Tip 26: Give students a healthy outlet for emotional expression

Schools are taking action to maintain an ongoing discussion about self care and mental health with students and staff, especially as schools continue distance learning through the end of the academic year. Here are four activities we found for teachers and parents who are looking to find out how students are faring.

1. Match your outfit to your feelings

We love this post that Kingston Elementary School, shared on National Feelings Day earlier this month. Their students and staff participated in a virtual “Zones Day” where they wore colors to represent their emotions.

This simple yet clever exercise is a great way to continue social emotional learning by giving students a tool to express their emotions in a healthy way, understand feelings in others, and feel united with their community.

After showing off their colors through school video chats, students and staff can share these on social media or through Google Classrooms (don’t forget to get permission from a student’s guardian before you share on social media!). 

2. What’s your mood today?

Canadian Teacher @misslchan shared a variation: adapting their in-class Mood Meter to an online setting — students faces are on small cards that they can virtually move to the color quadrant as she checks in with kids during the virtual meeting:

3. Quarantine Band Name

Two more great ideas come from educator and author John Spencer. The first is a game that can be adapted to students’ age range and interests. As shown in the screenshot below, each student will come up with their “Quarantine Band Name,” which includes how they feel as one of three components. As Spencer explains in this recent April 22nd presentation for Learning Revolution, it’s a low-risk, comfortable way to check in with students and encourage self-awareness.

(The Happy Black Turkish Delights, The Focused Multi-Color Marshmallows, The Stressed Leopard-Print Spumonis…)

4. Choose One Item

A second exercise from Spencer focuses on positive coping skills. Watch the video to hear him describe how one of his classes spent an entire enjoyable hour hearing from every student for a couple of minutes, sharing about their item.

Activities like these can help students who may have trouble communicating about the current uncertainties of education and everyday life. During remote learning, it can serve as an outlet for expression and can connect them with others who feel the same way.

Have you tried other creative ways to support students’ social emotional growth in this isolating time? Please tell us so we can share it out, too!

K-12 Remote Tips

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We’d love to know what you are doing — what great examples or ideas would you like to share with other schools? Simply comment below or submit your tip via our web form.