Asking Students the Question: How Would You Feel?

Your best friend is moving away.
Your brother won’t share with you.
You painted a picture.
You had a nightmare.
You are flying a kite.

How would you feel?

Learning to understand the different emotional responses that people may experience in different situations is the first step toward developing empathy. When we are in sync with our own reactions to various stimuli, our ability to understand the feelings of others increases.

This sorting activity has been designed to support students’ social-emotional learning by allowing them to consider how they would feel in a variety of real-life situations.

Students read the situation on the card, then think about how they might feel if this scenario happened to them. It is important that students explain their thinking. It is also important that students understand that they may feel differently from a classmate about the same situation, and that is absolutely fine! Students then place the card under the sorting heading that best describes their emotional response. The sorting headings included in the resource are: sad, happy, angry, proud, scared, calm, nervous, excited, and frustrated.

Additional Applications of This Emotions Activity

Take this resource even further with these great extension ideas!

🎭 Act It Out

Divide the class into small groups. Provide each group with a scenario card. Have the students present a group role play that explores some emotional responses to the situation.

✍🏿Write It Out

Have each student choose a scenario card and then write a sentence about how they would feel in that situation.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

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Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access and safekeeping.

This resource was created by Kirsten Sowers, a teacher in Illinois and a Teach Starter collaborator.