My Teaching Context
My Activity: Feelings Circle
Description of the Activity:
One activity I would use to create a safe and emotionally supportive classroom is called a Feelings Circle. In this activity, I will ask students to sit in a circle and briefly share how they are feeling before starting the lesson. Each student can describe their feeling using one word (for example: happy, tired, excited, worried) or they can point to an emotion card with different facial expressions.
If students are shy, they can also write their feeling on a small paper or use an online tool such as Mentimeter or Padlet to submit their emotions anonymously. The teacher will acknowledge the responses and thank students for sharing.
The goal of this activity is to help students feel heard, respected, and comfortable in the classroom.
When I Would Use the Activity:
I would use this activity at the beginning of the school day or the beginning of a lesson, especially on Mondays or after holidays when students may come with different emotions or experiences.
It only takes about 5–10 minutes, so it does not interrupt learning time but helps prepare students mentally for the lesson.
How the Activity Supports Learning and a Safe Environment:
This activity helps students express their emotions and understand that feelings are normal. When students feel emotionally safe, they are more confident to speak, participate, and ask questions.
It can also helps students develop empathy and respect for each other. When they hear how their classmates feel, they learn to understand different perspectives and support one another.
A supportive emotional environment reduces stress and allows students to focus better on learning.
How the Activity Helps Classroom Management:
For teachers, this activity gives insight into students’ emotional states. If many students feel tired or stressed, the teacher can adjust the lesson by adding energizing activities or short breaks.
It also builds trust between students and the teacher. When students feel respected and understood, they are more likely to follow classroom rules and participate positively in class.
Overall, the Feelings helps create a respectful classroom culture where students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.
The instructions are simple, and I believe this activity is very useful as a warm-up. The detailed guidance makes it easy to follow, and it can help create a safe and supportive learning environment throughout the day or even across the week.
I have tried a similar activity in my class before, and it worked very well. One idea that could also be included is giving two or three students the option to share why they chose a particular emotional card. Not all students may feel comfortable expressing themselves, but by keeping it optional, some students will have a chance to share their feelings.
It is also important not to give feedback during this activity. In many cases, students simply need someone to listen rather than receive advice or suggestions. Practicing active listening alongside this activity would make it even more effective.
- Jump to: Parent to post 1
- Permalink to post 2