Understanding Our Feelings

Curriculum Details

Subject: English (ELA)
Year Group: Year 1
Unit: Community, Travel, Emotions
Lesson: 17 of 28
Relevant UK Curriculum Area: KS1 English – Spoken Language
Objectives Aligned to UK National Curriculum:

• Listen and respond appropriately to adults and peers
• Ask relevant questions to extend understanding
• Use spoken language to develop understanding through discussion
• Consider different perspectives and articulate feelings

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils will:
✅ Identify and name a range of emotions.
✅ Link emotions to different life situations.
✅ Build vocabulary to accurately describe feelings.
✅ Work collaboratively to create a classroom "Feelings Chart."

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Lesson Duration: 60 minutes

Class Size: 30 students

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Resources Needed

📖 Large sheets of paper or poster board
🖍️ Markers and crayons
🎭 Emotion flashcards (happy, sad, excited, worried, angry, surprised, etc.)
📸 Picture cards illustrating different scenarios (e.g., a child losing a toy, receiving a gift, playing with friends)
📌 Blu Tack or magnets to display the chart

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Warm-Up Activity (10 mins) – "Emotion Faces" 🎭

• Teacher’s Role: Stand at the front and make different facial expressions (happy, sad, surprised, angry, etc.).
• Students' Role: Guess the emotion and discuss what might cause that feeling.
• Pair and Share: Students turn to a partner and make an "emotion face" for them to guess.

📌 Why This Works: Engages children through movement and encourages discussion in a fun, interactive way.

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2. Story Time & Discussion (15 mins) – "How Do They Feel?" 📚

• Read a short picture book that focuses on emotions (e.g., The Colour Monster or Ruby’s Worry).
• Pause at key moments and ask prediction questions:
  ❓ "How do you think the character feels right now?"
  ❓ "Why do you think they feel this way?"
  ❓ "Have you ever felt like this? What happened?"

📌 Why This Works: This links literacy skills with emotional understanding and builds empathy.

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3. Main Activity (25 mins) – Building Our Class Feelings Chart 🎨

Step 1: Brainstorm (5 mins)

• Write “How We Feel” in the centre of the board.
• Ask children to suggest different emotions and write them down.

Step 2: Matching Scenarios (10 mins)

• Distribute picture cards illustrating different situations (e.g., sharing a toy, being left out, falling off a bike).
• Pupils work in small groups to decide which emotion matches their scenario.
• Come together as a class to discuss choices.

Step 3: Creating the Chart (10 mins)

• Using a large poster, write each emotion in a colourful bubble.
• Pupils contribute their scenario pictures under the matching emotions.
• Display the chart somewhere visible in the classroom.

📌 Why This Works: Helps students visualise their emotions and relate them to real-life situations.

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4. Reflection and Plenary (10 mins) – "Emotion Charades" 🎭

1. One student picks an emotion card and acts it out without speaking.
2. The rest of the class guesses the emotion.
3. The actor shares a time they have felt this way.

📌 Why This Works: Reinforces learning in an engaging, kinaesthetic way.

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Assessment and Differentiation

Assessment Checks

✅ Observation – Are students using new vocabulary when talking about emotions?
✅ Discussion – Can students link emotions to personal experiences?
✅ Group Work – Do students collaborate effectively on the Feelings Chart?

Differentiation Strategies

📌 For EAL/SEN pupils – Provide visual aids, use simplified language, and model responses.
📌 For advanced learners – Encourage deeper reasoning (e.g., Why might someone feel two emotions at the same time?).

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Extension Idea – "Emotion Diaries" 📔

Encourage children to take home a simple diary template where they draw or write about one feeling they experienced that day and what caused it.

📌 Why This Works: Encourages reflection and builds emotional literacy beyond the classroom.

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Teacher Reflection & Next Steps

✏️ What went well?
✏️ Were all students engaged?
✏️ How can this learning be reinforced in future lessons?