Empathy Explorer Lesson Plan Emoji Empathy Explorer
Tier 1 Social-Emotional Learning
45 MINUTES GRADES K-2
Why This Matters
Building emotional vocabulary and empathy early helps young learners develop self-awareness and social skills, fostering a supportive and compassionate classroom community.
Teacher Prep
Review Feeling Faces Slides
Print Emoji Match Worksheets
Cut out Emotion Cutout Cards
Gather markers/crayons
Set up Whiteboard/Chart Paper
Objective
Students will identify and name four basic emotions (happy, sad, angry, and surprised) using emojis and demonstrate empathy by discussing feelings with peers.
Lesson Flow
1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 MIN
Gather students in a circle and greet them warmly. Explain that today we are "Emoji Empathy Explorers" learning to understand feelings.
Teacher Script Tip:
"Today, we're going to use emojis to help us learn about our feelings and how our friends might be feeling too!"
2
Slide Deck Exploration
10 MIN
Present each emoji in the Feeling Faces Slides . For each one:
Name the emotion.
Have students mimic the face (get silly!).
Share a brief example of when they felt that way.
3
Emoji Matching Activity
15 MIN
Distribute Emoji Match Worksheets and Emotion Cutout Cards . Students match the cutout emoji cards to the pictures and words on their sheets.
Pro-tip: Encourage students to color their emojis to make them personal.
4
Paired Discussion
10 MIN
Pair students to share their sheets. Use empathy language prompts:
"Why did you choose this emoji?"
"How might a friend feel like this?"
5
Reflection & Closure
5 MIN
Quick Assessment: Students draw an emoji on their worksheet showing how they feel right now . Invite a few volunteers to share their drawing and emotion word.
Materials Needed:
Slides Worksheet Emotion Cards Crayons
Feeling Faces Slides 🙂
😮
😢
😠
Emoji Empathy Explorer
Today we will learn about feelings using emojis!
🙂 😢 😠 😮
Welcome students! "Today we are Emoji Empathy Explorers. We'll look at different emojis and talk about feelings."
🙂
Happy
Think About It
What makes you feel happy ?
Share a time you felt this way.
Empathy Challenge
How can you spread happiness to a friend? What can you say or do?
Teacher Notes: Ask: "What word do we use for this face?" Have students make the face. Write "happy" on the board.
😢
Sad
Think About It
What makes you feel sad ?
Is it okay to feel sad sometimes?
Empathy Challenge
How can we help a friend who is sad ? What kind words can you use?
Teacher Notes: Ask: "What feeling is this?" Invite volunteers to share. Emphasize kindness and helping.
😠
Angry
Think About It
When might you feel angry ?
What helps you calm down ?
Empathy Challenge
How can you tell a friend you are upset without being mean?
Teacher Notes: Discuss healthy ways to calm down (breathing). Reinforce that anger is okay, but we choose safe actions.
😮
Surprised
Think About It
What surprises you?
How do you show surprise with your face?
Empathy Challenge
Can a surprise ever feel a little scary? How can we help a surprised friend?
Teacher Notes: Encourage descriptions of times they were surprised. Highlight the word "surprised."
Let’s Share!
Turn to a friend and share:
1
Which emoji you picked
2
When you felt that way
3
How you showed it
Teacher Notes: Say: "Turn to your partner. Choose one emoji and share." Circulate and listen for empathy language.
Reflection
Draw an emoji showing how you feel right now .
Be ready to share!
Teacher Notes: Wrap up and reinforce empathy. Remind: "We can use these words to help friends feel understood."
Emoji Match Worksheet 🙂 Emoji Match! 😮
Emoji Empathy Explorer
NAME:
DATE:
Step 1: Match the Feeling
Draw a line from each emoji to the word that describes it.
🙂
sad
😢
surprised
😠
happy
😮
angry
Step 2: How do YOU feel?
Draw an emoji in the box below to show how you feel right now. Then, color it in!
"I feel ______________________ because ________________________________________________."
🙂 😢 😠 😮
Emotion Cutout Cards Emotion Cutout Cards
Cut along the dashed lines! Use these cards to match, play games, or show how you feel.
🙂
HAPPY
😢
SAD
😠
ANGRY
😮
SURPRISED
Teacher Tip: Print on cardstock and laminate for repeated use in your Calm Down Corner or as a matching game!
