Friday, June 12, 2020

GOOD IDEAS #12

Recognizing and accepting the way children feel is an essential part of making them feel comfortable. I think talking about feelings is more important now than ever with all the craziness in our world.  Start with a song...

If You’re Happy and You Know It (Traditional Song and Tune)
If you’re happy and you know it, that's O.K.…(Clap twice.)

If you’re happy and you know it, that's O.K.…(Clap twice.)
If you’re happy and you know it, that's O.K.…(Clap twice.)
Whatever you're feeling, that's O.K.  (Hug self.)

*Insert other feeling words and actions in the song. For example:
“If you’re sad and you know it cry your eyes…” (Rub eyes.)
“If you’re angry and you know it stomp your feet…” (Stomp feet.)
“If you’re scared and you know it say, ‘Oh, my!’”…

End with, “We all have feelings, that’s O.K. (Stick up thumb.)
We all have feelings, that’s O.K.
Happy, sad, mad, or glad, 

We all have feelings and that’s O.K.” (Thumbs up.)

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
Check in with every child and ask them to tell how they are feeling.  Stick up your thumb as you respond and say, "That's O.K."

Puppets
Make puppets of Emoji feelings similar to the one shown. Discuss things that make you angry or sad or scared. What can you do when you feel (emotion)? Role play appropriate and inappropriate responses for different emotions.


VIRTUAL CLASSROOM

Give children patterns and craft sticks to make these at home.  Tell little stories and ask them to hold up the puppet to show how they would feel.

Journals
Let children write their names and draw “feeling faces” as they enter the classroom each day.

    

*As you read books, invite children to relate when they’ve felt like the characters in the story.

*Extend vocabulary by brainstorming different ways to say “happy,” “sad,” “angry,” “surprised,” etc.


VIRTUAL CLASSROOM 
Make journals for children to record their feelings at home.  Encourage them to share their drawings and discuss them with their classmates.