Introduction
Jealousy is a common emotion experienced by individuals of all ages, including students in special education. It’s essential to teach students how to control their feelings and actions when experiencing jealousy, as it can negatively impact their relationships and social interactions. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy, no-prep activity to help students understand the concept of jealousy and learn how to manage their feelings and actions in a respectful manner while incorporating principles of Social-Emotional Learning.
No-Prep Activity
This no-prep activity is called “The Jealousy Scenario.” The educator reads aloud a scenario in which a student feels jealous and reacts inappropriately. The students are then asked to identify the emotion and suggest alternative ways to react. Here’s an example:
Tommy: Hey, Sarah, guess what? I got the lead role in the school play!
Sarah: Seriously? I can’t believe you got it instead of me! I’m a much better actor than you!
Ask the students:
- How does Sarah feel?
- How do her actions make Tommy feel?
- What could Sarah have said or done differently?
Encourage students to discuss their thoughts and come up with alternative reactions that show respect and kindness, even when feeling jealous.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to control our feelings and actions when we feel jealous?
- How can jealousy affect our relationships with others?
- What are some strategies to help manage feelings of jealousy?
- How can we support our friends when they achieve something we wanted?
- What are some positive ways to express our feelings when we feel jealous?
Related Skills
Teaching jealousy control and respect to students in special education can help them develop other essential social-emotional skills, such as:
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others
- Self-awareness: Recognizing one’s emotions and their impact on others
- Conflict resolution: Resolving disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner
- Emotional regulation: Managing one’s emotions in different situations
Next Steps
Helping special education students learn about jealousy control and respect is an essential aspect of their social-emotional development. To access free sample materials on this skill and others, sign up at Everyday Speech. These resources can be used to create engaging and effective lessons to support students’ social-emotional growth.
