Emotion Explorers Lesson PlanEmotion Explorers Lesson Plan • 6th Grade 45 Mins Objective Students will understand and express emotions by exploring the Wheel of Emotions to categorize feelings and develop emotional intelligence. Approach Understand and express emotions through visualization, small group collaboration, and reflection. Materials Needed Wheel of Emotions Handout Emotion Scenario Cards Discussion Questions Guide Worksheet: Identifying Emotions Presentation Slides (inc. Video) Instructional Steps Intro 5m Setting the Stage Begin with a brief discussion on what emotions are and why they are important for our well-being. Introduce the Wheel of Emotions and explain its purpose in categorizing emotions from basic to complex. Play the Emotional Intelligence video to provide a foundational understanding of self-awareness. Step 1 10m Exploring the Wheel Distribute the Wheel of Emotions Handout to each student. Guide students through the different categories (Primary Emotions) and how they intensity or blend. Encourage students to share emotions they are familiar with and help them locate where they fit on the wheel. Step 2 15m Scenario Analysis Divide students into small groups (3-4) and provide each group with Emotion Scenario Cards. Instruct groups to read the scenarios and identify the primary and secondary emotions involved using their handouts. Have each group present one scenario and explain their reasoning to the class. Step 3 10m Reflective Discussion Facilitate a class discussion using the prepared Discussion Questions Guide. Focus on real-life applications: "How does naming an emotion change how you deal with it?" Encourage reflection on empathy—understanding how others might feel in these scenarios. Exit 5m Check for Understanding Distribute the Worksheet: Identifying Emotions for students to complete individually. Recap the key points: emotions are natural, they can be categorized, and understanding them helps us communicate.
Wheel of Emotions HandoutThe Wheel of Emotions A guide to understanding and identifying your feelings Anger Anticipation Joy Trust Fear Surprise Sadness Disgust How to use the Wheel Primary Emotions The inner core shows primary emotions. These are our "base" feelings that everyone experiences. Branching Out Emotions can branch into more specific feelings. For example, Anger can feel like annoyance (mild) or rage (intense). Intensity The closer to the center, the more intense the emotion. Feelings grow and shrink just like waves. Blending Emotions can blend together! Joy and Trust might combine to feel like Love. Anger Rage, Annoyance Joy Ecstasy, Serenity Sadness Grief, Pensiveness Fear Terror, Apprehension
Emotion Scenario CardsEmotion Scenario Cards Cut along the dotted lines and discuss each situation with your group. Scenario #1 You lost your favorite toy or personal item that you've had for years. Identify Emotions: Scenario #2 You just won first prize in a school-wide competition you worked hard for. Identify Emotions: Scenario #3 You find out your best friend had a party last night and you weren't invited. Identify Emotions: Scenario #4 You saw someone struggling to carry heavy bags and you stopped to help them. Identify Emotions:
Emotion Discussion Questions GuideDiscussion Guide Emotion Explorers • Classroom Facilitation Use these questions to facilitate a deep-dive discussion following the scenario activity. Aim to move students from simple identification to understanding the "why" and "how" of emotional intelligence. 1 Why is it important to understand and name our emotions? Talking Points: Communication: If we can't name what we feel, it's hard to tell others what we need. Self-Regulation: Identifying a feeling like "annoyance" before it becomes "rage" helps us stay in control. Relationships: Understanding our feelings helps us recognize similar feelings in others (empathy). Follow-up: "Can anyone share a time when naming a feeling made it feel less overwhelming?" 2 How can the Wheel of Emotions help us in real-life situations? Talking Points: Clarity: It helps us realize we might be feeling multiple things at once (e.g., being both "excited" and "scared" for a big game). Problem Solving: If we know we are "disgusted" by a situation, we can think about how to change the situation specifically. Validation: Seeing a wide variety of emotions on the wheel reminds us that all feelings are valid and normal. Follow-up: "Look at the wheel—which emotion do you think is the hardest to talk about? Why?" 3 How does understanding our own emotions help us treat others better? Talking Points: Predicting Impact: If I know "criticism" makes me feel "insecure," I might be more careful with how I give feedback to a friend. Active Listening: We can look for cues in others based on what we've learned about the categories of the wheel. Facilitator Tip: If students are quiet, share a personal (appropriate) anecdote about a time you misidentified an emotion or used the wheel concept to navigate a tricky situation.
Identifying Emotions WorksheetIdentifying Emotions Exit Ticket / Worksheet Student Name Date 1 Today's Reflection Think about different situations you experienced today. List three emotions you felt and categorize them using your Wheel of Emotions handout. Specific Emotion Wheel Category (Primary Emotion) Specific Emotion Wheel Category (Primary Emotion) Specific Emotion Wheel Category (Primary Emotion) 2 Emotion Scenario Choose any emotion from the wheel. Describe a situation—either real or imagined—where you might feel this emotion. Why does this situation trigger that feeling? Chosen Emotion: Describe the situation: Remember: There are no "bad" emotions—only "difficult" ones. All feelings are okay to feel!
Emotion Explorers Presentation SlidesEmotion Explorers Navigating the Wheel of Emotions Starting with Self-Awareness Embedded media Watch closely: What makes emotional intelligence so important? What are Emotions? Internal Signals Reactions to things that happen around us or inside us. Natural & Useful They help us survive, connect with others, and make decisions. "Emotions are like the weather—they change quickly, but we can't ignore them!" "Why a wheel?" Just like a color wheel shows how primary colors mix to create new ones, the Wheel of Emotions shows how primary feelings combine and vary in intensity. Categories Intensity Blends Time to Explore! 1 Divide into small groups and grab your Scenario Cards. 2 Read each scenario carefully. Use the Wheel Handout to find the right name for the feeling. 3 Be ready to share one scenario and your reasoning with the class. Pro-Tip Look for "blended" emotions! Sometimes a person might feel Fear and Surprise at the same time. What do we call that?
