Grade 1 Life Skills – Discovering My Emotions and Building Friendships

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Lesson Plan Title: Grade 1 Life Skills – Discovering My Emotions and Building Friendships

1. Materials Needed

  • Emotion flashcards (happy, sad, angry, scared, surprised)
  • Stories or picture books about emotions and friendship (e.g., “The Way I Feel” by Janan Cain)
  • Drawing materials (coloured pencils, crayons, paper)
  • Friendship puppet materials (socks, googly eyes, yarn)
  • Circle time mat
  • Stickers as rewards

2. Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, learners will be able to:
– Identify and express at least three different emotions.
– Recognize the importance of friendship and ways to build friendships.
– Participate in activities that illustrate how to express feelings and encourage friendships.

3. Vocabulary

  • Emotions
  • Friendship
  • Happy
  • Sad
  • Angry
  • Scared
  • Surprised
  • Caring
  • Sharing

4. Previous Learning

  • Learners have previously discussed basic emotions and have actively participated in social activities in the classroom.
  • Learners understand the basic concepts of sharing and cooperation.

5. Anticipated Challenges and Solutions

  • Challenge: Some learners may struggle to articulate their emotions.
    • Solution: Use visual aids (emotion flashcards) and provide relatable examples of each emotion.
  • Challenge: Learners may be shy during discussions.
    • Solution: Implement small group discussions or partner activities to promote confidence and comfort in sharing.

6. Beginning Activities (10% of time)

  • Gather learners in a circle and introduce the lesson with a short story about emotions.
  • Present emotion flashcards and ask each learner to identify a time they felt each emotion.
  • Explain the importance of understanding feelings in building friendships.

7. Middle Activities (80% of time)

  1. Emotion Exploration (30 minutes)
    • Divide learners into small groups (4-5 learners).
    • Provide each group with emotion flashcards and guide them in discussing times they felt each emotion.
    • Encourage each group to share their findings with the class to foster discussion.
  2. Story Time (15 minutes)
    • Read a picture book that embodies themes of friendship and emotion.
    • Facilitate a discussion encouraging learners to share their thoughts on the story, relating it to their own experiences.
  3. Puppet Role Play (20 minutes)
    • Using the provided materials, learners will create friendship puppets.
    • In pairs, they will enact short skits where their puppets express various emotions and solve a friendship problem.
  4. Drawing Activity (15 minutes)
    • Encourage learners to draw a picture of a time they felt happy with friends or how they can demonstrate being a good friend.
    • Ask them to label their drawings with one emotion word.

8. End Activities (10% of time)

  • Invite learners to share their drawings with the class.
  • Conduct a quick review of the emotions discussed and ask learners how they can show friendship.
  • Hand out stickers as rewards for participation and sharing, reinforcing positive behavior.

9. Assessment and Checks for Understanding

  • Observe group discussions and role-play skits to evaluate understanding of emotions and conflict resolution.
  • Review the drawings for the accurate identification of emotions and creative demonstrations of friendship concepts through the artwork.

10. Differentiation Strategies

  • Provide extra support for learners who require it by working in smaller groups.
  • Use visual aids and role-playing to cater to visual and kinesthetic learners.
  • Allow advanced learners to lead discussions or assist peers, fostering leadership skills.

11. Teaching Tips

  • Remind learners of classroom rules regarding respectful listening and sharing to create a safe and inclusive environment.
  • Use positive reinforcement to encourage participation and engagement throughout activities.
  • Be sensitive to emotional responses; some learners may have stronger connections to certain emotions based on personal experiences; provide a supportive space for sharing.

This revised lesson plan maintains CAPS curriculum alignment while promoting emotional intelligence and social skills among Grade 1 learners in South Africa. The structure, clarity, and engagement strategies have been enhanced to ensure an effective learning experience.