Emotional Literacy Lab Lesson Plan Emotional Literacy Lab
Building Emotional Intelligence through Discovery
Target Audience
Grades 3–7
Duration
45 Minutes
Approach
Interactive, Role-Play, Reflection
Main Objective
Identify, articulate, and empathize with a range of emotions.
Why Emotional Literacy?
Building emotional literacy enhances communication, fosters empathy, supports social-emotional learning, and creates a more supportive classroom environment. By naming feelings, students gain power over them.
Materials Needed
Emotion Card Set
Lab Slide Deck
Feelings Journal Template
Timer/Stopwatch
Teacher Prep
• 10 minutes: Print and cut out the Emotion Card Set .
• Review the Story Slide Deck and note discussion prompts.
• Print one Feelings Journal Template per student.
• Arrange desks for small-group discussion (3-4 students).
Instructional Procedure
5m
Warm-Up & Hypothesis
Objective: Define emotional literacy and activate prior knowledge.
Display Slide 1 showing a character experiencing a strong emotion.
Ask: "What emotion do you see? When have you felt this way?"Define Emotional Literacy : The ability to recognize, understand, and express feelings.
10m
Emotion Identification Game
Objective: Practice naming and explaining triggers for various emotions.
Divide students into small groups and distribute Emotion Card Sets .
Groups take turns drawing a card, naming the emotion, and explaining a situation that triggers it.
Differentiation: Pair ELL learners with supportive peers; allow drawing for those who struggle verbally.
15m
Storytelling & Role-Play
Objective: Demonstrate empathy and emotional expression.
Show Slides 2–4 depicting short scenarios (Alex, Maria, and the Team).
Groups choose one scenario, assign roles, and act it out, emphasizing facial expressions and body language.
Debrief: Discuss how characters’ emotions influenced their actions.
10m
Creative Journaling
Objective: Internalize learning through personal reflection.
Distribute the Feelings Journal Template .
Prompt: "Write about a time you felt one of today’s emotions. How did it feel in your body? What helped you cope?"
5m
Lab Debrief
Invite 2–3 volunteers to share entries.
Exit Ticket: One emotion to understand better + one management strategy. Emotional Literacy Lab Slide Deck Emotional Literacy Lab
Building emotional intelligence through storytelling and creative expression.
Entry #001
Phase: Discovery
What Is Emotional Literacy?
Emotional literacy is the ability to recognize, understand, and express our feelings.
1
Recognize emotions in ourselves and others.
2
Understand why we feel a certain way.
3
Express emotions in healthy, safe ways.
Emotion Identification
Here are some example cards you’ll use in the game. Each one represents a unique data point in our lab!
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😠
Angry
😬
Nervous
🥳
Excited
Scenario #1
Lost and Found
"Alex can’t find his favorite toy and starts to feel upset. He looks under the bed, in the closet, and outside, but it’s nowhere to be found."
Lab Questions
• What emotion is Alex feeling?
• When have you felt this way?
• What might help Alex feel better?
Scenario #2
Surprise Celebration
"Maria walks into a surprise birthday party where friends and family are cheering. Everyone is wearing party hats and there is a huge cake on the table."
Lab Questions
• What emotions might Maria experience?
• Have you ever been surprised like this?
• How do you show gratitude?
Scenario #3
Team Triumph
"A group of friends finishes a challenging class project. They worked late and solved many problems together. They just found out they got an A!"
Lab Questions
• What emotions come with success?
• How does celebrating together make you feel?
Lab Reflection
01
Think of one emotion you want to understand better.
02
Choose one strategy you’ll try to manage that feeling.
Record these on your exit ticket!
Emotion Card Set Emotion Card Set
Instructions: Cut along the dotted lines. Use these cards for the Identification Game.
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😠
Angry
😬
Nervous
🥳
Excited
😮
Surprised
😤
Frustrated
😴
Bored
🦁
Brave
😔
Lonely
🤩
Proud
🤢
Disgusted Feelings Journal Template Feelings Journal
Lab Report #102
Researcher:
Date:
Today's Lab Prompt:
Think about a time you felt one of today’s emotions. What happened? How did it feel in your body? What helped you cope or manage that feeling?
Lab Illustration
Draw your emotion here
Scientific Clue:
"Where did you feel this emotion? In your stomach? Your chest? Your face?"
Coping Tool:
Write one strategy that worked for you.
Emotion Card Game Activity Guide Emotion Card Game
Activity Phase: Data Collection & Storytelling
The Goal
Identify and name a variety of emotions and connect them to real-life experiences to build your emotional vocabulary.
Group Setup
• Form groups of 3–4 students.
• Place emotion cards face-down.
• Assign initial roles.
Lab Specialist Roles
Timekeeper
Monitors the 1-minute timer and calls out transitions.
Describer
Draws the card, names the emotion, and shows the group.
Storyteller
Explains a real or imaginary situation for that emotion.
Listener/Sketcher
Records a quick sketch or keyword about the story.
How to Play (10 Minutes)
1
The Describer draws a card and names it clearly.
2
The Storyteller has exactly 1 minute to share a situation for that emotion.
3
The Sketcher draws a 30-second doodle of the scenario.
4
Rotate roles clockwise and repeat!
Lab Reflection Questions
Which emotion card was the easiest to describe? Which was the hardest? Why?
How did hearing different scenarios help you understand each emotion better?
What new emotion word did you learn today? When might you use it?
Lab Modification Notes
Support
Use sentence starters like "I felt... when..." Allow non-verbal students to pantomime scenarios.
Challenge
Advanced learners should include specific body-language cues (e.g., "tight shoulders" or "sweaty palms").
