Teach Pre-K Students How to Manage Big Feelings: SEL Lesson

A big, big gift is waiting for the pre-kindergartners—it’s the gift of ‘feelings!’ The gift of feelings include, not one, not two, but more than three emotions! Can the pre-kindergartners take care of these many feelings? In this very important lesson, they learn how!

Emotions can be scary, confusing, and intimidating, especially for pre-kindergarten students. At the same time, these can be great gifts necessary for their success and happiness.

The goal of this lesson is to help the students to develop emotional intelligence. It teaches the students what the different emotions are and how to manage their positive and negative feelings. Managing their emotions helps them to cope and deal with the ups and downs of life, starting with their academic performance and relationships with others.

Two special friends visit the class to teach these to the students. It’s none other than Bright Sider and Grumpy Grouch! They come to life as colorful and educational visual aids. With their help, the students understand that how they manage their feelings can make them be like either of their friends—Bright or Grumpy!

The students also learn from the Positive Action songs, "Emotions" and “Grumpy Grouch/Bright Sider.” These songs are a great way to immerse the students in the lesson. It is effective in helping the students remember that the way they manage their emotions is a way to manage themselves!

Managing emotions helps pre-kindergartners to act positively, and it helps them to feel good about themselves. They end the lesson by marking their Positive Behavior Chart as they promise to always manage their emotions

Emotions or feelings can greatly affect daily performance. For example, happiness enhances mental function which allows an individual to be productive and creative. Fear, on the other hand, inhibits brain performance leading to the decline of creativity and comprehension.

Emotions are inevitable and they can easily take over once present. Although experiencing emotions cannot be avoided, they can still be managed in a way that facilitates physical, mental, and emotional function and development. Complete with effective teaching strategies, this lesson greatly helps pre-kindergartners to manage their gift of feelings for their benefit.