Preschool Lesson Plan: Emotion Cards Name Their Feelings
Topic: Emotion Cards: Teaching Kids to Name Their Feelings
Target Age Group: Preschool (3-5 years old)
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and name basic emotions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared).
- Emotions with corresponding facial expressions and body language.
- Understand that all feelings are normal and that there are healthy ways to express them.
Materials:
- Emotion Cards: Pictures of children or characters displaying clear expressions of happy, sad, angry, surprised, and scared. (You can draw them, print them, or use store-bought ones.)
- Mirror: A small, child-safe mirror for each child or a large one for the group.
- Books about Feelings: Examples: “The Color Monster” by Anna Llenas, “My Many Colored Days” by Dr. Seuss, “Glad Monster, Sad Monster” by Ed Emberley.
- Art Supplies: Crayons, markers, and paper.
- Music: Upbeat and calm music for movement activities.
Procedure:
I. Introduction (5-10 minutes)
- Greeting & Warm-up: Greet the children and engage them with a simple “How are you feeling today?” question, and ask them to answer using simple words like “good” or “okay.”
- Introduce “Feelings”: “Today, we’re going to talk about our feelings! Everyone has feelings inside them, and sometimes they change. Our faces and bodies can show how we feel.”
- Mirror Exploration: Hand out mirrors (or gather around a large one). “Look in your mirror! Can you make a happy face? What does your mouth do? What about your eyes? Now try a sad face. What changes?” Show them through different expressions.
II. Activity 1: Emotion Card Exploration (15-20 minutes)
- Introduce Each Emotion: Hold up one emotion card at a time.
- Happy: “Look at this face! How do you think this person feels? Yes, happy! When you get to play with your favourite toy, how do you feel? Happy! Your mouth turns up, and your eyes might sparkle. Can you make a happy face like on the card?”
- Sad: “Now look at this one. How does this person feel? Sad. When your friend has to go home, sometimes you might feel sad. Your mouth might go down, and you might feel like crying. What does a sad face look like?”
- Angry: “Oh, this face looks strong! This person feels angry. When someone takes your toy without asking, you might feel angry. Your eyebrows might go down, and your fists might clench. Show me your angry face!”
- Surprised: “Wow! What happened here? This person looks surprised! When you see a big, colourful butterfly suddenly fly by, you might feel surprised! Your eyes get wide, and your mouth might open. Can you make a surprised face?”
- Scared: “This person looks a little worried. They might be scared. If you hear a loud thunderclap, you might feel a little scared. You might want to hide, or your body might feel tense. What does a scared face look like?”
- Match the Feeling: Mix up the cards. “Now, I’m going to make a face, and you tell me which card matches how I feel!” Or, “Can you find the ‘happy’ card?”
III. Activity 2: Role-Playing / Story Time (10-15 minutes)
- Simple Role-Playing:
- “Think you just got a new toy from your parents! How would you feel? Show me your happy face!”
- “Oh no, your block tower fell down! How might you feel? Show me your sad face.”
- “Someone accidentally bumped into you. How might you feel? Show me your angry face.”
- “You found a hidden treasure! How would you feel? Show me your surprised face!”
- “You heard a strange noise in the dark. How might you feel? Show me your scared face.”
IV. Activity 3: Expressing Emotions (Art/Movement) (10-15 minutes)
- Drawing Emotions: Give kids to paper and crayons. Today, we discuss so many feelings! Now, can you draw a picture of a happy face? Or a sad face? You can draw what you feel is right now!
Emotion Cards
| Emotion | Facial Expression (Visual) | Example Situation | Associated Color | Action Idea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happy | đ Smiling face | When a child receives a gift | Yellow | Dance or clap hands |
| Sad | đ˘ Frowning, teary eyes | When a toy is broken | Blue | Hug a soft toy |
| Angry | đ Scrunched eyebrows, red face | When someone takes their toy | Red | Take deep breaths |
| Scared | đ¨ Wide eyes, mouth open | Hearing a loud thunder | Purple | Hide under a blanket (pretend play) |
| Excited | đ Open smile, jumping | Going on a school trip | Orange | Jump or spin around |
| Surprised | đ˛ Raised eyebrows, round mouth | Someone brings a cake | Pink | Say âWow!â |
| Shy | đ Slight smile, looking down | Meeting new friends | Light Green | Peek-a-boo game |
| Proud | đ Head held high, chest out | After finishing a puzzle | Gold | Thumbs up |
Why Emotions Are Important to Kids
1. Builds Self-Awareness
- Help them to understand what they feel and why.
- Identify basic emotions like happy, sad, angry, and scared.
- Builds a strong sense of identity and confidence.
2. Improves Communication Skills
- Kids can express emotions; they can say things like âIâm sadâ instead of acting out.
- Supports language development as they learn emotion words.
3. Supports Healthy Relationships
- Understanding emotions helps children develop empathy and care for others.
- They can better resolve conflicts and play cooperatively.
4. Positive Behaviour
- Children who can manage their emotions well their will be less likely to hit, bite, or throw tantrums.
- They learn to calm themselves, wait their turn, and follow rules.
5. Enhances Learning and Focus
- When children have an emotional safe space, their ability to focus while being in school increases.
- Positive Emotions motivate children to try new things and keep learning.
6. Builds Emotional Resilience
- Helps children cope with challenges like losing a toy or missing a parent.
- They learn itâs okay to feel sad, but also how to feel better.