The book “The Color Monster”, written and illustrated by Anna Llenas, tells the story of a monster who is confused about his emotions. Unable to understand his feelings, the monster receives help from a girl friend to identify and name each of the emotions he experiences.
This work is a valuable tool to help children recognize and deal with their own emotions. She teaches that it is perfectly normal to feel different emotional states and that each of them has a specific color. The “Color Monster” personifies these emotions, helping children to name and understand them better.
Below, we will see a suggested lesson plan that uses the book or video.
Goals
Estimated time: 10 – 15 minutes
Main objectives:
– Provide a clear and comprehensive understanding of the book “The Color Monster” and the importance of emotional control.
– Develop students’ ability to identify and manage their own emotions.
– Encourage reflection on the importance of expressing feelings and talking about them.
– In the absence of the book, you can use the video The color monster – Varal de Histórias (youtube.com).
Secondary objectives:
– Stimulate empathy and understanding of other people’s emotions.
– Promote creativity and artistic expression in the representation of emotions.
– Integrate children’s literature as an emotional education tool.
Introduction
Time estimate: 15 – 20 minutes
– Presentation of the book “The Color Monster” and its main theme.
– Explanation of the importance of recognizing and managing emotions.
Development
Time estimate: 50 – 60 minutes
Review of previous knowledge
Estimated time: 10 – 15 minutes
– Recapitulation of basic emotions and their representation. Revisit situations with children where they felt angry, happy, scared, etc.
– Discussion about the importance of identifying and naming emotions. From that moment on, you can now introduce the importance of the book to the topic, that is, how the Color Monster can help them identify their emotions.
Presentation of the theory
Time estimate: 15 – 20 minutes
– Shared reading of the book “The Color Monster” or watch the video.
– Analysis of the colors associated with each emotion and discussion about the reason for each one. Ex: “What color is anger? Why do you think she is that color?” “What color is happiness?”
Practical activities
Time estimate: 20 – 25 minutes
Activity 1: Expressing emotions
– Students will be encouraged to paint or draw a situation that makes them feel each of the emotions.
Activity 2: Conversation circle
– Students will be divided into groups to talk about how they deal with their emotions and situations that make them feel each of them.
Activity 3: Emotions to print
– Give a list of situations to groups of students and ask them to choose between one of the little monsters to represent what they feel about them.
Activity 4: Emociometer
– Using glued sheets of A4 paper or cardboard, create an “emotional meter” like the one below, which will contain all the little monsters and will give children the chance to stick small labels with their name to show how they are feeling that day.
Return
Time estimate: 15 – 20 minutes
Learning Check
Time estimate: 5 – 10 minutes
– Group discussion about the discoveries and reflections made during practical activities.
Student feedback
Time estimate: 5 – 10 minutes
– Students will be invited to share what they liked most about the class and what they learned new.
Homework
Time estimate: 5 minutes
– As homework, students will be encouraged to talk about emotions with their family members and report what this experience was like.
Conclusion
Estimated time: 10 – 15 minutes
– Review of the main emotions covered and the importance of recognizing them.
– Reinforcement of the importance of dialogue and emotional expression for individual and collective well-being.
– Suggested further reading on emotional intelligence in childhood.
