Emotional Awareness Teaching Resources
Build your students' emotional awareness with activities, printables and more social emotional teaching resources designed specifically for elementary and middle school students.
Created by teachers, for teachers, this collection is full of digital and printable activities designed to help students recognize not just their own emotions but those of their peers and learn to put a name to those feelings. Each teaching resource has undergone rigorous review by the Teach Starter team to ensure it's ready for the classroom ... and your students!
Curious about how to help your class develop their emotional awareness in age-appropriate ways? Read on for some tips from our expert teachers!
What Is Emotional Awareness?
A component of self awareness, emotional awareness can be defined as the ability to recognize, understand and effectively manage one's own emotions and the emotions of others. If that sounds like a lot rolled up into one fairly simple definition, we agree.
Emotional Self Awareness in Kids
Teaching kids to be emotionally aware in elementary school requires a lot of practicing and modeling, as well as working with your class to provide them with the vocabulary these little people need to express sometimes very big feelings.
When the youngest children enter elementary school, they may have some of the language already to identify and label basic emotions like happiness and sadness or anger and fear. However at this point, their understanding of complex emotions and the ability to express and regulate their emotions is still typically limited.
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Emotion Strategies Wheel
Help your students self-regulate when they experience "big" emotions with this hands-on emotions wheel with accompanying calming strategies.
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My Emotional Triggers Worksheet
Help your elementary students explore the situations that trigger them to experience certain emotional responses with this 2-page emotional triggers worksheet.
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The Worry Waterfall – Anxiety Management Poster
Teach your students how to deal effectively with worrying thoughts with this classroom poster.
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Emotions in Spanish Anchor Chart
Help your bilingual students express their emotions in Spanish with a classroom poster.
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Calm Down Corner Classroom Decor Pack
Create a classroom calm-down corner with a printable Calming Corner Decor Pack.
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Worry Jar – Cut and Assemble Kit
Create a worry jar for your students to help them recognise and cope with their worries.
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Name 5 Things - Calming Strategy Task Cards
Use the ‘Name 5 Things’ Calming Strategy in your classroom to help students regain self-control with printable calming activity task cards.
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I Need a Break - Choice Boards
Help upset students regulate their emotions in the classroom with our printable ‘I Need a Break!’ choice boards.
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Managing Big Emotions – Cut and Paste Worksheets
Empower students to identify and manage big emotions with this set of cut-and-paste worksheets for younger students.
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Identifying Emotions Interactive Activity
Help your students identify and explore common emotions with this engaging digital activity.
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My Personal Coping Skills Plan – Template
Ensure your students have a personalized coping plan for those challenging moments with this comic-themed printable template.
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Managing Anxiety Worksheet (Primary)
Help students identify and manage anxious feelings with this self-reflection worksheet.
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I Can Calm Down! Worksheet
Help students identify calming skills they can apply to real-world scenarios with this one-page worksheet.
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Managing Big Emotions – Interactive Activity
Teach students how to manage emotions using healthy coping skills with this interactive scenario game for the early years classroom.
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Introduction to Emotions Teaching Slides
Teach your students to understand and manage their emotions with this comprehensive teaching presentation for your social-emotional learning lessons.
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Coping Skills Desk Plates
Download and print calm-down strategy desk plates for your students so they can respond appropriately to big emotions.
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Emotions Charts - Synonym Flashcards
Give your students the words and synonyms they need to express emotions and enhance their writing.
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Feelings and Emotions Match-Up Activity
Help students to recognize and identify their feelings and emotions with this interactive match-up activity.
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Emotional Awareness Face Template
Teach your students emotional awareness with this customizable face template perfect for lessons focused on social-emotional learning.
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My Bowerbird Nest of Values Template
Help students understand what they value with this Bowerbird nest of values craft template.
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Managing Big Emotions Anchor Charts
Help students manage emotions such as anger, fear, worry, sadness and happiness with this colorful set of anchor charts for your elementary school classroom.
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Empathy Worksheet Pack
Unlock a world of empathy with our SEL worksheet pack – download now and embark on a journey to nurture kindness and understanding with your students.
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Self-Esteem Activity Mini-Book
Build up your student's self-esteem with this activity mini book template.
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How Big Emotions Feel in My Body – Poster
Help your students identify the signs their body gives them that they are experiencing a "big" emotion with this informative classroom poster.
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Managing Emotions Mini-Book
Help your elementary students explore and manage their emotional responses with this printable mini-book.
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Calming Strategies Fortune Teller Template
Help your students choose and apply strategies when they need to calm down with this handy fortune teller template.
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Calm-Down Strategy Cards
Help your students choose and apply strategies when they need to calm down with this comprehensive set of calm-down strategy cards.
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Emotional Self-Regulation Check-In Posters
Promote emotional awareness and self-regulation in your classroom with this daily mood check-in routine.
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Student Daily Check-In Template
Check-in with your students each day with this template.
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Emotional Self-Regulation – Student Emotion Mood Meter
Allow your students to communicate how they are feeling using a non-verbal, desk-sized mood meter.
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Synonym Poster Pack - Emotions Chart Display
A series of posters that display different words that can be used for different emotions.
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Monthly Mood Trackers for Students — 12-Tracker Bundle
Download 12 different printable mood tracker templates for students to track their emotions throughout the school day and year!