The Way I Feel

• A copy of The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
  • If unavailable, use one of these online read-alouds:
    • The Way I Feel Read Aloud!
    • 🤪 THE WAY I FEEL written and illustrated by Janan Cain : Kids Books Read Aloud
• Vocabulary word booklet (images from Open Symbols). For easiest use, print them out and compile them into a booklet.
• Emotions Hokey Pokey - The Kiboomers Preschool Songs & Nursery Rhymes for Circle Time
• Device to play video (phone, tablet, computer, etc.)
• Beanbag
• Emotion Mask page
• Scissors
• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
• String (optional)
• Copies of any Extension Activities that will be used
• Vocabulary list (share with the school staff so they can reinforce the vocabulary words throughout the day/week)

PRE-READING ACTIVITIES
Emotions Hokey Pokey Dance

1. Play the Emotions Hokey Pokey song. Invite the students to act out the emotions from the song (e.g., happy, sad, angry). Do the Hokey Pokey dance while emphasizing emotions with your face. Name the emotions and encourage the children to make the faces along with you.
2. At the end of the song, instruct children to take a deep breath in and sit together in a circle.

Vocabulary Introduction
Using the vocabulary booklet:

1. Show a picture and ask the children to name the English word.
2. Encourage them to create an action and make the face for each emotion.
3. Choose one of the children’s representative actions/sounds and repeat it as a group.
4. Repeat for each vocabulary word, inviting participation from several children.

READ THE BOOK
Consider how your students will most enjoy the story: Will you read the book without stopping or will you stop and ask questions or point things out? Will you read all the words on the page or briefly summarize?

1. Read each page aloud.
2. Point to the picture of each vocabulary word and say its name clearly.
3. Emphasize vocabulary words with your voice and if they make a noise, their sounds.
4. Use the children’s actions for vocabulary words to reinforce meaning.

POST-READING DISCUSSION

1. Are all these emotions okay to have? (Answer: yes)
2. What emotion do you feel right now? (Answer: happy, sad, angry, etc.)

POST-READING ACTIVITIES
Emotions Naming Game

1. Have the children sit in a circle. Use the beanbag as the “turn-taking beanbag” (pass the beanbag to each child — when they are holding the beanbag, it is their turn).
2. Have one child at a time stand up. Instruct them to pick an emotion from the book and make a face showing that emotion. Then, the rest of the class guesses what emotion it is.
   1. Note: If children are having a difficult time thinking of emotions, it may be helpful to hold the book open to the last page so they can see multiple faces and emotions to choose from.

Emotions Mask

1. Pass out the Emotions Mask page (consider cutting out the eye holes before the class starts).
2. Instruct the children to draw a face on their mask to depict an emotion.
   1. For older children, instruct them to draw the emotion they are feeling right now.
   2. Invite the children to write the emotion they drew (e.g., happy, sad).
3. Optional: Cut out the Emotion Mask and make a hole in each side. Tie string through the holes to form a mask the children can wear.

Coloring Pages

1. Children may color the page with the vocabulary words.
2. Optional: Sit in a circle afterward, show each drawing, and guess who made it. Have the artist name the emotions.

Closure
Review the vocabulary words learned today using the vocabulary booklet or by having the children state each word. If time allows, finish the lesson with one or more of the extension activities appropriate for the children’s age and ability level.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
Level 1: Print the vocabulary pages or the coloring page in black-and-white and have the children color them.

Level 2:  Cut vocabulary pages so words and pictures are separate.
For younger children: Cut in puzzle-like shapes so the pieces fit together easily.                                                             

For older children: Cut straight for a more challenging match.

Level 3: Print the flash card pages. Cut out the cards and use them to play a matching memory game. Children take turns turning over two cards at a time, trying to find pairs with the same picture. All the cards start face down, so players must remember where pictures are to make matches. The goal is to find the most matching pairs by using your memory. Encourage them to say the English word when they get a match.

For all levels: Encourage use of vocabulary words throughout the day with examples such as:

• Practice naming emotions throughout the day.
• Ask children periodically what emotion they are feeling.