Feeling Families Slides Lesson 1
Feeling
Families
Exploring different ways to say how we feel.
The Happy Challenge
How many different words can you think of for HAPPY?
Glad
Excited
Cheerful
What else?
What is a Feeling Family?
Grouping
Some feelings are "cousins." They belong to the same group.
Details
Every word in a family has a slightly different meaning.
Precision
Using specific words helps others understand us better!
The Sad Family
Lonely
When you want to be with others but you are by yourself.
Gloomy
When you feel like a dark cloud is hanging over you.
Hurt
When someone says or does something that makes you sad.
Upset
A mix of being sad and maybe a little bit worried.
Feeling Match-Up!
Your mission is to work with your group to sort your feeling cards into families.
Look for clues! Which words sound like they belong together?
Discussion Questions
1
Was there a word that was hard to place in a family?
2
Can one word belong to more than one family?
3
How does having more words help us describe our day?
Feeling Families Worksheet FEELING FAMILIES
Vocabulary Explorer Worksheet
Name:
Date:
The Mission
Feelings come in "families." Some feelings are similar, but they have different strengths or reasons. Read the Core Emotion at the top of each box, then write down 3 other words that belong in that family.
HAPPY Family
Example: Joyful
SAD Family
Example: Lonely
MAD Family
Example: Annoyed
SCARED Family
Example: Worried
Explorer Challenge
Choose ONE feeling word from above and write a sentence about a time you felt that way.
Feeling Family Cards Feeling Family Sort Cards
Teacher Note: Print on cardstock and cut along the dashed lines.
Word
GLAD
Word
EXCITED
Word
CHEERFUL
Word
LONELY
Word
GLOOMY
Word
UPSET
Word
ANNOYED
Word
FURIOUS
Word
CRANKY
Word
WORRIED
Word
AFRAID
Word
NERVOUS
Instructions for Groups:
Cut out all 12 feeling cards.
Lay them out on your table.
Group them into 4 "Families": Happy, Sad, Mad, and Scared.
Discuss: Why does each word fit in its family?
Feeling Families Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
1. Feeling Families
Unit: Emotional Awareness
2nd Grade Physical Education
Learning Objective
Students will be able to categorize nuanced emotion words into four core "families" (Happy, Sad, Mad, Scared) and explain the subtle differences between words in the same family.
Key Vocabulary
Happy: Joyful, Glad, Excited
Sad: Gloomy, Lonely, Upset
Mad: Annoyed, Furious, Cranky
Scared: Worried, Afraid, Nervous
Materials Needed
Feeling Families Slides
Sorting Cards (1 set per group)
Recording Worksheet
Scissors/Glue
Instructional Steps
01
The Hook (5 mins)
Start with the "Happy Challenge" on Slide 2. Allow students to popcorn out as many words for "Happy" as they can. Record them on the board. Emphasize that "Happy" is a big umbrella for many smaller feelings.
02
Direct Instruction (10 mins)
Use Slides 3-4 to define "Feeling Families." Walk through the "Sad Family" example. Ask: "Is being lonely the same as being gloomy? How are they different?" (Lonely is about people; Gloomy is about mood).
03
Group Activity: Sort (20 mins)
Hand out the Sorting Cards. In groups of 3-4, students cut and categorize the 12 words. Circulate and listen to their reasoning. If a student is stuck on "Upset," suggest it could be Sad or Mad—discuss why context matters.
04
Wrap Up & Reflection (10 mins)
Students complete the worksheet individually to solidify their learning. Use Slide 6 to facilitate a class-wide debrief. Ask: "Which family had the hardest words to understand?"
Differentiation Tips
Support: Provide visual emoji icons for each card to help struggling readers associate the word with the feeling.
Extension: Ask students to create a 5th family (e.g., the "Surprised" family or "Confused" family) and find 3 words for it.
Detective Cues Slides Lesson 2
Reading
The Cues
Becoming an Emotional Detective by watching faces and bodies.
The Silent Mystery
Did you know? Most of the time, we don't even use WORDS to show how we feel!
Facial Expressions
Body Language
Tool #1: The Face
Eyes
Wide open? Squinting? Looking away?
Mouth
Smiling? Frowning? Tight lips?
Eyebrows
Raised up? Scrunched together?
Tool #2: The Body
Shoulders: Are they slumped or standing tall?
Hands: Are they in pockets? Fists? Open?
Stance: Leaning in or backing away?
Watch closely! A person might say they are okay, but their body tells a different story.
