Emotional Awareness

Understanding Emotions

Everyone has feelings—happy, sad, angry, worried, excited, and more! Learning about emotions helps us understand ourselves and others better. When we can name our feelings, we can find healthy ways to manage them.

For Secondary Students

Watching movies isn’t just fun—it can also help you understand emotions, relationships, and decision-making in real life.

💡 Remember

All emotions are normal—it’s how we handle them that matters.

Movies can be mirrors (showing us our own experiences) or windows (helping us understand others).

Inside Out & Inside Out 2

Great for exploring the role of different emotions and how they shape who we are.

The perks of being a wallflower

Touches on self-discovery, friendship, trauma, and healing.

Watch with Awareness

Pay attention to the characters’ emotions, choices, and struggles. Notice how their feelings affect their actions.

Pause & Reflect

If something stands out, pause for a moment:

“What’s happening here? How would I feel in this situation?”

Think it Through

"What emotions did I see?"

"How did the character cope (in healthy or unhealthy ways)?"

"What choices made things better or worse?"

Activities

Emotion Wheel

Sometimes we say we feel ‘bad’ or ‘angry,’ but those words don’t always explain what’s really going on inside. An Emotion Wheel helps us go deeper. By looking at the wheel, older children and teens can explore more complex feelings—like the difference between being frustrated, disappointed, or hurt. The more we can name our emotions, the better we can understand them and choose healthy ways to cope.

🛠️ How to Use It Together 🛠️

Reflection Time → After school, ask your child to point to the word that matches their feelings.
Conflict Moments → Help them move from a general feeling (“angry”) to a specific one (“disappointed” or “frustrated”).
Journaling/Art → Encourage children to circle emotions they’ve felt that day and draw/write about them.

Mental Health Check-In Sheet

Sometimes we only notice part of what we’re feeling. This worksheet encourages students to pause, reflect, and connect the dots between their emotions, thoughts, actions, and even body responses. By writing or journaling, students can build self-awareness and take small steps toward healthier coping.

Can be used independently (journaling) or in a guided session (with a parent, teacher or counsellor)

Emotional Awareness Bingo

Wellbeing doesn’t just come from ‘thinking positive’—it’s built through small, everyday actions. Wellbeing Bingo makes it fun to try out healthy habits that nurture the mind and body.

Can be used independently, with friends, or as an in-class challenge

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