Feelings First Lesson PlanFeelings First Small Group (Tier 2) Lesson Plan 3rd Grade Duration: 35 Minutes Objective Students will learn to pause and reflect on their feelings before reacting, fostering emotional regulation and empathy through discussion, role-play, and group activities. The "Why" Understanding and acknowledging one's emotions builds a strong foundation for empathy and self-regulation, which is critical for positive social interactions and classroom behavior. Materials Understanding Feelings Slides Feelings Role-Play Activity Empathy Circle Discussion Guide Small group seating area Preparation (10 Minutes) 1 Review lesson plan to align discussion points. 2 Familiarize yourself with the Understanding Feelings Slide Deck. 3 Set up materials for the Role-Play Activity and arrange seating for the Empathy Circle. 4 Prepare a calm, inviting space to encourage open dialogue. Lesson Sequence 10 Minutes Introduction & Emotion Exploration Begin with a brief introduction on why understanding our feelings is important. Present a few slides from the Understanding Feelings Slide Deck to illustrate different emotions. Ask students to share one emotion they have felt today and why. 10 Minutes Role-Play Activity Organize students into pairs or small groups. Guide them through the Feelings Role-Play Activity, where they act out scenarios depicting different emotional reactions. Encourage groups to discuss alternative reactions after taking a pause to acknowledge feelings. 10 Minutes Empathy Circle Discussion Bring students together for an Empathy Circle Discussion. Facilitate a conversation where each student can express how it feels to be understood. Summarize by highlighting how acknowledging emotions before reacting can lead to better decision-making and kinder interactions. 5 Minutes Closing Wrap-Up Quick check-in: One thing you'll remember to do the next time you feel a big emotion.
Understanding Feelings SlidesWelcome to Understanding Feelings Today, we will explore different feelings and learn how to recognize them in ourselves and others. Teacher: Introduce the topic. Emotions are feelings we experience each day. All emotions are normal! Recognizing Emotions Look at these faces. Can you tell which feeling each face shows? Discuss: What might make someone feel happy, sad, angry, or surprised? 😊 Happy 😢 Sad 😠Angry 😲 Surprised Teacher: Ask students to describe what they see and relate these faces to their own experiences. Why Understanding Feelings Matters By understanding our emotions, we can handle them in a healthy way. Remember: take a moment to pause and think about your feelings before making a decision! Pause Reflect Connect Teacher: Reinforce that all feelings are important and pausing helps us make better choices.
Feelings Role-Play ActivityFeelings First Role-Play Lights, Camera, Action... and Pause! Activity Overview Work in pairs or small groups to act out scenarios that showcase different emotions. This helps you identify feelings and find kind ways to respond. Learning Goals Recognize and name emotions Pause before reacting Practice empathy for others How to Play 1 Pair or Group Up Organize into your assigned teams. 2 Scenario Assignment Get your scenario prompt (e.g., a friend feeling left out or receiving a compliment). 3 Role-Play & Pause Act it out! When you feel the emotion, Stop and talk about what the character is feeling and why. 4 Discuss Alternatives How else could the character respond after they pause and think? Group Reflection How did it feel to pause and think before reacting? What are some alternative responses that are kind? Why is it important to understand how others feel? Teacher Tip: Remind students that all feelings are valid. Taking time to understand them is a strength! Provide gentle guidance during role-plays to ensure everyone feels comfortable sharing.
Empathy Circle Discussion GuideSmall Group Discussion Empathy Circle Listening with Heart, Sharing with Kindness Circle Guidelines Listen Carefully Listen without interrupting. Speak Gently Use kind words for your feelings. Be Respectful Every feeling is important. 1 Sharing Our Feelings "Can you share a time when you felt really happy or really sad? What happened in that moment?" 2 Feeling Understood "How does it feel when someone listens to you with kindness? What do they do that makes you feel heard?" 3 Empathy in Action "What are some ways you can show empathy to a friend who is upset? What could you say or do?" Final Thought "How can taking a moment to understand our feelings help us make better choices? Can talking about feelings help make our class a kinder place?" Thank you for sharing today. Remember, your feelings matter!