Action Game
Mirror Me
Work with a partner. One person acts out a feeling without words, and the other person tries to MIRROR them!
1
Observe
2
Copy
3
Guess
Body Language Detective Worksheet DETECTIVE NOTES
Emotion Cue Analysis
NAME:
DATE:
"Case File: The Silent Cues. As a detective, you must look for clues in the face and body. Read the descriptions below and identify the mystery feeling!"
CASE #1
Clues Found:
Eyes are squeezed tight.
Mouth is wide open.
Hands are over the ears.
Mystery Feeling:
CASE #2
Clues Found:
Eyebrows are scrunched down.
Lips are pressed together in a line.
Arms are crossed tight over the chest.
Mystery Feeling:
CASE #3
Clues Found:
Eyes are very wide.
Eyebrows are way up high.
Mouth is shaped like an 'O'.
Mystery Feeling:
Sketch the Evidence
Draw a person showing the feeling EXCITED. Don't forget their face and their hands!
Detective Cues Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
2. Reading the Cues
Unit: Emotional Awareness
2nd Grade Physical Education
Learning Objective
Students will identify and demonstrate specific facial expressions and body language cues associated with core emotions, improving their non-verbal empathy skills.
Observation Targets
Eyes: Focus, brow height, squinting.
Mouth: Lips, jaw tension, shape.
Body: Shoulders, hands, leaning.
Materials Needed
Detective Cues Slides
Detective Notes Worksheet
Classroom Mirror (optional)
Instructional Steps
01
The Hook: Silent Movie (5 mins)
Begin Lesson 2 by acting out an emotion silently (e.g., impatient tapping of foot, checking watch, huffing). Ask students what they observed. Emphasize that you didn't say a single word, but they knew exactly what was going on.
02
Detective Training (15 mins)
Use Slides 3-4 to break down the "clues." For each tool (Eyes, Mouth, Body), have students practice on command. "Show me wide eyes!" "Show me slumped shoulders!" Discuss why our body does these things (e.g., we slumped because we have less energy when sad).
03
Partner Game: Mirror Me (15 mins)
Explain Slide 5. Pair students up. One student is the "Actor" and the other is the "Mirror." The Mirror must copy the non-verbal cues exactly before guessing the emotion. Switch roles every 2 minutes. Focus on: Happy, Sad, Mad, Scared, Surprised, Bored.
04
Case Work (10 mins)
Students return to their desks to complete the "Detective Notes" worksheet. Review Case #1 together (Fear/Scared) to model the thinking process before they work independently.
Answer Key for Detective Notes
Case #1: Scared / Terrified
Case #2: Mad / Angry
Case #3: Surprised / Amazed
Differentiation Tips
Support: Use "emotion cards" with photos of real faces for students who find it difficult to visualize the descriptions in the cases.
Extension: Ask students to find "mixed clues" (e.g., a person who is smiling but has their arms crossed). What might that mean?
Intensity Scale Slides Lesson 3
Turning Up
the Heat
Understanding how big or small a feeling can be.
How big is the problem?
Scenario A
You drop your ice cream scoop on the ground.
Scenario B
A giant thunderstorm cancels your whole birthday party.
Are these the same amount of 'Sad'? Why or why not?
The Emotion Thermometer
HIGH
I feel it in my whole body. I can't think about anything else. (Furious, Terrified)
MID
I definitely feel it, but I can still follow directions. (Annoyed, Worried)
LOW
It's a tiny feeling. I can easily ignore it. (Calm, Peaceful, Bored)
Why does size matter?
Matching Responses
If we have a "Level 1" problem, we want a "Level 1" reaction. Screaming about a dropped pencil is a mismatch!
Asking for Help
Telling a teacher "I'm a Level 8 Mad" helps them know you need a break right away!
Workshop Activity
Intensity Sort
Look at the cards on your desk. For each one, decide if it belongs at the Bottom, Middle, or Top of your thermometer.
Calm
Frustrated
Raging
Intensity Meter Worksheet INTENSITY METER
Emotion Scale Tool
NAME:
DATE:
Color your thermometer from Green (bottom) to Red (top)!
Word Bank
Calm Furious Annoyed Terrified Nervous Excited Bored Enraged
Rank Your Words
10
Strongest Feeling
8
5
Middle Feeling
2
1
Weakest Feeling
Think About It: Why is "Furious" higher than "Annoyed"? What happens to your heart when you are at a 10?
