Connect the Emotion

Recognise the different emotions on the cards with 8 basic emotions. Articulate the feeling the card evokes and talk about your own experiences.

The game can be played in various ways. First, only play with the cards. Discover which emotions are represented on the 8 emotion cards and tell something about them. Then, talk about the situation cards. What do you see and how does that make you feel? Pair the situation cards with the basic emotion’s cards.

The 8 emotions are:

Love (confident, kind, friendly, in love)

Joy (happy, satisfied, relieved, proud)

Anger (furious, resentful, discontent, irritated, annoyed)

Anxiety (worried, uneasy, suspicious, nervous)

Sadness (in mourning, melancholy, full of self-pity, lonely)

Astonishment/surprise (baffled, amazed)

Disgust (disdainful, dismayed)

Shame (guilty, shy)

The second game is played with the game board. Place the situation cards open on the table. Spin the pointer and look at which emotion it stops. Choose a card with a corresponding situation. Another option is to let the pointer spin and pick a random situation card. Connect this situation to the emotion the pointer stopped at. For example: the pointer stopped at the emotion ‘happy’ and you picked the situation card with a grandpa sitting by the window. You can connect the emotion by telling Grandpa is a little sad, but when I visit him later with Mum and Dad he will be happy.

The wooden box is divided in 8 sections, so emotion cards and situations can also be sorted in the box.

In this game there is a lot to talk about, about emotions, about situations pictured on the cards and the players’ own experience. In addition, 1 of the options of this game is to sort the cards: an important math skill. Several motor skills are practiced, like flipping cards, spinning the pointer and sorting the cards in the box. Ages 3yrs+.

Key Educational Benefits:

• Emotional Literacy: By recognising and naming various emotions, children develop a deeper understanding of their own feelings and those of others, enhancing emotional intelligence.
• Empathy Development: Discussing personal experiences related to different emotions encourages children to empathise with others, fostering compassionate and supportive relationships.
• Language Skills: Articulating emotions and describing situations help expand vocabulary and improve communication abilities, essential for effective expression and social interaction.
• Critical Thinking: Matching situation cards to emotions requires children to analyse scenarios and apply their understanding of feelings, promoting cognitive development and problem-solving skills.
• Mathematical Concepts: Sorting and organising cards into categories introduce foundational math skills such as classification, grouping, and pattern recognition.
• Fine Motor Skills: Handling cards and using the spinner board enhance hand-eye coordination and dexterity, supporting physical development.

Contents:

Wooden Game Board with 8 basic emotions and a pointer

48 Plastic Cards with situations (5 x 5 cm)

8 Plastic Cards with the basic emotions (5 x 5 cm)

Manual

Wooden Box (33.5 x 22.5 x 7 cm)