Info Needed: Scouts practice recognizing and expressing emotions using facial expressions, posture, and movement. They act out feelings without words while others guess the emotion.
Items Needed:
- Strips of paper with one emotion written on each (e.g., happy, sad, excited, nervous, angry, confused)
- Bowl or container for drawing slips (optional)
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 20–30 minutes):
- Get Ready to Play (3–5 minutes)
- Scout chooses a slip of paper with an emotion word
- They read their emotion silently and think about how to show it using body language only
- Act It Out and Guess (12–15 minutes)
- Scout stands up and acts out the emotion through gestures, posture, and facial expression
- No words or sounds
- Other scouts guess the emotion being shown
- If it’s tricky, scout shares the answer and a new person goes next
- Scout stands up and acts out the emotion through gestures, posture, and facial expression
- Reflect and Share (5–10 minutes)
- Scouts talk briefly about which emotions were easiest or hardest to show
- Optional: discuss how body language can help us understand what people are feeling—even when they don’t speak
Suggested Emotion Cards for Elementary Scouts
- Happy
- Sad
- Excited
- Nervous
- Angry
- Tired
- Surprised
- Shy
- Curious
- Proud
- Scared
- Confused
- Calm
- Silly
- Frustrated
- Brave
- Bored
- Joyful
- Embarrassed
- Lonely
Suggested Emotion Cards for Teen Scouts
- Embarrassed
- Confident
- Awkward
- Proud
- Anxious
- Relaxed
- Frustrated
- Hopeful
- Disappointed
- Curious
- Excited
- Bored
- Grateful
- Guilty
- Tense
- Calm
- Lonely
- Inspired
- Suspicious
- Determined
- Shy
- Surprised
- Defensive
- Thoughtful
- Overwhelmed
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For More Fun Ideas and Plans
Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)
Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)
See other Recommended Facebook Groups for some Scouting Organizations
(No official Groups)
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