Lesson Plan

How Do I Feel?

In this 30-minute lesson, students will identify and label emotions, practice using emotional vocabulary, and share personal feelings. By the end, each student will correctly name at least three emotions and express one feeling on their exit ticket.

This lesson builds self-awareness, a core SEL skill, by equipping students with emotional vocabulary and a safe space to share. Recognizing and naming feelings enhances emotional regulation, empathy, and a supportive classroom culture.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Color-Your-Emotion Cards

5 minutes

Step 2

Mini-Lesson: Feelings Vocabulary

10 minutes

Step 3

Activity: Feeling Charades

10 minutes

Step 4

Cool-Down: Emoji Exit Ticket

5 minutes

Lesson Plan

How Do I Feel?

Students will identify and label at least three emotions using age-appropriate vocabulary and express one personal feeling on an exit ticket.

This lesson builds self-awareness by equipping 3rd graders with emotional vocabulary and a supportive space to name and share feelings, reinforcing emotional regulation, empathy, and a positive classroom culture.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Color-Your-Emotion Cards

5 minutes

Step 2

Mini-Lesson: Feelings Vocabulary

10 minutes

Step 3

Activity: Feeling Charades

10 minutes

Step 4

Cool-Down: Emoji Exit Ticket

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Feelings Vocabulary

Welcome everyone! Today we’re going to learn some words to describe how we feel. Use this slide to introduce the purpose: naming our emotions helps us understand ourselves and talk about our feelings safely.

Happy

Explain that “happy” means feeling joy or pleasure. Ask students to show you their biggest smile. Point out how our bodies and faces change when we’re happy.

Sad

Introduce “sad.” Emphasize there’s nothing wrong with feeling sad. Invite students to show a facial expression of sadness.

Angry

Talk about feeling mad or upset. Ask: “What do you do with your hands or face when you’re angry?” Highlight healthy ways to handle anger.

Frustrated

Explain “frustrated” as feeling stuck or annoyed because something isn’t working. Ask students to share situations that made them feel frustrated.

Excited

Describe “excited” as feeling energized and eager. Encourage students to wiggle or clap to show excitement.

Lesson Plan

How Do I Feel?

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Preparation

Step 1

Warm-Up: Color-Your-Emotion Cards

Step 2

Mini-Lesson: Feelings Vocabulary

Step 3

Activity: Feeling Charades

Step 4

Cool-Down: Emoji Exit Ticket

Lesson Plan

How Do I Feel?

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Preparation

Step 1

Warm-Up: Color-Your-Emotion Cards

Step 2

Mini-Lesson: Feelings Vocabulary

Step 3

Activity: Feeling Charades

Step 4

Cool-Down: Emoji Exit Ticket

Slide Deck

Feelings Vocabulary

Happy

Sad

Angry

Frustrated

Excited

Warm Up

Game

Cool Down

How Do I Feel?

Lauren Friedrichs