Feelings Unit (Toddlers)
Lesson 3: Feelings Detectives

Lesson Goals

  1. Reviewing our definition of “feelings”
  2. Reviewing our list of feelings
  3. Practicing identifying and naming feelings

Lesson Description

Students will use sounds (from the kazoo and music) to practice being feelings detectives and identifying the feelings. They will meet your puppet, a teaching tool that will help students to talk openly about feelings. 

Lesson Plan: What Are Feelings?

Play "Us Time" Song

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Open Us Time with the “Us Time” song. Sing it together or play the video. 

Review Agreements

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Review the agreements. Ask everyone to recommit! Is there any new agreement you or the class wants to add? 

Discussion: What Are Feelings?

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Share a list of feelings using the feelings grid or by saying the feelings aloud: Happy, Sad, Angry, Calm, Scared, Silly. 

Tell the class that you are going to pretend to have one of the feelings, can they guess which one? Use exaggerated facial expressions and body language to display each feeling.

When they guess, encourage children to make facial expressions along with you.

Dance & Play "Guess the Feelings"

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Play the song “Guess the Feelings.” Dance to the music. Invite students to guess the feelings that go with each sound as they listen and dance. 

Closing Discussion

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Finish with a review: 

  1. What were the feelings we talked about?
  2. What are some ways WE can be feelings detectives throughout the day?

Thank You: Share the Us Time Closing Song

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Conclude with “Thank You,” the Us Time “goodbye” song. This song marks the end of Us Time. Invite children to share what they want to say “thank you” for! Find the song online at playsparkler.org/UsTimeSongs.

Standards
  • ELOF: Goal P-SE 6, Goal P-SE 8, Goal P-LC 1, Goal P-LC-2, Goal P-LC 4, Goal P-LC 6
  • CT ELDS: SE.24.7, SE.36.7, SE.48.7, SE.60.9, L.36.3, L.48.3, L.60.4, L.36.5, L.48.5, L.60.5, L.36.11, L.48.11, L.60.10 
What You'll Need
  • Your “Us Time” classroom space, where the class will gather

  • Kazoo (or use your hand and voice to imitate a kazoo)

    Puppet (optional)

  • Feelings Grid PDF
Lesson Quick Links

Family Engagement Materials

From this lesson, you can share:
Feelings Reading List
Activities to Play At Home
Suggested Letter to Send Home
Research/Sources

Explore Other Us Time Resources

For Toddlers 2-3 Years Old
For Littles 4-6 Years Old