Feelings and Emotions: Week Two
/As friends arrived at school today, they discovered our new “calming tent,” where they found blankets, pillows, calming jars, sensory balls, and quiet books. Friends enjoyed being (or pretending to be) calm in the quiet space.
All morning we considered our emotions. We asked the question: How are you feeling this morning? Friends said, “happy,” “silly,” “tired,” and various other emotions. We talked about the fact that all emotions are okay to feel and thought about how each emotion is expressed.
At circle we looked at a series of children’s photos and considered which emotions they were feeling and practice making similar expressions with our faces and bodies.
Afterwards we read a book called, “Calm-Down Time” by Elizabeth Verdick. The book helps us to understand how to help calm our bodies and minds if we are feeling angry or frustrated. The book suggested communicating with words, asking for help and hugs, giving ourselves hugs, and taking long, deep, calming breaths. We practiced all of these things at circle.
We then took a look at the basket of items that now live in the calming tent. Friends took turns exploring the calming jars and learned how to be gentle with them as they are fragile. Friends were delighted with the swirling, metallic, and glittery colors.
We then continued our day with a look at our own faces in the mirror at the drawing table. At the table friends were invited to consider the photos of children’s faces presenting various emotions and also invited to considering their own emotions while looking in the small mirrors. Amy and I asked friends if they wanted to try drawing their own faces and what emotion they were feeling in the drawing. Many friends accepted the challenge. Take a look! We’ll be revisiting drawing our emotions and will taking a deeper look into self portraits over the next few weeks.
