Feelings Wheel Fun! Script

Warm-Up: Feelings Check-In (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Thanks for joining our small group today. We're going to start by checking in with our feelings. I want each of you to think about how you're feeling right now. There are no right or wrong answers, and every feeling is welcome.

On your paper, I want you to draw a quick emoji or a small picture that represents how you feel right now. You don't have to be an artist, just something that helps you show your feeling. Then, I'd like you to write one sentence starting with 'I feel...' to describe it. For example, 'I feel peaceful because the sun is shining.' or 'I feel a little sleepy because I woke up early.'"

"Who would like to share their feeling first? Remember, we're practicing using 'I feel...' statements. This helps us take ownership of our emotions and lets others know what's going on inside."

(Listen to each student and validate their feelings. You can respond with phrases like, "Thank you for sharing that. It's perfectly normal to feel [emotion].")

Introduction to Emotions (10 minutes)

"Great job with our check-in! Today, we're going to talk more about these amazing things called emotions. Take a look at our Feelings Wheel Fun! Slide Deck (Slide 1).

What are emotions? Pause for responses, then guide with the slide. Yes, they're our feelings! They're how we react to what happens around us. Think of them like signals or messages our bodies send us. If you touch something hot, your hand sends a signal that says 'Ouch!' Emotions are similar – they send signals about what's happening in our world.

Now, look at Slide 2: 'Spot the Feeling!' I want you to tell me what emotion you see in these pictures. Go through each scenario on Slide 2, prompting students to identify the emotions. Use open-ended questions like, 'What makes you say that?' or 'What clues do you see?'

"Fantastic observations! Now, let's think about why it's important to talk about our feelings. Turn to Slide 3. Why do you think it's helpful to know what we're feeling? Allow students to share. Guide them to understand that identifying emotions helps us understand ourselves, others, and what we might need.

"It's like being a detective for your own mind! The more words you have to describe your feelings, the better you can understand yourself and communicate with others."

Introducing the Feelings Wheel (5 minutes)

"Sometimes, it can be hard to find the exact right word for how we feel. We might say 'happy' when we actually feel 'joyful' or 'content.' That's where a special tool comes in handy: the Feelings Wheel! Look at Slide 4.

"A feelings wheel is like a map for our emotions. It usually starts with some big, basic feelings in the middle, and then it branches out to show more specific feelings that are related to those big ones. It helps us expand our emotional vocabulary. It's like going from 'I'm happy' to 'I'm feeling playful, excited, or proud!'"

Hands-On Feelings Wheel Activity (20 minutes)

"Now, it's your turn to become emotion map-makers! We're going to create our very own feelings wheels. I have a Feelings Wheel Activity Template for each of you to help us get started, along with paper plates, construction paper, brad fasteners, markers, and scissors.

"Here's how we'll do it:

1. Cut out the template parts: You'll see two circles on your template. Carefully cut them out.
2. Decorate the smaller circle: This is your 'inner' wheel. On the segments of this inner circle, you'll see some basic emotions like Happy, Sad, Angry, Scared, Disgusted, and Surprised. Decorate each section with colors or small drawings that represent that emotion to you.
3. Decorate the larger circle: This is your 'outer' wheel. This wheel has more specific emotions that branch out from the basic ones. For example, from 'Happy,' you might see 'Joyful,' 'Content,' 'Proud.' Decorate these outer sections, maybe using colors that connect them to the core emotion.
4. Assemble your wheel: Once both circles are decorated, place the smaller inner circle on top of the larger outer circle, lining up the center points. Use a brad fastener to connect them through the center. This way, you can spin the top wheel to reveal different emotions.

"As you're working, think about what these words mean to you. What does 'frustrated' feel like? What does 'hopeful' mean? Feel free to ask questions as you go!"

(Circulate, provide support, and encourage students to personalize their wheels. Prompt discussions like, "What's a time you felt 'curious'?" or "How is 'lonely' different from 'sad'?")

Share and Reflect (5 minutes)

"Wow, look at all these incredible feelings wheels! I love how unique each one is. Now that you've created your own tool, let's share.

