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Kindergarten
LESSON
Zero
What are Feelings?
45 Minutes
This lesson is currently under review with Nest Educational Advisors. Please check back later for updates.
Lesson Overview
This lesson lays the first foundation of the You Belong Here curriculum: Feelings. Students will discuss how different feelings look and learn why feelings are important. They will fill in their own Feelings Charts which will be referenced through the unit.
Lesson Objectives
- Understand the importance of feelings.
- Explore various feelings and methods of expressing them.
- Create personal Feelings Charts to represent their emotions.
Materials
Handouts
quicklinks
how to prepare for this lesson
If possible, begin this lesson with students sitting together in a circle on the carpet or form a circle with their seats to foster community.
If using the read aloud video, please ensure to pre-check it before class, as internet policies may vary among schools, to ensure accessibility.
During this lesson, students will focus on identifying feelings and completing their What’s My Feeling? Handouts. This is the Kindergarten version of the Feelings Wheel, which students will be introduced to in later grades of the You Belong Here curriculum. This activity is a crucial foundation for the You Belong Here unit, as it establishes a starting point of understanding and vocabulary about feelings for all students. Students will use their "What’s My Feeling" handouts to help them identify and name feelings throughout the unit. Developing a common vocabulary about feelings will ensure better learning and communication among students in the later lessons, which will cover topics such as emotional regulation, respectful communication, bullying, and even grief. By helping students identify and name their feelings, the stage will be set for a more empathetic and supportive classroom environment. These handouts should either be stored in a safe place by the students between lessons or collected by the teacher at the end of each lesson.
Additional Resources
- Book: The Emotions Book, by Liz Fletcher
- Kozlowska K, Walker P, McLean L, Carrive P. Fear and the defense cascade: clinical implications and management. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2015;23(4):263-287. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000065
- Shaver TK, Ozga JE, Zhu B, Anderson KG, Martens KM, Vonder Haar C. Long-term deficits in risky decision-making after traumatic brain injury on a rat analog of the Iowa gambling task. Brain Research. 2019;1704:103-113. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2018.10.004
- Hwang H, Matsumoto D. Functions of emotions. In: Biswas-Diener R, Diener E, eds. Noba Textbook Series: Psychology. DEF Publishers; 2021.
- Bauer, C.C.C., Caballero, C., Scherer, E., West, M.R., Mrazek, M.D., Phillips, D., Whitfield-Gabrieli, S., & Gabrieli, J.D.E. (2018). Mindfulness meditation reduces amygdala reactivity to fearful faces and self-reported stress in middle school children: A randomized controlled trial.
- Akira S.G, Sara B.K, Ethan S, Martin R. W, John D.E.G. (2019). Mindfulness in the Classroom: Learning from a School-based Mindfulness Intervention through the Boston Charter Research Collaborative. Transforming Education. Harvard University Center for Education Policy Research.