阅读活动与书有关的例子about feelings below. Then use these examples to come up with ideas on how you can use other books in your classroom and program to promote children’s social-emotional development. Use the space below or additional paper to plan your own book discussions.

The way I feel

By: Jana Cain

Activities:

Each page names an emotion and talks about what it means and events that could make you feel that way. Stop after each page and ask the students to think of a time when they felt that emotion. Have one or two students share each time.

Next, ask the children to show you what a happy person looks like (model smiling!). Then ask the children to show you what a sad person looks like (model frowns). Next tell the children they will be drawing feeling faces. Once they have drawn the faces, give them some examples of events and ask them how they might feel. Have them hold up the happy face or the sad face. A few examples include:

  • It's your birthday
  • There weren’t enough tricycles for you to have one on the playground
  • Your friends played your favorite game with you
  • You got hurt and someone laughed at you
  • Your friend wouldn't share your favorite toy
  • Your favorite snack is served

Ask the children to think of their own examples. Use faces of more complex emotions as children learn them. For example, make a similar story but use: bored, frustration, excited, content.

Glad Monster, Sad Monster

By: Ed Emberley & Anne Miranda

Activities:

Read the story and pause at each feeling to ask children about the monster’s feelings. Ask the children if they might feel the same way the monsters do in each situation. After reading the story have children make monster masks or puppets (by placing the masks on popsicle sticks or paper bags). Use the monster puppets on subsequent days to talk about the book and emotions during other activities.