“Sad Faces” - Accompanies Lesson: 2
Objectives
Students will:
- Recognize what sadness physically looks like
Teacher Notes
Sadness and loss are universal experiences. All of us are connected with each other by such experiences. The experience of sadness can range in intensity from mild to profound and at its most extreme can be a paralyzing experience. In learning about sadness, students (and instructors too) can sometimes come into contact with these feelings. Have tissues handy, be prepared for some tears, and remember that these feelings are normal.
A final note: The approach to dealing with sadness outlined here is designed for individuals with “everyday” sadness, not clinical depression. There are many individuals who carry deep hurts and emotional scars from the past. These students may benefit from special help.
Discussion
Recognizing Sadness
Overview: You can learn to recognize sadness by paying attention to what sadness looks like, sounds like, and feels like. Body language and facial expressions are clues to the presence of sadness, even at low levels. Familiarity with all of these signs is important, however, please instruct students that not all of these signs are present every time.
Ask: “What are these two people feeling?” “Which face is sadder?” Let’s look at these faces to see what happens to our faces when we are sad. On the right side (point), is a mildly sad teenage female. Notice (point) how her eyes are looking downward, the blank stare, head down, down-turned mouth, lower lip out, eyebrows furrowed. On the left side is the face of a very sad teenage male. Notice (point) his eyes are almost shut, there are tears flowing from his eyes, head down, eyebrows and forehead furrowed. Guide students to recognize what sadness physically looks like.
Ask students to show their own “sad” faces. Point out how each student’s face expresses sadness slightly differently. Ask them to talk about how their bodies feel when they put on a sad face.