We feel lots of emotions everyday. It’s important for children to know that feeling different emotions is healthy and normal. Teaching children about these emotions can help them understand their bodies and feelings. This social emotional learning activity is engaging and meaningful for children of all ages.
Some days we may feel grumpy other days we may feel angry, or happy. Often, we feel a mix of emotions throughout the day.
I have included printable cards with eight common and easily identified emotions. They are available for free at the bottom of this post.
If you’re looking for more social emotional activities for children in the classroom, or at home, check out 53 Best Mindful Activities for Kids.
Social Emotional Learning Activity Materials
All you need for this simple social emotional learning activity are the eight printable emotion cards and some tape to secure the cards around the room.
Each of the pictures include an image of a child showing an emotion as well as the word matching the image. I suggest laminating the pages if you want to use the cards several times.
Each page includes two images. Cut the page in half so that each emotion is on their own card.
Social Emotional Learning Activity Cards
Start showing children each of the emotion cards. Discuss what each of the faces are showing. Children can show the emotion with their body and face. Also discuss a time that you have felt each emotion.
For example, “When was a time you felt excited?” Children may answer they felt excited before a birthday party or school trip. These discussions will help children relate to some of the feelings that they are less familiar with.
The emotion cards are the following:
- Happy
- Excited
- Grumpy
- Sad
- Angry
- Scared
- Shy
- Tired
How I Feel Activity
Tape the cards around the room. We usually do a lesson on the carpet in my classroom, so I posted the cards on furniture around the carpet, but distanced apart.
Once you talk about, and identify, each of the emotions, have children think about how they feel today. Did they have a great morning before coming to school, or maybe something special that they’re looking forward to after school? Which emotion card best matches how they’re feeling?
Once children have had a chance to think about how they are feeling at the moment, ask them to stand and walk over to the emotion card that best matches how they’re feeling.
Give kids a chance to talk to other children at the same card about why they feel the way they do.
You can even have a child, or two from each emotion tell the whole class why they feel the way they do.
It’s also a good idea to talk about the fact that some days they may feel a certain way, but not have a specific reason for it. We all have bad days, and grumpy days.
Extension Ideas
Once children have a chance to talk about and discuss how they’re feeling, you can discuss some strategies for dealing with emotions like anger and sadness. Encourage children to talk about why they feel the way they do. You can also try different calming activities if any child feeling angry would benefit from one of these exercises.
In the classroom setting, this activity works really well first thing in the morning. You can quickly tell if something has happened to a child and they’re feeling upset or angry. It can also tell you any children who may need some of your extra time today.
Social Emotional Learning Activity Printables
Join Play Learn Inspire and download the emotion cards, for free to use in your classroom, or home. Subscribe, for free, and then you will be able to access all of the cards featured above.
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