Lesson Plan

Feeling the Change Lesson Plan

Students will identify and name end-of-year emotions, practice expressing their feelings, and learn simple coping strategies to support a smooth transition into summer break.

This lesson builds social-emotional awareness by helping first graders, including multilingual learners, recognize and communicate feelings. UDL supports and language scaffolds ensure all students can participate and develop resilience during transitions.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Welcome and Warm-Up

5 minutes

Step 2

Read Aloud and Discussion

8 minutes

Step 3

Emotion Identification Activity

7 minutes

Step 4

Journaling and Coping Strategies

8 minutes

Step 5

Closing Reflection

2 minutes

Slide Deck

Feeling the Change

Welcome students to the lesson. Use a sky-blue background. Greet each student, introduce today’s topic: end-of-year feelings and summer transition.

How Are You Feeling?

Point to each emoji, read the English and Spanish labels aloud. Invite students to echo.

I Feel _ When _

Model filling in the blanks. Provide a volunteer example: “I feel happy when I play with friends. / Yo me siento alegre cuando juego con amigos.”

Read Aloud: Goodbye in Color

Project the [Goodbye in Color Social Story]. Pause at key pages to ask comprehension questions.

Story Talk

Ask: “How did the character feel?” Show thumbs up for happy or thumbs down for sad. Encourage short answers.

Pick Your Feeling

Spread emoji cards on the floor. Guide each student to choose a card and stand by it.

Coping Strategy: Deep Breaths

Demonstrate deep breaths. Use breathing icon visuals. Count aloud in English then Spanish.

Coping Strategy: Stretch and Smile

Lead students through each stretch slowly. Use simple commands in both languages.

My Feelings Journal

Distribute the Feelings Journal Worksheets. Circulate to support drawing and writing with word bank.

Closing Reflection

Invite 2–3 volunteers to share a feeling and coping idea. Lead the class in one final deep-breathing exercise.

Lesson Plan

Feeling the Change Lesson Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

Step 1

Welcome and Warm-Up

Step 2

Read Aloud and Discussion

Step 3

Emotion Identification Activity

Step 4

Journaling and Coping Strategies

Step 5

Closing Reflection

Slide Deck

Feeling the Change

How Are You Feeling?

I Feel _ When _

Read Aloud: Goodbye in Color

Story Talk

Pick Your Feeling

Coping Strategy: Deep Breaths

Coping Strategy: Stretch and Smile

My Feelings Journal

Closing Reflection

Activity

Warm Up

Cool Down

Worksheet

Feeling the Change

CECILIA ESTRADA

Lesson Plan

Feeling the Change Lesson Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

Step 1

Welcome and Warm-Up

Step 2

Read Aloud and Discussion

Step 3

Emotion Identification Activity

Step 4

Journaling and Coping Strategies

Step 5

Closing Reflection

Slide Deck

Feeling the Change

How Are You Feeling?

I Feel ___ When ___

Read Aloud: Goodbye in Color

Story Talk

Pick Your Feeling

Coping Strategy: Deep Breaths

Coping Strategy: Stretch and Smile

My Feelings Journal

Closing Reflection

Reading

Activity

Warm Up

Cool Down

Worksheet

Feeling the Change

CECILIA ESTRADA

I Feel _ When _