Feelings Toolbox Exploration Lesson Plan Feelings Toolbox Exploration
Lesson Plan • 3rd Grade Social-Emotional Learning
45 Minutes
Learning Objective
Students will be able to identify and express a variety of emotions and understand the concept of a "feelings toolbox" for healthy emotional regulation.
Why This Matters
This lesson builds foundational emotional literacy, helping students understand their own feelings and those of others, leading to better self-management and social skills.
Preparation
• Review My Colorful Feelings Journey Slides for content flow.
• Print or prepare My Feelings Finder Worksheet .
• Print and cut Emotion Charades Challenge Cards .
• Gather construction paper or index cards and markers/pencils.
• Ensure whiteboard or chart paper is accessible.
Materials List
My Colorful Feelings Journey Slides
Markers or colored pencils
Construction paper / Index cards
Emotion Charades Challenge Cards
My Feelings Finder Worksheet
Instructional Sequence
5 min Intro
Warm-Up: What Are Feelings Anyway?
Ask students: "What are feelings?" Record a few responses on the board.
Introduce the idea that everyone has feelings and they are all okay. Explain that today we'll explore how to handle them.
Show the first few slides of the deck to set the stage.
10 min Discuss
Exploring a Rainbow of Emotions
Go through the slides, pausing on emotions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared, calm). For each, ask:
"What does this feeling look like?"
"What does it feel like in our bodies?"
"When might we feel this way?"
Encourage sharing examples and discuss the universality of these emotions.
10 min Activity
Emotion Charades Challenge
Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
Distribute Emotion Charades Challenge Cards to each group.
Instruct students to take turns acting out emotions without speaking. Group members guess.
Emphasize respectful participation and supportive guessing.
10 min Apply
My Feelings Finder Worksheet
Distribute the worksheet and explain it helps them think about their own reactions.
Guide students as they draw or write their responses.
Circulate to offer assistance and praise student reflections.
10 min Closure
Sharing Our Feelings Circle & Cool Down
Gather in a circle on the rug or at desks.
Use the Sharing Circle Prompts to facilitate a brief discussion.
Students share one new feeling word or a tool for their "toolbox."
Wrap-up: Reinforce that all feelings are okay and manageable. My Colorful Feelings Journey Slides What's in My
Feelings Toolbox?
Understanding and expressing our feelings in healthy ways!
Teacher Note: Welcome students and introduce the lesson's title. Ask them what they think a 'feelings toolbox' might be. Encourage initial thoughts and curiosity.
What Are Feelings?
Feelings are like messages our bodies and minds send us!
They tell us how we are doing and how we react to the world.
Everyone has feelings, and all feelings are okay to have.
🌈
Teacher Note: Start with a broad question: "What are feelings?" Allow students to share their ideas. Explain that feelings are normal reactions to what happens around us and inside us.
😊
Happy!
Feeling joyful, cheerful, lighthearted.
What does happy look like?
What does it feel like in your body?
When do you feel happy?
☀️
Teacher Note: Discuss 'Happy.' Ask questions about appearance, bodily sensations, and triggers. Encourage sharing personal, age-appropriate examples.
😔
Sad...
Feeling down, disappointed, or lonely.
What does sad look like?
What does it feel like in your body?
When do you feel sad?
🌧️
Teacher Note: Discuss 'Sad.' Acknowledge that sadness is a natural and important feeling. Ask questions and validate student experiences.
😠
Angry!
Feeling mad, frustrated, or annoyed.
What does angry look like?
What does it feel like in your body?
When do you feel angry?
🌋
Teacher Note: Discuss 'Angry.' Explain that anger is normal, but handling it healthily matters. Ask questions about physical sensations (heat, tension).
😲
Surprised!
Feeling unexpected, caught off guard.
What does surprised look like?
What does it feel like in your body?
When do you feel surprised?
🎁
Teacher Note: Discuss 'Surprised.' Highlight that surprise can be good (gift) or not so good (sudden noise).
😨
Scared!
Feeling afraid, nervous, or worried.
What does scared look like?
Emotion Charades Challenge Cards Emotion Charades Challenge
Put your emotion-spotting skills to the test! Use your face and body to act out big feelings.
How to Play
1 Pick an Emotion Card from the pile. Keep it a secret!
2 Act out the emotion using only your face and body. No talking!
3 Your group members guess which emotion you are acting out.
4 Once they guess right, the next person takes their turn.
Bonus Challenge: Talk about a time you felt that emotion and what it felt like in your body!
Emotion Charades Cards
Cut along the dotted lines
😄
Happy
😢
Sad
😡
Angry
😮
Surprised
😱
Scared
🥳
Excited
🤔
Confused / Puzzled
😌
Calm
😳
Shy
🤩
Proud
😩
Frustrated
🤪
Silly My Feelings Finder Worksheet My Feelings Finder
3rd Grade Explorer
Name:
Date:
Part 1: How Do I Feel?
Draw a face for each feeling. Then, write one thing that might make you feel this way.
😊
1. Happy
Draw a happy face here
Something that makes me happy:
😔
2. Sad
Draw a sad face here
Something that makes me sad:
😠
3. Angry
Draw an angry face here
Something that makes me angry:
😨
4. Scared
Draw a scared face here
Something that makes me scared:
Part 2: My Feelings Toolbox
What helps you when you have big feelings?
Think about things that help you (like deep breaths, drawing, talking to a friend, or squeezing a pillow). Draw or write two tools you use in your own toolbox!
1 Tool One:
2 Tool Two:
"All your feelings are okay. Your toolbox helps you manage them!"
Sharing Our Feelings Circle Prompts Sharing Our Feelings Circle
Discussion Guide & Closure Activity
How to Facilitate
Gather students in a circle on the rug or at their desks. Explain that this is a safe space where we practice two main skills:
Sharing Brave Ideas
Respectful Listening
Discussion Prompts
1. "One new feeling word I learned today is..."
Follow-up: "Can anyone describe what that feeling might look like or feel like in our bodies?"
2. "One thing I can put in my own feelings toolbox is..."
Follow-up: "Why do you think that tool helps you? When would you use it?"
3. "When a friend has big feelings, I can help by..."
Follow-up: "Why is it important to be a 'feelings helper' for our friends?"
4. "The most interesting thing I learned today was..."
Follow-up: "How might knowing more about feelings help you at school or at home?"
Concluding Thought
"Remember, all your feelings are okay. Having a feelings toolbox helps us understand and manage them, making us stronger, kinder, and happier!"
