The Boxes of Emotions

	Basic
	Age: 4-5
	Sessions of 15 to 30 minutes. The activity can be repeated throughout the school year.
	Children sort picture cards into emotion boxes, reflect on emotional associations, and share personal stories to build empathy and emotional awareness.
	Flexibility Empathy
	Conversation Parents
	Colored pencils Scissors Markers Crayons Six boxes: one for storing picture cards and five labeled for the emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, surprise, anger) Blank sheets of paper for drawing or creating picture cards Double-sided tape (for attaching emoticons to boxes) Laminator and laminating pouches (to make cards durable) Optional: Printed pictures from the internet or photos of familiar everyday items

Print version

Preparation

Work together with the children to create the picture cards. Each picture should represent something that could evoke an emotion based on personal experience.
Place all the completed cards in a box or basket for easy access during the activity.
Prepare five separate boxes, each labeled with a basic emotion: happiness, sadness, fear, surprise, and anger.
Stick a matching emotion face or emoticon on each box to help children identify them more easily.

Implementation

Start with a conversation about how different images or objects can make us feel different emotions. E.g.: A picture of a cat might make you feel happy, but a picture of a dog might remind you of a certain dog you are afraid of, so you feel fear.

Encourage the children to share their own associations, and write down their ideas to help create a picture set for the activity.

Children work in pairs or small groups. Set up boxes or trays, each labeled with an emotion (e.g. happy, sad, afraid, angry, surprised).

Each child takes turns:

Choosing a picture card (from the shared set or from earlier drawings/photos).
Placing the picture into one of the emotion-labeled boxes, based on how the image makes them feel.

Their partner then picks up the same picture and asks: Why did you put it in the happy/sad/etc. box?

The child who placed the image explains why they made that emotional connection. Children then switch roles.

This activity supports emotional awareness, listening skills, and respectful conversation around different perspectives.

Reflection

Reflect on the experience:

Was it easy or hard to choose where to put the pictures?
Did someone choose a different emotion for the same picture?
What did we learn about how emotions can be personal?

Highlight the idea that our feelings are shaped by our experiences, and that understanding each other’s point of view helps us grow in empathy.

Variations and Additional Ideas

Encourage children to contribute new pictures to the game over time. Each new picture should be added with a short personal story explaining why it belongs in a particular emotion box. This helps children connect deeply with the materials.

Involve families by introducing the game during a parent meeting. Invite parents to try the activity themselves, and take time to explain the educational purpose - how the game supports emotional awareness, empathy, and respectful dialogue about feelings.