Exploring Feelings

Lesson Overview

Subject: English (ELA)
Year Group: Year 1
Unit: Community, Travel, Emotions
Lesson Number: 10 of 28
Lesson Duration: 60 minutes
National Curriculum Area: Spoken Language & Vocabulary Development
Level: Key Stage 1 (KS1)

Lesson Objectives

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

• Recognise and name common emotions (e.g., happy, sad, excited, angry, scared).
• Describe how these emotions may look and feel.
• Identify situations that might cause different emotions.

Lesson Preparation

Materials Needed

• Emotion flashcards (showing different facial expressions)
• Emotion word cards
• A small mirror for each pupil
• Storybook featuring different emotions (e.g., The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Emotion sorting chart (happy, sad, angry, excited, scared)
• Soft toy used as a ‘talking friend’ to encourage discussion

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction – “Our Faces Show Feelings” (10 minutes)

Teacher's Approach:

• Gather children in a circle and introduce the topic by making an exaggerated happy face. Ask:
  • “Can you guess how I feel?”
  • “What do I look like when I feel this way?”
• Repeat with different emotions: sad, angry, excited, scared.
• Show emotion flashcards and discuss what is happening in each picture.
• Partner Turn & Talk: Ask pupils to turn to their partner and share a time when they felt happy or excited.

Key Question:

• “Why do we sometimes feel different emotions?”

2. Interactive Storytime – “Feelings in a Story” (15 minutes)

• Read The Colour Monster (or another book exploring emotions).
• Pause at key moments and ask:
  • “How do you think the character feels right now?”
  • “Have you ever felt this way?”
• Ask children to make the face they think the character is showing.
• Encourage pupils to use hand gestures or body language to express emotions.

3. Mirror Expressions Activity – “How Do I Look?” (10 minutes)

• Distribute mirrors. Challenge pupils to make a happy, sad, angry, or excited face.
• Let them take turns showing their expressions to a partner.
• Reinforce vocabulary by saying:
  • "This is my happy face."
  • "I feel sad when..."
• Hand out word cards and ask pupils to match them to their expression.

4. Feelings Sorting Game – “Which Emotion?” (15 minutes)

• Display five categories on the whiteboard: happy, sad, excited, angry, scared.
• Show scenarios verbally (e.g., “You lost your favourite toy” or “You are going to a birthday party”).
• Pupils stand near the emotion they think fits best.
• Discuss choices: “Why do you think this emotion fits here?”
• Encourage responses like:
  • "I feel excited when..."
  • "I feel sad because..."

5. Reflect & Close – “How Do You Feel Today?” (10 minutes)

• Pass around a soft toy (Talking Friend).
• Each child shares one emotion they have felt today and why.
• Quick Draw: Pupils draw a face showing how they currently feel.

Wrap-Up Question:

• “Why is it important to understand our feelings?”

Assessment & Differentiation

Assessment Opportunities

• Observe pupils’ participation in discussions.
• Check if they use emotion words correctly.
• Review their drawings for emotion accuracy.

Differentiation

• For EAL/SEND: Use visual aids, and provide emotion word mats. Encourage non-verbal responses like pointing or acting.
• For More Able: Challenge pupils to describe more complex feelings such as ‘worried’ or ‘proud’.

Teacher Reflection

• Were pupils engaged with the activities?
• Did they use emotion-related vocabulary with confidence?
• What could be improved for the next lesson?

Next Lesson: Expanding on emotions by exploring how we deal with feelings in different situations.