Lesson Title: Exploring Emotions with “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”
Grade Level: Kindergarten
New York State Standards: - English Language Arts: RL.K.1, RL.K.2, RL.K.3, RL.K.6, RL.K.7, RL.K.9, SL.K.1, SL.K.2, SL.K.3 - Social Emotional Learning: SEL.K.1, SEL.K.2, SEL.K.3, SEL.K.4
Objective: Students will be able to identify and express different emotions through the story “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst.
Materials: - “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” book by Judith Viorst - Chart paper - Markers - Emotion cards (happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared) - Construction paper - Glue sticks - Scissors
Procedure:
- Introduction (5 minutes):
- Begin by asking students if they have ever had a day where everything seemed to go wrong.
- Show them the book “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” and explain that it is a story about a boy named Alexander who has a really bad day.
- Ask students to predict how Alexander might feel throughout the story.
- Reading and Discussion (10 minutes):
- Read the story aloud to the students, pausing at key moments to discuss Alexander’s emotions.
- Use the chart paper and markers to create a visual representation of Alexander’s emotions throughout the story.
- Ask questions such as:
- How do you think Alexander feels when he wakes up with gum in his hair?
- How does Alexander feel when he has to eat lima beans for dinner?
- How does Alexander feel when he gets a cavity at the dentist?
- Encourage students to share their own experiences and emotions related to the events in the story.
- Activity: Emotion Collage (15 minutes):
- Explain to students that they will be creating an emotion collage inspired by the story.
- Distribute construction paper, glue sticks, scissors, and emotion cards to each student.
- Instruct students to cut out pictures from magazines or draw their own pictures that represent different emotions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared).
- Have students glue their emotion pictures onto the construction paper to create a collage.
- Encourage students to label each emotion with the corresponding emotion card.
- Dialogical Discussion (10 minutes):
- Gather students in a circle and have them share their emotion collages.
- Ask questions such as:
- Why did you choose this emotion for your collage?
- Can you think of a time when you felt this emotion?
- How do you think Alexander would feel if he saw your collage?
- Encourage students to listen and respond respectfully to their classmates’ thoughts and feelings.
- Conclusion (5 minutes):
- Recap the main emotions experienced by Alexander in the story.
- Discuss how it is normal to have different emotions and that it is important to express and understand them.
- Remind students that even on bad days, there can be moments of happiness and positivity.
Extensions: - Have students create their own mini-books retelling a different day in their lives, focusing on the emotions they experienced. - Use puppets or role-play to act out different scenes from the story, allowing students to explore and express various emotions. - Read other books that explore emotions, such as “The Way I Feel” by Janan Cain or “Today I Feel Silly” by Jamie Lee Curtis.
Note: The lesson plan provided aligns with the New York State Standards for Kindergarten. However, it is always recommended to review and adapt the lesson to meet the specific needs and requirements of your students and school district.
Loading...