Make a Happy Face Lesson Plan

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What We Are Learning

 

Social-Emotional Learning:

understanding emotions

 

Theme Vocabulary Words:

happy, shy, proud, frustrated, surprised, silly, calm, emotions

 

Language:

emotions/visual discrimination

  • Glad Monster Sad Monster: A Book About Feelings by Ed Emberley and Anne Miranda explores emotions. Ask children how they know what the monster is feeling. (Its face!) Then read the issue and let children practice making faces that show feelings. text pairing

Social-Emotional Learning: Feelings Chart

Materials: chart paper, marker, sticky notes

  • This feelings chart helps you check in with children and lets them practice identifying feelings.
  • Write “How Do You Feel Today?” across the top of chart paper. Write the names of different emotions as column heads and illustrate.
  • During morning meeting, ask each child how they’re feeling. Put a sticky note with their name in that column. (It’s fine if a child doesn’t feel like sharing.)
  • Discuss the completed chart. Emphasize that all feelings are OK.
  • Use the chart daily. It’s a great tool for noticing who might need help starting their day off right! exploring emotions
Example of a completed calm-down bottle

Materials: clear plastic bottles with tops, water, glitter, food coloring, small decorative items (e.g., plastic beads), clear dish soap, superglue, masking tape

  • Calm-down bottles help children regulate their emotions.
  • Pre-make your own calm-down bottle. (See bullet below.) Explain to children that when we get really upset, our emotions can get very big. We don’t need our feelings to disappear, but we want them to settle down. A calm-down bottle can help! Demonstrate using it. Shake the bottle. Then watch the items settle as you take deep breaths.
  • Help children make their own. Fill bottles . of the way with warm water. Add glitter and food coloring. Have kids put in decorative items. Fill the rest with dish soap so there’s no air at the top. Superglue the top on, and secure with tape. fine motor/self regulation