Ages: 5-10 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Group Size: 1-12 children
Setting: Classroom, home, or therapy space
🎯 Learning Objectives
By the end of this activity, children will:
- Identify and name different emotions
- Associate colors with various feelings
- Express emotions in a non-verbal, creative way
- Develop emotional vocabulary and self-awareness
- Practice emotional regulation through mindful reflection
📦 Materials Needed
- Printed emotion color wheel (provided below)
- Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
- Blank paper for additional activities
- Optional: Printed emotion cards or face charts
- Optional: Calm background music
🎡 The Emotion Color Wheel
HAPPY
EXCITED
ANGRY
FRUSTRATED
SAD
CALM
PEACEFUL
CONTENT
💡 Print Tip: This wheel can be printed in black and white - children can color it in themselves!
📋 Activity Instructions
Step 1: Introduction (5 minutes)
- Gather children in a comfortable circle
- Ask: "What are some feelings you've had today?"
- Introduce the concept: "Did you know that colors can help us talk about our feelings?"
- Show the emotion color wheel and explain how different colors represent different emotions
Step 2: Explore the Wheel (10 minutes)
- Point to each color section and discuss the emotion
- Ask children: "What do you think about this color for this feeling?"
- Encourage them to share if they agree or would choose different colors
- Have children point to colors that match how they feel right now
- Validate all responses - there are no wrong answers!
Step 3: Create Personal Wheels (10 minutes)
- Give each child a blank wheel or paper to create their own
- Let them color emotions using their chosen colors
- Encourage creativity - some children might use patterns, multiple colors, or symbols
- Walk around and ask about their color choices
Step 4: Sharing & Reflection (5 minutes)
- Invite children to share one color choice they're proud of
- Ask: "How does it feel to give your emotions colors?"
- Discuss how they might use their wheel at home
- End with a moment of quiet appreciation for all feelings
💭 Discussion Prompts
For Younger Children (Ages 5-7):
- "What color would you paint happiness? Why?"
- "Show me your angry color. Does it feel hot or cold?"
- "When you feel sad, what color matches that feeling?"
- "Can you make a sound that goes with your excited color?"
For Older Children (Ages 8-10):
- "Why do you think different people might choose different colors for the same emotion?"
- "Are there emotions that feel like mixed colors to you?"
- "How might colors help us understand how others are feeling?"
- "What would you tell someone who says 'boys/girls can't feel [emotion]'?"
Universal Questions:
- "What's one feeling that's hard to find a color for?"
- "How can we help someone who's feeling a 'difficult' color?"
- "What feeling would you like to feel more often?"
🌟 Extension Activities
🏠 Take-Home Ideas:
- Daily Color Check-ins: Each morning, have your child point to their feeling color for the day
- Emotion Art: Create paintings or drawings using colors that match current emotions
- Family Feeling Forecast: Make a weekly chart where family members color-code their emotions
- Calming Color Corner: Designate a space with calming colors for when big emotions arise
🎨 Creative Extensions:
- Emotion Sculptures: Use clay or playdough in emotion colors
- Feeling Playlists: Create music playlists that match different colored emotions
- Color Breathing: Imagine breathing in calming colors and breathing out difficult ones
- Emotion Garden: Draw a garden where different colored flowers represent different feelings
📚 Literature Connections:
- In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek
- The Color Monster by Anna Llenas
- The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
- When Sophie Gets Angry by Molly Bang
👨🏫 Facilitator Notes
- Cultural Sensitivity: Remember that color associations can vary across cultures. Always validate children's personal connections
- Neurodivergent Considerations: Some children may have sensory sensitivities to certain colors or may not make typical associations
- No Wrong Answers: Emphasize that emotions and color connections are personal and valid
- Model Vulnerability: Share your own emotion-color connections to encourage openness
- Safety First: If a child shares about difficult emotions, listen without judgment and follow appropriate protocols
🎯 Learning Outcomes Assessment
Children demonstrate understanding when they:
- Can name at least 4-6 basic emotions
- Make thoughtful color choices for emotions
- Explain their reasoning for color-emotion connections
- Show respect for others' different color choices
- Use the wheel independently to express current feelings
📥 Download This Activity
💡 Tip: Use your browser's print function and select "Save as PDF" to create a downloadable version
Created with ❤️ for emotional learning and growth
Remember: All feelings are valid, and every child's emotional experience matters.