Intensity Scale Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
3. Turning Up the Heat
Unit: Emotional Awareness
2nd Grade Physical Education
Learning Objective
Students will understand that emotions vary in intensity and will be able to rank similar feelings on a 1-10 scale (the "Emotion Thermometer").
The Scale Concept
1-3 (Small): I can keep working. I am in control.
4-7 (Medium): I need to pause. I feel it in my body.
8-10 (Big): I need help. I am not in control.
Materials Needed
Intensity Scale Slides
Intensity Meter Worksheet
Red/Yellow/Green Crayons
Instructional Steps
01
Problem Sizing (10 mins)
Use Slide 2 to introduce Scenario A and B. Lead a discussion: "If I scream at the top of my lungs because I dropped my ice cream, does that match the problem?" Introduce the term Intensity—how strong a feeling is.
02
The Thermometer (15 mins)
Present Slide 3. Explain the colors: Green (Low), Yellow (Middle), Red (High). Ask students for "physical clues" for each level. (e.g., At Level 10 Mad, my heart beats fast and my face gets hot. At Level 2 Mad, I just frown a little).
03
Workshop Activity: Ranking (15 mins)
Distribute the Intensity Meter Worksheet. Have students color their thermometer first. Then, work as a class or in small groups to rank the words in the word bank. Key debate: Is "Nervous" a 3 or an 8? (It depends on the person! Remind them everyone's thermometer is unique).
04
Closing: Why it Matters (5 mins)
Explain Slide 4. The goal is to match our reaction to the intensity. Ask: "How can knowing your number help you talk to your parents?"
Differentiation Tips
Support: Use a "Traffic Light" analogy (Stop, Think, Go) to simplify the 10-point scale into 3 easy zones.
Extension: Have students write a "Recipe for a Level 10." What three things would have to happen for them to hit 10?
Mixed Emotions Slides Lesson 4
Mixed
Messages
Learning how we can feel two things at the exact same time.
Can you feel BOTH?
Imagine it's the morning of your School Play.
You are EXCITED to show your family.
You are NERVOUS you'll forget your lines.
Excited + Nervous =
NERV-CITED!
The Tangled Heart
Sad + Happy
Like when a friend moves away, but they are going to a cool new place.
Scared + Brave
Like when you are riding a bike without training wheels for the first time.
Mad + Sorry
Like when your sibling breaks your toy, but you know it was an accident.
Leo's First Day
Leo is walking to his new school. He has a new backpack (he loves it!) but he doesn't know where his classroom is yet.
What is Leo's "Both/And" feeling?
Happy
Worried
MIXED EMOTIONS
It's Okay to be Mixed!
Sometimes we feel confused because we have two feelings at once.
Naming BOTH feelings helps the "tangle" in our heart feel smaller.
Mixed Feeling Maps Worksheet Both/And Maps
Exploring Mixed Emotions
NAME:
DATE:
Sometimes our hearts feel "tangled" because we have two different feelings about the same thing. This is called Mixed Emotions. Use the circles below to map them out!
Example
Situation: It is the morning of your first soccer game.
EXCITED
NERVOUS
Situation: You are moving to a new house.
Feeling A
Feeling B
Why do you feel both of these things?
Your Turn! Choose any situation (like a birthday or a big test).
My Situation:
Feeling 1
Feeling 2
Mixed Emotions Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
4. Mixed Messages
Unit: Emotional Awareness
2nd Grade Physical Education
Learning Objective
Students will identify situations that elicit multiple, sometimes conflicting, emotions and use visual mapping to represent these mixed feelings.
The "Both/And" Mindset
Help students move from "Either/Or" (I am EITHER happy OR sad) to "Both/And" (I am BOTH happy to move AND sad to leave). This reduces cognitive dissonance and validates complex experiences.
Materials Needed
Mixed Emotions Slides
Both/And Maps Worksheet
Chart Paper & Markers
Instructional Steps
01
The Hook: Nerv-cited (5 mins)
Present Slide 2. Ask: "Can anyone tell me about a time they felt excited and nervous at the same time?" Share your own example first (e.g., getting a new puppy). Use the term Mixed Emotions.
02
Mapping the Tangle (15 mins)
Use Slide 3 to show common "feeling pairs." On chart paper, draw a large Venn Diagram. Have students come up and label the circles for "Winning a Game" (Excited / Proud / Maybe sorry for the other team?). Emphasize the middle section where the feelings overlap.
