Sound!
Today we're going to learn about our feelings and how to express them in a safe way. Look at these colorful pictures that show different emotions!
Introduce the lesson by welcoming the students and explaining that today they will learn about different feelings and how to express them safely. Explain the images on the slide in simple terms.
Interactive Activity: Emotion Express
Let's play a game! Choose an emotion card or show me an emotion you feel. Remember, it's okay to feel happy, sad, or any other way!
Use this slide to introduce the interactive activity. Hand out the emotion cards or show visual prompts from the activity guide. Encourage students to mimic or choose the emotion they feel.
Let's Talk About Our Feelings
What do you do when you feel sad? Who can you talk to when you're upset? Sharing is a safe way to feel better.
Prompt discussion gently. Ask the students how they handle different feelings. Remind them of the importance of talking to a trusted adult if needed.
Remember: Safe and Sound
Every feeling is important. If you're ever overwhelmed, talk to someone you trust. Together, we keep our feelings safe and our hearts happy!
Conclude the lesson by reinforcing key messages about emotions and safe expression. Provide a sense of reassurance and encourage children to always reach out for help.
Activity
Safe and Sound Activity Guide
This guide provides instructions for the interactive "Emotion Express" activity. Follow these steps to help first graders express and understand their feelings in a safe and supportive manner.
Materials Needed
- Emotion cards featuring simple images of feelings (happy, sad, surprised, etc.)
- Visual prompts from the slide deck or printed images
- A safe space (circle seating if possible) for sharing
Activity Steps
1. Introduction to the Activity
- Explain to the students that they will have fun showing different feelings using emotion cards or visual prompts.
- Briefly discuss what an emotion is and how it might be shown with a face or a gesture.
2. Emotion Selection
- Distribute the emotion cards or display a visual prompt on the board.
- Allow each student to choose a card or be assigned one, ensuring every child has a chance to participate.
- Ask the students to look at their card and think about a time when they felt that emotion.
3. Expression of Emotion
- Invite each student to show their chosen emotion to the class through facial expressions or simple gestures.
- Encourage the use of words such as "I feel..." to help verbalize their experience if they are comfortable.
4. Peer Sharing and Validation
- After each student expresses their emotion, ask gentle follow-up questions like, "What can you do when you feel this way?" or "Who can you talk to when you feel this emotion?"
- Foster a supportive environment where peers applaud and affirm each other’s contributions.
Follow-Up Points
- Discussion: After the activity, use some of the discussion prompts to ask students about other ways to express feelings safely or who they can turn to for help.
- Reiteration: Remind students that it is completely normal to feel a wide range of emotions and that sharing these feelings is an important part of taking care of themselves.
- Encouragement: Let students know that expressing their feelings can be the first step in solving problems or getting help when needed.
By engaging in the "Emotion Express" activity, students will learn that every feeling is important and that sharing them safely helps build strong, supportive friendships and a caring community.
Discussion
Safe and Sound Discussion Prompts
These discussion prompts are designed to gently guide first graders in talking about their feelings and safe ways to express them. Use these questions during your guided discussion to help the children understand that all emotions are important, and that sharing them with someone trusted can make them feel better.
Prompt 1: Recognizing Emotions
- "How do you feel right now? Can you show me your face if you're happy or a little sad?"
Prompt 2: Understanding Feelings
- "What are some things that make you feel happy? What are some things that might make you feel sad?"
Prompt 3: Safe Ways to Share
- "Who is someone you can talk to when you’re feeling upset or confused?"
Prompt 4: Helping Each Other
- "What can you do if you see a friend feeling sad? How can you help them feel better?"
Prompt 5: Expressing in Words
- "What are some words you can use to explain how you feel? For example, 'I feel happy' or 'I feel sad'."
Follow-Up Prompt
- "Why do you think it’s important to share our feelings with someone we trust?"
These prompts are here to ensure that every student's voice is heard and that they feel safe when expressing their emotions. Encourage gentle listening and supportive feedback from classmates!