"Who would like to show us their feelings wheel? Point to one emotion on your wheel that you found interesting or that you connect with today, and tell us why."

(After a few students share, turn to Slide 5 of the Feelings Wheel Fun! Slide Deck.)

"Great sharing, everyone. Now, look at our last slide: 'My Feelings Wheel & Beyond!' How do you think you might use your feelings wheel outside of our classroom? In what situations could this tool be helpful?

"Maybe you could use it to tell a grown-up how you feel, or to understand a character in a book, or even just to check in with yourself at the end of the day. Your feelings wheel is a tool for you to better understand and express your amazing emotions!"

"To wrap up, we're going to do one more quick activity called Express Yourself! Cool Down."

Feelings Check-In Warm-Up

Instructions:

1. Think about how you are feeling right now. There are no right or wrong answers, and every feeling is welcome.
2. On your paper, draw a quick emoji or a small picture that represents your current feeling.
3. Below your drawing, write one sentence starting with "I feel..." to describe your emotion and why you might be feeling it.

Example:

😊 I feel happy because the sun is shining today.

Feelings Wheel Activity Template

Objective: To create a personal feelings wheel to help identify and express a wider range of emotions.

Materials:

• Printed template (this document)
• Small paper plate
• Construction paper (various colors)
• Brad fastener
• Markers or colored pencils
• Scissors

Instructions:

Part 1: Prepare Your Template Pieces

1. Cut out the circles: Carefully cut out the two circles below. One is smaller (the inner wheel), and one is larger (the outer wheel).

   --- START CUT OUT TEMPLATE ---
   
   

   Inner Wheel Template

   (Imagine a circle here divided into 6 segments, labeled: Happy, Sad, Angry, Scared, Disgusted, Surprised)

   Happy
   
   Sad
   
   Angry
   
   Scared
   
   Disgusted
   
   Surprised
   

   (A small circle in the very center should be marked for the brad fastener.)

   Outer Wheel Template

   (Imagine a larger circle here, with sections branching out from the inner wheel's emotions. Each major section should have 3-4 related, more specific emotions.)

   • From Happy: Joyful, Content, Proud, Excited
   • From Sad: Lonely, Disappointed, Grieving, Hurt
   • From Angry: Frustrated, Annoyed, Furious, Jealous
   • From Scared: Anxious, Terrified, Insecure, Worried
   • From Disgusted: Aversion, Repelled, Horrified
   • From Surprised: Amazed, Shocked, Confused, Startled

   (A small circle in the very center should be marked for the brad fastener.)

   --- END CUT OUT TEMPLATE ---
   
   

Part 2: Decorate Your Wheels

1. Decorate the Inner Wheel: On the segments of your smaller inner circle, decorate each basic emotion (Happy, Sad, Angry, etc.). Use colors, draw small symbols, or write words that represent what each emotion feels like to you.
2. Decorate the Outer Wheel: On the larger outer circle, decorate the more specific emotions that branch out. You might use colors that match the basic emotion they come from (e.g., different shades of yellow for happy emotions, shades of blue for sad emotions). Think about what each specific feeling means.

Part 3: Assemble Your Feelings Wheel

1. Layer the wheels: Place your smaller, decorated inner wheel directly on top of your larger, decorated outer wheel. Make sure the centers are lined up.
2. Fasten the wheels: Carefully push a brad fastener through the center mark of both circles. Fold open the prongs of the brad fastener on the back to secure your wheels together.
3. Spin and Explore! Now you have a working feelings wheel! Spin the top wheel to explore all the different emotions. You can use it to help you identify how you're feeling and find the words to express it.

Express Yourself! Cool Down

Instructions:

1. Look at your feelings wheel.
2. Think about one thing you learned or one new feeling word you discovered today.
3. On a small piece of paper or sticky note, write down that one thing or feeling word.
4. On the back, write one sentence about how you can use your feelings wheel at home or school.

Example:

• Front: "Curious"
• Back: "I can use my wheel to tell my mom I feel frustrated when my homework is hard."