03
Activity: Both/And Maps (20 mins)
Distribute the worksheet. Model the "Moving House" example first. Ask: "What is a Happy thing about moving?" (Bigger room). "What is a Sad thing?" (Leaving friends). Students then fill in the circles. Encourage them to use the "Vocabulary Families" from Lesson 1!
04
Discussion: The Confused Heart (5 mins)
Closing on Slide 5. Explain that mixed emotions can feel like a "tangle" or "confusion" in the chest. Naming both feelings is the best way to untangle it.
Differentiation Tips
Support: Allow students to draw a picture for each circle instead of writing the word, then label it with a simplified emoji.
Extension: Ask students to find a situation with three feelings. What would that map look like?
Power Words Slides Lesson 5
Your Power
Words
Using your voice to say what you feel and what you need.
Action vs. Words
Acting It Out
Screaming "NO!"
Slamming a door.
Sitting in the corner.
Problem: Nobody knows why you are upset!
Speaking It Out
"I feel frustrated because I can't find my pencil, and I need help looking for it."
Power: People can help you fix it!
The "I-Statement" Formula
I FEEL...
(Name your specific feeling family!)
WHEN...
(Say what happened—no blaming!)
I NEED...
(Say how the person can help.)
"He took my ball!"
You are playing at recess. A classmate runs by and grabs the ball you were using. You feel like you want to shout "Hey! Give it back!"
Use your Power Words instead!
I FEEL: Annoyed
WHEN: You take my ball while I'm playing.
I NEED: You to ask first, or we can play together.
Final Challenge
The Script Swap
Work with your partner to read a "Tantrum Script" and then rewrite it into a "Power Script" using I-Statements.
Old Way
New Way!
I Statement Script Cards Power Words Role-Play Cards
Teacher Note: Print on cardstock and cut. Each card has a "Problem" and space for the "Power Word" solution.
Scenario 1
THE PROBLEM:
A friend laughs at your new shoes. You feel hurt and want to call them a mean name.
THE POWER SCRIPT:
I FEEL: ____________________
WHEN: ___________________
I NEED: ___________________
Scenario 2
THE PROBLEM:
You are working on a hard math problem. You can't do it and you want to rip up your paper.
THE POWER SCRIPT:
I FEEL: ____________________
WHEN: ___________________
I NEED: ___________________
Scenario 3
THE PROBLEM:
Someone is humming loudly while you are trying to read. You feel like yelling "SHUT UP!"
THE POWER SCRIPT:
I FEEL: ____________________
WHEN: ___________________
I NEED: ___________________
Scenario 4
THE PROBLEM:
Your teacher asks you to stop talking, but you weren't talking! You feel like crying or stomping away.
THE POWER SCRIPT:
I FEEL: ____________________
WHEN: ___________________
I NEED: ___________________
REMEMBER THE FORMULA:
I feel [Feeling] when [Action] and I need [Request].
Verbalizing Emotions Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
5. Your Power Words
Unit: Emotional Awareness
2nd Grade Physical Education
Learning Objective
Students will construct and use "I-Statements" to communicate their feelings and needs constructively, replacing reactive physical behaviors with verbal expression.
The Power Word Formula
"I feel [Feeling Word] when [Action] and I need [Request]."
Materials Needed
Power Words Slides
Role-Play Script Cards
Emotion Explorers Journals (optional)
Instructional Steps
01
The Hook: Role Play (5 mins)
Present Slide 2. Briefly act out a "tantrum" (e.g., slamming a book down because you can't open a jar). Ask: "Did slamming the book help me open the jar? No. Did anyone know why I was mad? No."
02
Direct Instruction: The Formula (10 mins)
Walk through Slide 3. Emphasize that When should describe the action, not blame the person. (e.g., "When you take my ball" vs "When you are being a meanie"). Ask students to provide "Needs" for common problems.
03
The Script Swap Activity (25 mins)
Hand out the Role-Play Script Cards. Pair students up. One student is the "Reporter" (reads the Problem) and the other is the "Power Speaker" (completes the Script). Encourage them to use specific words from Lesson 1 (e.g., instead of Sad, use Gloomy or Lonely).
04
Unit Reflection (5 mins)
This is the final lesson of the sequence. Review: "We learned words, we learned clues, we learned size, and we learned how to feel two things. Now we have the power to talk about it!"
Differentiation Tips
Support: Provide a "sentence frame" strip on their desk with the formula clearly written out for reference during role-play.
Extension: Challenge students to use an I-Statement for a POSITIVE feeling! (e.g., "I feel proud when you share with me, and I need you to keep being a great friend!")