Creating a feelings collage allows preschoolers to practice recognizing emotions in others. The students can sort through the faces in a magazine and learn to differentiate from a frown that represents sadness, and a pout that shows frustration. After discussing a specific emotion, the children cut and collage pictures from magazines of people displaying that emotion. Once the children make a collage for a range of feelings, teachers can combine the individual crafts into a comprehensive book or poster.
Children's drawings reflect their world and sometimes stem from the emotions they experience. When discussing feelings with the students, ask them to sketch pictures of their face when feeling happy, sad or silly. The children can then draw pictures of the things that make them feel these different emotions, such as rainbows for happiness or monsters for fear. This craft helps children attach specific reasons to their range of emotions.
Music affects the mood in a classroom and sometimes alters the emotional state of young children. Play classical music that varies in speed and intensity while children finger paint, and notice how the children's paintings change with the music. The children might use dark or light paint, or slow or fast movements depending on the nature of the music. Gather the children after the craft to observe the paintings and share how they felt during the activity.
Preschool children will review emotions while making a feelings mask, building an awareness of the ways they feel. Have them cut out shapes and glue them onto a paper plate to design a face that represent a specific emotion. Show them types of eyes and mouths for different emotions, such as a circle mouth to show fear or surprise. The children will later use the masks to express their feelings or act out scenarios.