Emotion Sorting Race
This fast-paced game combines emotional learning with physical activity, making it an engaging way to reinforce emotional identification. It’s a great option for energetic kids, helping them associate emotions with real-life situations.
Instruction + Emotion/Scenario Heart Cards
Materials Needed:
• Emotion Hearts (colored hearts with labeled emotions: happy, sad, angry, scared)
• Scenario Hearts (hearts with labeled scenarios)
• A large space to move around (living room, backyard, or play area)
Preparation:
1. Set Up the Emotion Hearts:
Spread the Emotion Hearts in one area of the room or outdoor space.
Group them by color (e.g., blue = sad, red = angry, yellow = happy, green = scared).
Arrange them in a way that’s easy for kids to access, but they should still need to run to grab the correct heart.
2. Set Up the Scenario Hearts:
Place the Scenario Hearts in a shuffled pile at the opposite side of the space (across from the Emotion Hearts).
Make sure the kids know where the pile is so they can easily grab their next scenario when it’s their turn.
How to Play:
1. Start the Race:
Each child takes turns drawing one Scenario Heart from the shuffled pile.
Once they have their scenario, they need to race to the correct Emotion Heart pile that matches the emotion they believe the scenario reflects.
Example: If the Scenario Heart says, “Your friend doesn’t want to play with you right now” the child races to the blue (sad) pile and places their scenario there.
2. Return to the Start:
Once they place their Scenario Heart under the correct Emotion Heart, they run back to the start and tag the next child. The next child draws a new Scenario Heart and continues the race.
Optional: If you have a large safe space to do so each player can grab situation hearts and sort them simultaneously, racing back and forth.
3. Review the Matches:
After all the scenarios are sorted, gather the group together to review the matches.
Discuss the choices made by each child. Were any emotions more challenging to match? Were there any scenarios that could have fit in multiple categories?
Encourage children to share personal experiences where they felt the same emotions as in the scenario.
Alternative Versions:
Cooperative Play: If you prefer to take the pressure off competition, have the group work together to sort the scenarios into the correct emotions, discussing each one as they go.
Speed Round: Time how quickly the children can sort the scenarios and emotions correctly. For older children, set a challenge to complete the task faster but still accurately.
Why It’s Beneficial:
✔ This activity promotes physical activity while building emotional vocabulary and recognition.
✔ It helps children learn how to identify emotions in themselves and others, fostering empathy.
✔ The race element adds an exciting, energetic twist to the learning process.