Understanding Emotions

Overview

Duration: 30 minutes
Class size: 20 students
Unit: Wellbeing Warriors: Mental Health (Lesson 2 of 20)
Age group: Year 11 (15-16 years old)
Subject Area: Other – Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE)
National Curriculum Links:

• PSHE Education Programme of Study (Key Stage 4, Years 10-11):
  • Mental health and emotional well-being
    • Recognise the importance of mental health, understand emotions and how to manage them effectively.
    • Develop strategies for maintaining positive mental wellbeing.
  • Health and wellbeing (DfE statutory guidance effective from September 2020)
    • Develop self-awareness, emotional regulation and decision-making skills.
    • Discuss how thoughts and feelings affect behaviour and wellbeing.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify a range of different emotions and articulate their triggers.
2. Understand how emotions impact mental wellbeing and behaviour.
3. Demonstrate emotional self-awareness through reflective discussion.
4. Begin to explore techniques to manage emotional responses healthily.

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Resources

• Emotion cards (with pictures and emotion words)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Large paper and coloured pens for group work
• Short scenario stories (printed) illustrating emotional situations
• Sticky notes

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity: Emotion Match (5 minutes)

• Activity: Students will each receive an emotion card with either a facial expression or an emotion word.
• Their task: Find a partner with a matching emotion card (expression + word match).
• Purpose: Activates prior knowledge about recognising emotions; builds rapport.
• Teacher prompts:
  • “What emotion do you think this picture/word represents?”
  • “Have you ever felt this way? What triggered it?”
• Curriculum Link: Developing emotional literacy – recognising emotions in self and others (PSHE statutory guidance).

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2. Main Activity: Exploring Emotions and Triggers (15 minutes)

• Group Discussion: In small groups of 4, students discuss the following:
  • What are common triggers for these emotions in daily life (school, home, friendships)?
  • How does feeling this emotion affect your thoughts, behaviour, and wellbeing?
• Scenario Analysis: Each group receives a short printed scenario demonstrating emotional trigger and response (e.g., feeling anxious before exams, experiencing disappointment in friendships). They answer:
  • Which emotion is portrayed?
  • What triggered it?
  • What is the impact on the person’s wellbeing?
• Visual Mapping: Groups create an “Emotion Web” on large paper linking emotions to triggers and effects.
• Teacher Role: Circulate, support deep questioning, encourage varied vocabulary to describe feelings.
• Curriculum Link: Understanding complex feelings and their triggers; impact on mental health (PSHE mental health objectives).

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3. Reflection and Sharing (7 minutes)

• Each group shares one emotion, its trigger, and its impact from their web with the whole class.
• Class collectively writes key insights on the whiteboard under headings:
  • Emotions
  • Triggers
  • Impact on wellbeing
• Teacher facilitates reflection questions:
  • “Can emotions have both positive and negative effects?”
  • “How can identifying triggers help us manage emotions better?”
• Curriculum Link: Promote self-awareness and understanding of emotional complexity (PSHE emotional wellbeing strand).

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4. Plenary: Personal Emotional Awareness (3 minutes)

• Students write on sticky notes one emotion they have recently felt strongly, what triggered it, and one way they managed or could manage it positively.
• Sticky notes placed on a “Wellbeing Wall” (display area in classroom) for ongoing reference and encouragement of openness.
• Brief teacher summary emphasising emotional awareness as a skill integral to mental wellbeing and resilience.
• Curriculum Link: Encourage personal reflection and emotional regulation strategies.

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Assessment

• Formative assessment through observation of group discussions and contributions.
• Evidence of knowledge from group “Emotion Webs” and scenario responses.
• Individual reflection on sticky notes used to gauge understanding and engagement.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Mixed ability grouping to encourage peer support.
• Visual and written stimuli (cards, scenarios) to aid varying literacy levels.
• Flexible questioning strategies to include less confident speakers.
• Safe emotional environment promoted by teacher, with advice on support available if difficult emotions emerge.

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Extension Ideas (For homework or further lessons)

• Research journal entry: Track emotions experienced over one day and triggers alongside coping methods.
• Creative expression task: Write a poem, draw or compose music about an emotion and its effect on wellbeing.

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Teacher Reflection Prompts

• Did students use a broad and mature emotional vocabulary?
• Were students able to link emotions to triggers and impacts confidently?
• How did the class respond to sharing potentially sensitive personal reflections?
• What strategies helped foster an open, respectful environment?
• How to build on this lesson to develop emotional regulation strategies in upcoming lessons?

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This lesson plan aims to deepen emotional understanding aligned with the national curriculum’s emphasis on mental health and wellbeing, preparing students for resilience and self-awareness critical for their developmental stage.