Lesson Plan: Meet the Feelings Monsters!

Materials Needed:

• Construction paper (various colors, especially red, blue, and yellow)
• Crayons or markers
• Child-safe scissors
• Glue stick
• Googly eyes (optional)
• Play-Doh in different colors
• A favorite stuffed animal or puppet
• Book about feelings (e.g., "The Color Monster" by Anna Llenas or "Glad Monster, Sad Monster" by Ed Emberley & Anne Miranda)

Lesson Details

Subject: Social-Emotional Learning

Topic: Identifying and Managing Big Feelings (Emotional Regulation)

Age Group: 3-Year-Old

Time Allotment: 25-30 minutes (flexible, follow the child's lead)

1. Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

• Identify three core emotions: Happy, Sad, and Mad.
• Connect a color to each of these emotions.
• Practice one simple calming strategy (deep "monster breaths").

2. Introduction: The Feelings Story (5 minutes)

Goal: To introduce the idea that feelings are normal and have names.

1. Gather & Read: Snuggle up in a comfy spot and read a book about feelings. As you read, point to the characters' faces and name the emotion. Use an expressive voice. "Look, he feels sad. His mouth is turned down."
2. Introduce the Puppet: Bring out the stuffed animal or puppet. Make the puppet act out a feeling. "Teddy feels happy! He's smiling and wants to dance!" Ask your child, "Can you show me a happy face?" Do the same for sad and mad.

3. Main Activity: Create Feelings Monsters (10-15 minutes)

Goal: To give emotions a physical, creative form, making them less scary and easier to talk about.

1. Assign Colors to Feelings: Lay out the yellow, blue, and red construction paper. Say, "We are going to make some Feelings Monsters! What color do you think feels happy and sunny? Let's use yellow for our Happy Monster!" Guide the child to associate yellow with happy, blue with sad, and red with mad.
2. Craft the Monsters:
   • Happy Monster (Yellow): Cut out a cheerful, round shape. Let your child glue on googly eyes and draw a big smile.
   • Sad Monster (Blue): Cut out a droopy, teardrop shape. Help your child draw a frown and maybe some tears.
   • Mad Monster (Red): Cut out a spiky, zig-zag shape. Encourage your child to draw a frowny, angry mouth and stomping feet.
3. Talk About the Monsters: As you create, talk about each monster. "Our Red Monster feels mad. He feels like stomping his feet and making a loud grumble! Grrrr! What makes you feel mad sometimes?" This validates their feelings and connects the abstract emotion to a concrete character.

4. Practice & Application: Monster Breaths & Play-Doh Feelings (5-10 minutes)

Goal: To apply the knowledge and practice a self-regulation technique in a playful way.

1. Introduce Monster Breaths: Hold up the Red (Mad) Monster. Say, "Oh no, the Mad Monster is feeling really upset! He needs to calm down. Let's teach him how to take a big monster breath."
   • Demonstrate: "Breathe in deep through your nose like you're smelling a flower... and then ROAR it out like a monster!" (Make it a silly, not scary, roar).
   • Practice together 3 times.
2. Play-Doh Feelings: Bring out the Play-Doh. Say, "Can you show me what happy looks like with your Play-Doh?" (They might make a smiley face or a yellow ball). "Now, can you show me what the Mad Monster looks like?" (They might smash the red Play-Doh or poke it). This is a safe, tactile way for them to express feelings.

5. Closure & Review (3 minutes)

Goal: To briefly review the concepts learned.

1. Feelings Parade: Line up the three monster crafts you made.
2. Point and Name: Ask your child, "Can you show me the Sad Monster? What about the Happy Monster?" Give lots of praise for any attempt.
3. Sing a Song: End with a simple song to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It."
   • "If you're happy and you know it, smile real big!" (Smile)
   • "If you're sad and you know it, pretend to cry." (Boo-hoo)
   • "If you're mad and you know it, take a monster breath." (ROAR!)

Differentiation & Extension

• For Simpler Learning: Focus on only two feelings, like Happy and Sad. Use pre-cut shapes to focus solely on decorating the faces.
• For Advanced Learning: Introduce a fourth feeling, like Surprised (green) or Scared (purple). You can also create a "Calm-Down Corner" in your home with the monster crafts, the feelings book, and some soft pillows where your child can go when they feel a big emotion.