Introduction

Jealousy is a natural emotion that children, as well as adults, experience. It’s important for educators to teach young students how to manage their feelings of jealousy and channel them into positive actions. This blog post will explore a no-prep activity and discussion questions to help PreK students understand and cope with jealousy in a healthy manner, promoting social-emotional learning.

No-Prep Activity

For this activity, you will need no additional materials or preparation. Begin by narrating a story similar to the one provided in the prompt, where one student feels jealous about another student’s accomplishment. You can use the names of characters in the story or replace them with the names of students in your class.

Once you have narrated the story, ask the students to identify the emotions and actions of the characters. Then, have the students role-play the scenario, with one student acting as the jealous character and the other as the successful one. Encourage them to come up with alternative ways to handle the situation, focusing on positive responses and communication.

After the role-play, gather the students and discuss the different ways they handled the situation. Highlight the importance of controlling jealousy and treating others with respect and kindness, regardless of their feelings.

Discussion Questions

1. How do you think Alessandra could have reacted differently when she found out Serena made the soccer team?
2. What are some ways we can express our feelings of jealousy without hurting others?
3. How can we support and encourage our friends, even if we feel jealous of their accomplishments?
4. Why is it important to control our actions and words when we feel jealous?
5. Can you think of a time when you felt jealous? How did you handle the situation?

Related Skills

Beyond managing jealousy, there are other valuable social-emotional skills that can be developed in young students. Some of these related skills include:

• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others can help students be more compassionate and supportive friends.
• Emotion Regulation: Learning to manage and express emotions in a healthy way is crucial for maintaining positive relationships and overall well-being.
• Conflict Resolution: Teaching students to resolve conflicts in a respectful and constructive manner promotes a positive learning environment.
• Effective Communication: Encouraging open and honest communication between students helps build trust and understanding within the classroom.

Next Steps

Teaching students to manage jealousy and develop related social-emotional skills is an important part of their education. To access more resources, activities, and materials to help your students grow in these areas, we encourage you to sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech. By incorporating these lessons into your classroom, you’ll be fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students.