“Scott’s Story” - Scott Feels Happy - Accompanies Lesson: 1
Objectives
Students will:
- Understand why they have feelings
- Define the 4 core emotions - Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Happiness
- Recognize that feelings can be managed
Teacher Notes
This program is a comprehensive overview of one approach to managing emotions. It is designed to be the first step in helping your special needs students to identify and manage their feelings, not to be the last word on the topic. The authors have concentrated on 4 basics, or core, emotions (sadness, anger, fear, happiness) upon which all other emotions are based. (The Appendix on extended emotions is included for instruction with higher-functioning students.) This program does not guarantee that your difficult or highly emotionally charged students will learn instantly to manage themselves as a result of practicing these techniques. They will need your ongoing help and support in applying them.
Discussion
Today we are going to begin a program that will help us learn about our emotions or feelings. Emotions (feelings) are what our body uses to tell us if things (what we are experiencing) are good or bad. For example, when someone we like tells us that they like us too, we feel good or happy. We may smile and will probably “feel” a warm or pleasant sensation in our body. Our body is telling us that things are good. When we lose something, like a job or some person, we feel sad (and maybe angry as well). Our face looks like we are unhappy and our body feels “down” and without energy. Our body is telling us that things are not good. Our body tells us if we like what’s happening in our life. We can also use it to tell us what to do to feel better.
I’m going to read you a story about a boy named Scott who, in one day, felt four different emotions or feelings: sadness, anger, fear, and happiness. We’ll see what things happened in his life that made him feel good or happy and what things made him feel bad, sad, mad, and afraid. We’ll also see how he listened to his body to feel better.
(Teaching Pictures 1-8 are used in to tell “Scott’s Story” and should be presented in one setting.)
It’s Saturday morning and Scott just got paid. He bought the last two tickets for tonight’s rock concert. One for himself and one for Joanne. The seats cost him two weeks’ pay but ZZ Top (or whatever band’s name you would like to use) was worth it. And so was Joanne. ASK: How does Scott feel? (Scott is happy.) How can you tell? (He is smiling and looks full of energy.) Why is Scott happy or feeling good? (He is going to do something he likes with a person he likes to be with.)