Feelings activities for preschool: a 5-day emotions plan

This five-day plan of feelings activities for preschool introduces children in Nursery (ages 3–4) to emotional awareness and healthy self-expression. Over five structured days, children explore happiness, sadness, curiosity, anger, and fear through hands-on art, physical movement games, and thoughtful group discussions. Along the way, they link emotions to facial expressions, practise early self-regulation, and build core letter formation and triangle shape recognition.

At a glance

Aspect	Detail
Age band	Nursery (ages 3–4)
Length	5 days
Learning goals	Recognise core emotions (happiness, sadness, curiosity, anger, fear); connect emotions with facial expressions, gestures, and daily situations; express causes of feelings; recognise and write letter Hh; identify and construct triangle shapes
Key materials	Circle cut-outs, paint, legumes, satin ribbon, paper plates, newspapers, twigs, beads, pebbles, clay, sponges, mirrors, slates, chalk, dice
Printables	Nursery Week 10 — Feelings and Emotions lesson plan and Feelings and Emotions Week 10 package

The five-day plan

Day 1: Discovering Emotion of Happiness

Children begin the week with an energising emotions workout by hopping like happy bunnies and crawling like sad alligators before discussing what makes them feel happy through the story of the Thirsty Crow. They then craft bright emoticon faces using circle cut-outs, paint, satin ribbon, and legumes, supported by the Exploring the Happy Emotion tasksheet. Provide attentive adult supervision during craft time, as small legumes, beads, and pebbles present a potential choking hazard for children at this age. For their skill work, learners identify the /h/ sound on letter flashcards and slates, then trace triangle outlines across the floor and decorate them with loose twigs and large stones, with an adult close by.

“How do you tell someone that you are happy or sad?”

Day 2: Knowing Emotion - Sad

Children start the morning with lively aerobics to upbeat music before examining feelings of sadness and disappointment through a story about Mr. Fox. Working with clay and assorted loose parts, children sculpt expressive sad-face emoticons to represent their feelings, guided by the Exploring the Sad Emotion worksheet. During literacy and numeracy time, children sing phonic songs to practise the /h/ sound on slates, and they construct three-sided triangles using twigs, large stones, and building blocks, with an adult close by.

“What do you do when you are feeling upset? Do you tell someone about it?”

Day 3: Knowing Emotions-Curious (Surprise)

Children warm up by pairing surprised facial expressions with athletic jumps and squats, then discover the meaning of curiosity through a hands-on mystery guessing game with a covered box. They explore how questions lead to learning and make curious emoticon faces using circle cut-outs of different sizes, reinforced by the Exploring the Surprise Emotion tasksheet. For literacy and numeracy, children share /h/ objects brought from home to arrange stick letters on the floor, rote count from 16 to 20, and dab paint with triangular sponges to print watermelon slices.

“Why do so many questions come to my mind when I see something new? What is the name of this feeling?”

Day 4: Knowing Emotions- Angry

Children join an emotional march around the classroom before examining anger, sudden changes of plans, and productive ways to regain composure. They hold up mirrors to observe their own facial expressions and body language when displaying anger, paired with the Exploring the Angry Emotion worksheet. In their academic work, children trace letter Hh in trays of sand after reflecting on anger in the story of the Lion and the Rabbit, then solve stick puzzles to build complete triangles.

“Do you see any changes in your face and body when you are angry? Can you share these with everyone?”

Day 5: Knowing Emotions- Scared/Fear

Children roll dice to perform animal movements representing different feelings before exploring fear and comfort strategies through the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. They spin a colourful emotions wheel to review each feeling studied during the week, supported by the Knowing and Managing the Emotion of being Scared/Afraid tasksheet. To finish the unit, children write uppercase and lowercase letter Hh on slates, assemble paper triangle collages, and practise calming triangle breathing techniques.

“What physical changes take place in our body when we experience this emotion?”

Adapting the week

• For younger or less confident children: Focus on the two most familiar emotions—happiness and sadness—before introducing curiosity or fear. Offer pre-cut circle shapes and chunky chalk so children can participate fully without feeling frustrated by fine motor demands. Allow children to point to emotion pictures if they are not yet ready to verbalise their feelings in group discussions.
• For children who need more challenge: Encourage learners to describe specific real-life situations that triggered each feeling during circle time. Extend the numeracy activities by inviting children to sort triangles by size, compare edge lengths, or create complex geometric patterns using loose natural items.
• For small spaces or indoor settings: Adapt gross motor warm-ups by replacing running and crawling games with stationary animal movements, such as stretching high or flapping arms in place. The mystery guessing box, emotions wheel, and slate writing activities translate easily to a small table or rug area.
• For home learners: Families can easily create a mystery box using an ordinary cardboard shoebox covered with a kitchen towel. Garden twigs and toy blocks serve as simple substitutes for classroom counters, while emotion discussions fit seamlessly into daily family routines.

Questions teachers ask

How do you introduce complex emotions like curiosity or fear to three-year-olds?

Start with tangible sensory experiences and everyday picture books rather than abstract definitions. A mystery box covered with a cloth sparks immediate curiosity, providing a memorable physical sensation that children can identify and name. Similarly, discussing relatable story situations helps children explore fear and worry in a safe, guided setting. Using an emotions wheel with clear facial expressions gives children a visual reference they can return to throughout the week.

How can teachers help young children calm down when feeling angry?

Validate the emotion first so children recognise that feeling angry is normal and acceptable. Encourage children to look into a mirror to notice their facial expressions and physical tension when upset. Next, guide them through calming physical strategies like triangle breathing, where they inhale, hold, and exhale along three imaginary sides. Practise these simple techniques with children during calm moments, and offer them again when children feel upset.

Why integrate literacy and shapes into a preschool feelings theme?

Combining foundational academic skills with emotional literacy creates a well-rounded and meaningful routine for young learners. Pairing letter Hh with feelings like happiness reinforces phonics through familiar emotional context rather than repetitive drills. Similarly, constructing triangles with twigs, large stones, or sponges, with an adult close by connects geometry directly to sensory art and calming breathing exercises. This balanced approach keeps preschool children engaged across different domains while keeping the weekly schedule cohesive and purposeful.

Get the printables

The complete day-by-day lesson plan and accompanying activity sheets are available in the Superbuddy library, which is free to start. Download the printable Nursery Week 10 — Feelings and Emotions lesson plan or save the comprehensive Nursery Week 10 combined package for the complete set of tasksheets. You can also explore additional classroom resources and thematic materials in the feelings and emotions topic hub.