Overcoming Obstacles
Having a Positive Attitude
Through discussion and reflection, scholars discover what it means to have a positive attitude, that an individual can choose to stay positive, and discuss the benefits of a positive attitude. Learners listen to negative scenarios to...
Missouri Department of Elementary
My Feelings
Encourage self-awareness with a lesson that challenges scholars to identify feelings—happy, sad, mad, and scared. Using a feelings thermometer, similar to that of a bar graph, pupils discuss how they would feel in specific scenarios then...
Curated OER
Feelings and Emotions
Students discuss and write about different feelings they or someone else may have. In this feelings lesson plan, students discuss different ways they express their feelings. Then they get a picture with someone who is demonstrating a...
Curated OER
Expressing Thoughts & Feelings
Students discuss an ordinary apple. They pass the apple around the room, whacking it on the floor at their turn. Students watch as the teacher cuts open the apple showing them it looks the same on the outside, but is bruised on the...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Think Positive!
Following an attention-grabbing read-aloud, scholars brainstorm ways they can change negative thoughts into positive thoughts. Small groups plan and perform a skit that showcases one of the new ideas to uplift one's feelings....
Curated OER
Sometimes I Feel Book
Young scholars examine the feelings of happiness, sadness, anger, fear and examine instances when these feelings are present as well as positive ways to react to these feelings.
Curated OER
What Do Your Feelings Weigh?
Love this lesson! Learners fill cans with slips of paper to identify positive and negative feelings. They connect negative feelings to weight, and discuss how negativity can get you down. What a wonderfully visual way for learners to...
Curated OER
Fuzzy-Feeling Chair
Students recognize positive traits and build self-esteem. In this community building lesson, students use a special chair to voice positive traits about a classmate.
San Diego County District Attorney
Emotions/Feelings
Three lessons delve deep into the topic of feelings and the importance of expressing one's emotions. Through grand conversation, hands-on learning experiences, and reflective writing, scholars interpret the ups and downs of everyday...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Keep Finding the Positive
Group members take on roles to create a positive classroom community. Learners perform their role—leader, recorder, presenter, timekeeper, encourager, and collector—in preparation for a formal presentation of their positive thinking...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Happy, Sad, Scared and Mad: All Belong To Me
"What are feelings?" and "Why are feelings important to understand?" are the essential questions of a lesson that boosts self-awareness. Scholars discuss the four basic emotions—happy, sad, scared, and mad—in preparation for a creative...
Curated OER
Think Positive!
Fourth graders are read a story in which they identify the positive and negative thinking. In groups, they are given a scenerio in which they change the negatives into a positive. They perform the scenerio to tthe class and discuss how...
Curated OER
Role Models - Defining Positive Role Models
Being able to identify what characteristics make a good role model is one way for learners to better understand their own positive behaviors. The class brainstorms what characteristics make up a good role model, research a role model...
Curated OER
Real Life, Your Life?
Students examine how body language and verbal language can create positivity. In this body language lesson, students discuss a scenario in which body langauge could be used to enlist positive feelings. Students come up with their own...
Curated OER
Holding a 'Peace Hug' at your School
Young scholars consider feelings. In this positivity lesson, students realize how they can create a peaceful environment with their words and actions. They discuss feelings and personal experiences as a class and expand out to the rest...
Curated OER
What Can I Do?
Here is a good way for children to identify ways to handle conflict. They discuss the connection between feelings and conflict. Everyone listens to a story about a conflict between two friends and they discuss what they could have done...
Curated OER
Enhancing Positive Feelings
Student analyzes a picture of a family member and writes a positive description about each individual. They cut the picture into puzzle shapes and talk about the good parts that make up the individuals as you put the picture back together.
Utah Education Network (UEN)
Self-Concept: Self-Esteem
Most teenagers struggle with self-image and self-esteem. Guide them through these stormy waters with a series of activities focused on positive messages, true friendship and support, and self-concept.
Teaching Children Philosophy
Tiger-Tiger, is it True?
Scholars take part in a philosophical discussion about truth, thoughts, and feelings following a reading of Tiger-Tiger is it True? by Byron Katie and Hans Wilhelm.
Curated OER
What A Feeling ... Just Dance!
Hopefully your middle schoolers have had some introduction already to dance movement before you do this lesson. If they have, then giving them ribbons and instructing them to make up a little routine should be a fun activity. Encourage...
Curated OER
Health Education: Expressing Emotions
Second graders express emotions. In this personal health lesson plan, 2nd graders demonstrate how to express emotions and feelings in a positive manner, without hurting oneself or others.
Curated OER
Picture Fists Full of Kisses
Ease children's back-to-school jitters with this primary grade lesson based on the book The Kissing Hand by Ruth E. Harper. Starting off with a singing of the song "I Wish I Had a Little Red Box", children go on to discuss and create a...
Curated OER
Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution is an important part of a positive school experience. Here, learners practice strategies to resolve problems. They learn how to use I statements, engage in role plays, and practice giving affirmation.
Curated OER
Kindergarten
Students engage in a discussion about their preconceived ideas about kindergarten. They share their feelings about being in kindergarten and listen to the book "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss.