Express Yourself! Understanding Emotions Through Play
This lesson plan aims to help infants learn about basic emotions (happy, sad, angry, surprised) through interactive play and social engagement. The session begins with an introduction that sets a positive atmosphere, followed by activities using emotion flashcards to visually and vocally express various feelings. Infants participate in a mirror play activity, where they observe and imitate facial expressions, enhancing self-recognition and emotional understanding.
Role-playing with stuffed animals allows infants to explore emotions in a playful context while encouraging social interactions. A music and movement segment invites infants to dance and express emotions through rhythmic movement, using colorful scarves to represent different feelings visually.
The lesson concludes with a group reflection, allowing caregivers to share their experiences and observations. Handouts are provided to guide caregivers in recognizing and responding to their infants' emotional expressions at home. Overall, the plan fosters emotional awareness and social skills in a fun and engaging environment.
| Level | Infant |
| Subject | Social Skills |
| Subject Area | Emotions |
| Age Range | 0 to 1 |
| Audience | Group |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 40 mins |