😊 My Feelings and Emotions: A Creative Lesson for Preschoolers

Theme: It’s All About Me – Day 3

Recommended Age: Preschoolers (4–5 years old)
Duration: 45–60 minutes
Focus: Social-emotional learning, artistic expression, and communication

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🎯 Why Teach Emotions to Preschoolers?

Understanding and expressing emotions is a core part of a child’s development. At ages 3 to 5, children begin to recognize feelings in themselves and others—but they need help naming, talking about, and managing them.

That’s where this fun and meaningful lesson comes in: Emotion Masks help young learners explore emotions in a safe, hands-on, and imaginative way.

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🎨 Activity Highlight: Emotion Masks

Objective:
Children will explore different emotions, facial expressions, and the situations that trigger them.

Materials Needed:

• 2 paper plates per child

• Crayons or markers

• Popsicle sticks

• Glue or tape

• Optional: a small mirror, emotion flashcards, stickers

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📝 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Circle Time Warm-Up

Start by talking about feelings. Ask:

“How are you feeling today?”
“What does your face look like when you’re happy? Angry? Scared?”

Show simple emotion flashcards or act out facial expressions. Encourage children to copy you using a mirror to see themselves.

2. Create the Masks

Each child creates two masks, each representing a different emotion (e.g., happy and sad).

Steps:

• Draw one emotion on each paper plate.

• Add features like eyebrows, eyes, mouths to show how the emotion feels.

• Attach a popsicle stick as a handle.

• Let children personalize their masks with colors or stickers.

3. Dramatic Play: Act It Out

Invite children to hold up their masks and role-play:

“This is my happy face. I feel happy when I eat ice cream!”
“This is my angry face. I feel angry when someone takes my toy.”

This helps build emotional vocabulary and empathy.

4. Discussion Time

Ask questions like:

• “What makes you feel sad?”

• “What do you do when you're scared?”

• “How can we help a friend who feels mad?”

Encourage open sharing in a supportive group setting.

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🎶 Bonus: Emotion Song Time

Sing a playful twist on a classic:

“If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands…”
“If you’re sad and you know it, wipe your tears…”
“If you’re angry and you know it, take a breath…”

Let children act out each feeling using their masks.

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📚 Book Pairings

Pair this activity with emotion-themed picture books like:

• The Color Monster by Anna Llenas

• Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberley

• Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis

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🧠 Learning Benefits

This activity supports:

• Emotional literacy

• Self-expression

• Fine motor skills

• Empathy and social connection

• Confidence in naming and managing feelings

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🧺 Clean-Up Tip

Use a labeled bin or tray to collect crayons, glue, and masks. Encourage children to “help clean as part of taking care of our classroom and our feelings!”

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💬 Final Thoughts

Exploring emotions through art and play gives children the tools to express themselves, connect with others, and build healthy emotional habits. The Emotion Masks activity is simple, fun, and powerful—one that your preschoolers will remember and love!