Module 1 Alternative Activities for SEND

Session 1 - Feeling sad - feeling happy

Activity 1: What makes me feel happy and sad?

1. Feelings scrapbook

You need:

• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Scissors
• Glue
• Pictures or samples of the pupils’ favourite things, 
• A4 paper stapled as booklets
  

With each pupil, make a scrapbook of feelings; cut out different facial expressions from magazines and newspapers and stick them in the booklet. The ‘happy’ page can include faces, but also things which make that pupil happy, e.g. favourite food packets and labels, train pictures, or grass cuttings - as tactile as possible. These can be used again later in the programme.

2. Hand faces

You Need:

• Nothing extra
  

Draw happy and sad faces on the pupils’ hands and use them to prompt a discussion about things that make them feel happy and sad.

3. Talk about feelings

You Need:

• Nothing extra
  

Talk to the pupils about emotions at many other times in the day, especially when the pupil is experiencing a feeling. Use the pupil’s name, for example “I can see you are sad, Dan, because your mouth is turned down.”

4. Sad barometer

You Need:

• Sad Barometer (SNS Activity Sheet 2)
• A4 card
• Coloured pens
  

Make your own Sad Barometer or copy our template. With the pupils, discuss events and objects which make the pupils happy, calm, sad and very sad. Use photos, symbols, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) or pictures to support each ‘level’ of emotion.

5. Happy and sad worksheets

You Need:

• Happy and Sad Worksheet (SNS Activity Sheet 3)
• Happy and Sad Worksheet (SNS Activity Sheet 4)

Complete the worksheets with the pupils, prompting a talk about what makes us happy and sad.

6. Expressions task - happy and sad

You Need:

• Expressions Task (SNS Activity Sheet 5)

This is a simpler task than the worksheet. Complete the activity with the pupils, prompting a talk about what makes us happy and sad.

Activity 2: What can I do when I feel sad?

1. Compare feelings scrapbooks

You Need:

• Feelings Scrapbooks from Activity 1
  

If you made feelings scrapbooks, compare and contrast the pupils’ scrapbooks, and discuss that everyone feels sad sometimes, and that different things make different people happy.

2. Feelings diary

You Need:

• Golden Rules for Choosing a Helpful Solution (SNS Activity Sheet 6) 
• My Feelings Diary (SNS Activity Sheet 7)

Begin to make a feelings diary - recording each morning/afternoon how the pupil feels, and why. Pictures and symbols can be used. This can be completed in future sessions or sent home to finish with family members. Show the ‘Golden Rules for Choosing a Helpful Solution’. Ask questions about how to feel better if they are sad, using the rules.

3. Sad and happy music

You Need:

• A track of sad, slow music and one of happy, jolly music
  

Play some sad music, and discuss how you feel when you are sad, and what we like to do to feel better. Play some happy music and say it is one way to feel better – to listen to music. 

4. Matching words to pictures

You Need:

• Matching Words to Pictures (SNS Activity Sheet 8)
• Golden Rules for Choosing a Helpful Solution (SNS Activity Sheet 6)

Help the pupil to match the word to the picture. You could extend this by adding an example of when the pupil experienced each feeling or situation. Ask what he or she can do to feel better when they are sad, using the rules.

5. The symbols game

You Need:

• Symbols Game (SNS Activity Sheet 9)
  

Play and have fun with the symbols game - in a group or one-to-one with the pupil. Focus on happy and sad, and what we can do to help ourselves to feel better.