Feelings Unit (Toddlers)
Lesson 4: Big Feelings — Anger

Lesson Goals

  1. Introducing strategies to manage anger
  2. Practicing dealing with anger

Lesson Description

Students will talk about one of the basic human emotions — anger — and learn some useful strategies to cope with this big feeling. 

Lesson Plan: Big Feelings — Anger

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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Agreements are rules that people decide, together, to follow such as:

  • Paying attention to each other;
  • Keeping our hands to ourselves; and
  • Giving everyone a turn to speak.

In each session, discuss agreements, add to them, modify them, and recommit. Students can raise their hands or say “I agree” to show that they agree.

Discuss: Let's Talk About Anger

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Discuss the feeling of anger as a class. Here are some prompts to start the conversation:

  • What do you look like when you feel angry?
  • What are some things that make you feel angry? Document children’s ideas (with words or pictures) for all to see.
  • What can you do when you are angry? Document children’s ideas. For example: stomping, pushing the wall, hitting a pillow, or using words or sounds to share how you feel.
  • Practice using some “angry words” together. For example, “I don’t like that!” or “GRRR!”
  • What helps you to feel better and calm down when you are angry? Document children’s ideas. For example, taking a deep breath, counting, or a hug!

Movement: Hard Rock, Fluffy Cloud

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Practice this exercise that can help children to regulate big feelings like anger:

  • Let’s pretend we are hard rocks. Let’s tighten our bodies and hold our breath for three seconds: one, two, three!
  • Now, let’s breathe out, relax our bodies, and lift up our hands like they are fluffy clouds.
  • Let’s try it again!

Closing Discussion

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As a closing discussion, review the big ideas of the lesson: 

  • What did we learn about anger?
  • Let’s agree to calm down and use our words instead of our bodies when we’re feeling angry.

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.

What You'll Need
  • Your “Us Time” classroom space, where the class will gather
  • Crayons
  • Paper
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 Us Time Resources

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