Feelings and Friendships Lesson Plan Feelings & Friendships
Lesson Plan | Tier 2 Small Group
30 MINUTES
Why This Matters
Understanding and managing emotions, as well as effectively communicating with peers, are fundamental life skills that contribute to overall well-being and positive social development. This lesson provides tools for students to navigate their emotional landscape and build stronger relationships.
Objective
Students will be able to identify a range of feelings, situations that trigger negative feelings, coping strategies for managing emotions, and practice initiating positive peer interactions.
Materials
Whiteboard/Chart Paper
Markers
Feelings & Triggers Worksheet
Coping Strategy Cards
Role-Play Scenarios
Prep & Setup
Review Time: 15 Minutes
Review Lesson Plan and Script
Familiarize with Slide Deck transitions
Action Items
Print one worksheet per student
Print and cut Coping Strategy Cards
Prepare Role-Play Scenarios
Lesson Flow
Time Phase Key Activity 5 min Warm-Up "How are you feeling?" one-word check-in. 5 min Vocabulary Expanding feelings beyond "good/bad". 5 min Triggers Identifying the "buttons" that push our feelings. 7 min Superpowers Learning and sharing coping strategies. 5 min Connection Peer communication role-play scenarios. 3 min Cool-Down Setting a personal goal for the week.
Approach: Interactive Discussion, Guided Activity, Role-Play
Target Audience: 5th Grade Students
Feelings and Friendships Script Facilitator Script
Feelings & Friendships
Duration: 30 Minutes
5 MIN
1. Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling?
Teacher Script:
"Good morning/afternoon everyone! I'm so glad you're here. To start our session today, I'd love for each of you to share one word that describes how you're feeling right now, and maybe a very quick reason why. For example, I'm feeling 'optimistic' because I'm excited for our discussion today."
(Allow each student to share. Offer a visual aid like emoji cards or a feelings chart if helpful.)
"Thank you all for sharing. It's really interesting to hear all the different feelings in the room. This shows us that everyone experiences a wide range of emotions, and that's perfectly normal! All feelings are okay to have, whether they're happy, sad, excited, or even a little grumpy."
5 MIN
2. What Are Feelings?
Teacher Script:
"Let's start by thinking about what feelings are. As you can see on the screen, there are so many different feelings we can experience. Can anyone name some feelings they know, beyond just happy, sad, mad, or scared?"
(Allow students to share. Write down their responses on the board.)
"That's great! It's important to have a rich 'feelings vocabulary' so we can accurately describe how we're doing inside. The more words we have, the better we can express ourselves."
5 MIN
3. Feeling Triggers
Teacher Script:
"Now, sometimes our feelings don't just appear out of nowhere. There are often things that happen that make us feel a certain way. We call these 'triggers.' A trigger is like a button that gets pushed, and then a feeling pops up."
"For example, if I'm trying to build a really tall tower with blocks and it keeps falling down, I might start to feel frustrated. The falling tower is the trigger for my frustration."
(Discuss triggers for: Happy, Frustrated, Nervous. Then distribute the worksheet.)
"Take about 3 minutes to fill out the 'My Feelings & Their Triggers' worksheet."
7 MIN
4. Coping Strategies: Superpowers!
Teacher Script:
"What do we do when those feelings get really big? We can use our 'coping strategies'! They're like our personal superpowers. They help us manage our emotions so we can calm down, think clearly, and respond in a helpful way."
(Hand out Coping Strategy Cards. Facilitate sharing of strategies.)
5 MIN
5. Connecting with Friends
Teacher Script:
"Starting a conversation can feel tricky! But it's an important skill. A simple 'Hi' or 'How are you?' can be a great start. Let's try some quick role-plays with our Peer Communication Scenarios."
3 MIN
6. Putting It All Together
Teacher Script:
"Before we finish, I'd like each of you to silently think of one thing you learned today or one strategy you want to try this week. You don't have to share it out loud—this is your personal goal."
Feelings and Friendships Presentation Slides Feelings & Friendships
Let's explore our emotions and build amazing connections!
Welcome! Slide 1 of 6
What Are Feelings?
Happy, sad, mad, scared, excited, calm...
Everyone has feelings!
All feelings are okay to have.
Slide 2 of 6
Feeling Triggers
What makes us feel a certain way?
Situations or events can "trigger" our feelings.
Identifying triggers helps us understand ourselves.
Let's think of some examples!
Slide 3 of 6
Your Superpowers!
Coping Strategies
Healthy ways to manage big emotions so we can calm down and think clearly.
"When feelings get big, what can we do?"
Slide 4 of 6
Connecting with Friends
Step 1
A simple "Hi!" or "How are you?"
Step 2
Ask a relevant question to show you're interested.
Step 3
Listen and respond with kindness .
Slide 5 of 6
You've Got This!
Understand your feelings and triggers .
Use your coping superpowers when emotions are strong.
Connect with kindness and starting conversations.
Ready to Grow!
Feelings and Triggers Worksheet My Feelings & Their Triggers
Student Name
Date
Sometimes, things happen that make us feel certain ways. These are called "triggers." When we understand our triggers, we can better understand and manage our feelings. For each feeling, describe a situation that "pushes the button" for that emotion.
1 HAPPY
When I feel happy, it's often triggered by...
2 SAD
When I feel sad, it's often triggered by...
3 MAD / ANGRY
When I feel mad, it's often triggered by...
4 FRUSTRATED
When I feel frustrated, it's often triggered by...
5 NERVOUS / ANXIOUS
When I feel nervous, it's often triggered by...
6 EXCITED
When I feel excited, it's often triggered by...
Often triggered by...
Often triggered by...
Coping Power Activity Cards Coping Power Cards
Small Group Activity Resource
Strategy 01
Take 3 Deep Breaths
Inhale slowly through your nose, hold for a moment, then exhale slowly through your mouth.
Strategy 02
Count to 10 (or 20!)
Slowly count in your head. This gives your brain time to calm down and reset.
Strategy 03
Talk to a Trusted Adult
Find a teacher, counselor, or another adult you trust and tell them how you feel.
Strategy 04
Draw or Doodle
Grab a paper and pencil and express your feelings through art, or just draw freely.
Strategy 05
Listen to Calming Music
Put on some music that makes you feel relaxed, happy, or focused.
Strategy 06
Move Your Body
If you can, take a quick walk or do some stretches. Movement helps release tension.
Strategy 07
Drink a Glass of Water
Slowly sipping water can help calm your body and give you a moment to pause.
Strategy 08
Write in a Journal
Write down your feelings, thoughts, or what triggered your emotion. This is just for you.
Strategy 09
Do a Favorite Hobby
Engage in something you enjoy, like reading, building, or playing a game.
Strategy 10
Squeeze a Stress Ball
Physical release can help manage strong emotions like anger or frustration.
Communication Role Play Activity Scenarios Social Navigator
Peer Communication Role-Play Scenarios
Practice initiating conversations with your peers! For each scenario below, use a greeting and a relevant question to get the conversation started.
Scenario 01
In the Hallway
You see a friend you haven't talked to much today in the hallway before class starts. You want to say hello and ask about their weekend.
Your Opening Line:
Scenario 02
At Recess
You are on the playground and see a classmate looking a little bored or standing by themselves. You want to invite them to play.
Your Opening Line:
Scenario 03
Project Wrap-Up
You just finished a group project. You want to tell a classmate you enjoyed working with them and ask what they thought was interesting.
Your Opening Line:
Scenario 04
Homework Help
You notice a friend at the next table also working on a math problem. You want to ask them about a specific problem you found tricky.
Your Opening Line:
