Feelings and Emotions — Year 1 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: PSHE — Health and Wellbeing: recognise and name different feelings; understanding that feelings can be managed
Overview
Pupils explore a range of feelings and learn to name, express, and begin to manage their emotions. They discover that all feelings are normal and that there are healthy ways to respond when feelings are big or difficult.
Learning Objectives
- Name a range of feelings and emotions, including happy, sad, worried, angry, excited, and calm.
- Understand that all feelings are normal and that everyone experiences difficult emotions.
- Identify physical signs that accompany different emotions (e.g. a fast heartbeat when scared).
- Describe some healthy strategies for managing uncomfortable feelings.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Show a set of emotion cards — faces showing happiness, sadness, anger, worry, excitement, and calm. Ask pupils to sort them into 'comfortable' and 'uncomfortable' feelings. Discuss: are any feelings bad? Establish that all feelings are normal; it is what we do with them that matters.
Read a short story or share a scenario in which a character experiences a range of emotions (e.g. a first day at school, losing a favourite toy, winning a race). Pause to identify what the character might be feeling at each point. Introduce the idea that feelings show up in our bodies too — butterflies in the stomach, clenched fists, a tight chest. Model some calming strategies: deep breathing, counting to ten, talking to a trusted adult.
Pupils complete an 'Emotions Wheel' activity — colouring segments to match how often they feel each emotion in a typical week. Partners share with a sentence starter: 'I often feel ___ when ___.' Reinforce: there are no wrong answers.
Pupils draw themselves experiencing a big feeling and write or dictate: what the feeling is, where they feel it in their body, and one thing they could do to help themselves feel better.
Collect the class's strategies on the board. Which ones do we already use? Which ones could we try? Reinforce that asking for help from a trusted adult is always a good strategy.
Common Misconceptions
- Some feelings are 'bad' — all feelings are valid; it is how we respond to them that can be helpful or unhelpful.
- Feeling angry or upset means something is wrong with you — normalise the full range of human emotion.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Basic understanding of their own and others' feelings from EYFS.
- Awareness of trusted adults in their lives.
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