Emotion Picture Cards

Description:
Printable cards featuring simple, bold faces expressing four basic emotions—Happy, Sad, Angry, and Scared.

What’s Included:

• 4 emotion cards: 🙂 Happy, 😢 Sad, 😡 Angry, 😨 Scared
• Large, clear images ideal for Pre-K learners

Directions for Use (One-on-One):

1. Print and cut out the 4 emotion cards.
2. Shuffle and lay them face up on a table or floor.
3. Ask the student to pick up a card and name the emotion:
   • “What feeling is this?”
   • If they need help, model the name: “This is the angry face.”
4. After naming each card, sort them into small piles by emotion.
5. Follow-up Questions to deepen understanding:
   • “Can you show me your angry face?”
   • “When do you feel sad?”
   • “What do you do when you feel happy?”

Extension:

• Mix in additional emotion cards as the student masters the basic four.
• Use during the reflection drawing step in Taming Big Feelings Lesson Plan.

Anger Thermometer Chart

Description:
A simple, color-coded chart that shows three levels of anger—Low, Medium, and High—to help Pre-K students recognize how “hot” their anger feels and choose a calm-down strategy.

What’s Included:

• One printable vertical thermometer divided into three sections:
  • Green (Low Anger – “I’m a little upset”)
  • Yellow (Medium Anger – “I’m getting mad”)
  • Red (High Anger – “I’m very angry”)
• Cut-out arrow marker for the student to slide or point at their current level

Directions for Use (One-on-One):

1. Print and laminate the chart for durability.
2. Attach the arrow marker with a brass fastener so it can spin to each color.
3. Introduce each color:
   • “Green means I’m calm or just a little annoyed.”
   • “Yellow means I’m starting to get mad.”
   • “Red means I’m really angry!”
4. After reading a story or discussing a scenario, ask the student to point the arrow at how they would feel.
5. Use discussion prompts to deepen understanding:
   • “What kinds of things make you feel yellow-hot?”
   • “What helps you move from red to green?”
   • “Can you show me your green calm face?”

Extension & Reflection:

• Encourage the child to check the thermometer whenever they notice their body feeling warm or their heart beating fast.
• Send a copy home so families can practice noticing anger levels together.

Calm Down Jar Instructions

Description:
A glitter calm-down jar helps children slow down and watch their thoughts settle, just like the glitter.

Materials:

• Clear plastic or glass jar with tight-fitting lid
• Warm water (almost to the top of the jar)
• Clear school glue (1–2 tablespoons)
• Fine glitter (1–2 teaspoons)
• Stir stick or spoon
• Optional: A drop of food coloring or small sequins for extra sparkle

Directions for Use (One-on-One):

1. Fill the jar about three-quarters full with warm water.
2. Squeeze in clear glue; stir until the glue and water mix well.
3. Sprinkle in glitter (and food coloring or sequins, if using); stir gently to distribute.
4. Secure the lid tightly. (Tape around the rim for safety, if needed.)
5. Show the student how to shake the jar vigorously, then place it on the table.
6. Encourage the student to take slow, deep breaths and watch the glitter swirl and settle.

Discussion Prompts:

• “What do you notice about the glitter when you shake it?”
• “How does your body feel while the glitter is moving?”
• “What happens inside you as the glitter settles?”

Extension & Reflection:

• Invite the student to name a feeling before and after using the jar (e.g., “I feel angry… now I feel calm.”).
• Let the student personalize their jar with stickers, ribbons, or a label with their name.
• Encourage the family to make a jar at home and practice together when big feelings come up.
  
  
  

Rainbow Breathing Visual

Description:
A bright, simple rainbow-striped breathing guide to help Pre-K students practice slow, deep breaths by tracing each color with their finger.

What’s Included:

• One printable sheet with six horizontal rainbow stripes in order: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple.
• Clear labels for each stripe indicating inhale or exhale with a friendly arrow icon.

Directions for Use (One-on-One):

1. Print and laminate the visual for durability.
2. Sit with the student in a quiet spot and place the sheet flat on the table.
3. Explain:
   • “When we see an arrow pointing in, we breathe in slowly.”
   • “When we see an arrow pointing out, we breathe out slowly.”
4. Model tracing your finger along the red stripe while inhaling, then orange while exhaling, and continue through all six colors:
   🟥 Red (Inhale) → 🟧 Orange (Exhale) → 🟨 Yellow (Inhale) → 🟩 Green (Exhale) → 🟦 Blue (Inhale) → 🟪 Purple (Exhale)
5. Guide the student to trace each stripe with their finger, matching breath to color.
6. Repeat the full rainbow cycle 3–5 times or until the student feels calmer.

Discussion Prompts:

• “How does your body feel when you breathe slowly?”
• “Which color stripe do you like best?”
• “Was it easy or tricky to breathe with the arrows?”

Extension & Reflection:

• Encourage the student to use rainbow breathing anytime they feel upset.
• Invite them to practice at home with family members.
• For an extra challenge, count slowly to three on each inhale and exhale.

Anger in the Jungle Storybook

Once upon a time in a warm, sunlit jungle, there lived a little monkey named Miko. Miko loved to build tall towers of shiny stones under the big mango tree.

One windy afternoon, Miko stacked his last stone on top—and crack!—the tower tumbled down! Miko’s cheeks turned bright red, and he felt his heart pound in his chest.

He stamped his feet and shouted, “No fair!” He threw his arms up and swung at the air. His tail swung behind him, and he felt so hot and shaky he almost wanted to cry.

Just then, Tico the toucan flew by. “Hello, friend—why are you so upset?” asked Tico. Miko crossed his arms and said, “I’m mad because my tower broke!”

Tico nodded and showed Miko how to take three big, slow breaths. They inhaled deep through their noses, counted slowly to three, then blew the air out through their mouths. Miko felt his body get cooler with each breath.

After breathing together, Miko smiled. His anger had melted like morning dew. He and Tico gathered new stones, built a fresh tower, and laughed under the mango tree.

Discussion Questions

• What happened to make Miko feel angry?
• How did Miko’s body show his anger? (Red cheeks, stomping, shaking)
• What did Tico teach Miko to do? (Take slow breaths and count)
• How did Miko feel after he tried the breathing?
• Can you think of a time you felt angry? What helped you calm down?

Activity: Draw Your Calm-Down Plan

Draw two pictures:

1. A time you felt angry.
2. What you can do to feel better next time.