Feelings Freeze Facilitator Guide
Feelings Freeze
Facilitator Guide • Tier 2 Small Group
Kindergarten • 15 Minutes
Why This Matters
Developing emotional awareness and self-regulation in early childhood builds the foundation for healthy social interactions and coping strategies. This lesson empowers young learners to recognize feelings and apply simple strategies to manage them effectively.
Learning Objective
Students will pause, identify, and physically express basic emotions through guided freeze and statue activities, fostering early emotional awareness and self-regulation skills.
Materials
- Freeze Frames Slides
- Emotion Statue Cards
- Discussion Prompts
Preparation (5 mins)
- Print and cut the Emotion Statues Game Cards (cardstock recommended).
- Set up the Freeze Frames of Emotion Slides on a visible screen.
- Clear a safe circle space for movement and statue poses.
Lesson Flow
1
Welcome & Warm-Up
2 MINUTES
- Invite students into a circle and introduce the theme: noticing feelings.
- Show a few preview slides of facial expressions to pique interest.
- Go around the circle: ask each student to share one word about how they feel right now.
2
Freeze Frames of Emotion
4 MINUTES
- Display a slide with a clear emotion.
- Say “FREEZE!” and have students match the expression and body posture shown.
- Ask: “How does your face feel when you freeze like this?”
- Repeat with 3–4 different emotions.
3
Emotion Statues Game
5 MINUTES
- Hand each student an Emotion Statues Card.
- Call out an emotion. Students with that card (or all students) sculpt their bodies into that statue.
- Prompt: “Notice where you feel this in your body (e.g., tight chest, wiggly legs).”
- Rotate cards so everyone practices at least two different feelings.
4
How Did That Feel? Discussion
3 MINUTES
- Regather in a circle. Use the Discussion Prompts sheet.
- Focus on body signals: “My heart felt fast when I was excited.”
- Reinforce that noticing signals helps us understand ourselves.
5
Closing Breaths
1 MINUTE
- Teach the "Freeze Breath": Take a big breath, hold/freeze for a second, then slow exhale.
- Practice 3 rounds together.
- Praise their mindfulness and focus!
Freeze Frames Emotion Slides
Freeze Frames
of Emotion
Let’s make faces and guess feelings!
"Welcome students! Today we’re going to play Freeze Frames of Emotion. When I show each face, we’ll ‘freeze’ our own faces to match it and name the feeling."
Happy
😊
PHOTO GOES HERE
Child smiling broadly with bright eyes
"Freeze your face in a big smile like this!"
Let's Talk:
How does your face feel when you're happy?
Sad
😢
PHOTO GOES HERE
Child with a frown and downcast eyes
"Freeze with your mouth turned down and shoulders slumped."
Let's Talk:
What does sadness feel like in your face or body?
Angry
😠
PHOTO GOES HERE
Child with furrowed brow and tight lips
"Make your eyebrows come together and press your lips tight."
Let's Talk:
Where do you feel anger in your body?
Surprised
😲
PHOTO GOES HERE
Child with wide eyes and open mouth
"Open your eyes wide and drop your jaw a little."
Let's Talk:
What happens to your face when you're surprised?
Scared
😨
PHOTO GOES HERE
Child hugging themselves with worried eyes
"Pull your shoulders up and hug yourself a bit—freeze!"
Let's Talk:
How does being scared feel in your body?
How Did That Feel Discussion Guide
How Did That Feel?
Post-Game Discussion Guide
Facilitator Tip
Gather students back into a seated circle. Use these prompts to help students bridge the physical "freeze" activity with emotional awareness. Encourage students to point to where they feel sensations in their bodies.
1
Which emotion statue did you enjoy making the most? How did making that pose feel in your body?
2
Which emotion statue was the trickiest to hold? What made it hard?
3
As you made each statue, did you notice any signals in your face (like a smile or frown) or body (like a tight chest or relaxed shoulders)?
4
What happened to your breathing when you posed each emotion?
5
Why do you think it’s helpful to notice these body signals when you have big feelings?
"Great job noticing your feelings! Remember, paying attention to our bodies helps us understand and share how we feel."
