In educational inclusion, emotional aspects play a main role. Since an inclusive environment enhances the educational experience, while fostering an open mind to the possibility of enriching themselves with the contributions of others. Emotions are a topic that is rarely discussed in schools, it is true that lately they are being given more importance than they were before, but there is still much to do. But in my opinion if emotions and emotional intelligence (EI) were given more importance in schools, children would have more social skills and more facility to accept and include all children equally.
Activities proposed to promote emotional intelligence and inclusion in the classroom
-Objectives of the activities:
1. Know their emotions, both their own and those of others.
2. Recognize the emotions expressed.
3. Positively value diversity in classrooms and in society.
4. Grow emotionally healthy.
5. Understand diversity at the individual level.
The 5 activities I have chosen are just one example of all the possible. There are more activity proposals in the link at the end of the post.
ACT 1: THEATRE OF EMOTIONS
It consists of the class performing a play. Then the teachers work on the emotions in the classroom by asking the children what their own experiences are of when they feel the emotions that have been observed or represented in the theatre. Further on, theatre can be performed by modifying situations that cause emotions to give more examples to students of how to recognize emotions in real life.
This activity can be useful at IE and inclusion level, because it exemplifies emotions and it is an activity that can be done by students with and without SEN and it is a fun and entertaining activity.
ACT 2: WE GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER...
This activity consists of getting to know the physical characteristics of each student and saying the good things that each classmate likes about them.
Photos of each student are placed on the wall and the students say good things about each one of them, both on a physical and personal level. Teachers can help students when they run out of ideas or don't know what to say.
In my personal opinion, I think this activity can be useful to raise the self-esteem of the students as well as to get them to interact more among the whole class, promoting inclusion.
ACT 3: I LOVE POSITIVE LOOKS!
In this activity the teachers explain to the students what it is to be positive and to be negative.
When students understand the difference between these concepts, they are given the positive (pink) and negative (dark) glasses. The teacher then puts on the positive glasses and comments on positive aspects of the day or what they see, for example: What a good day it is. Then he or she would put on the other glasses, the negative ones and do the opposite, for example: I don't like my coat at all.
Next to this, the children think of a sentence and choose the glasses they think correspond to the chosen sentence.
After doing the activity, the idea is that the children see that it is much better to say positive things, both for oneself and for others. From my point of view, it can be an activity that facilitates inclusion and enhances the positive emotions of the students.
ACT 4: WHAT DO WE SEE ON EACH FACE?
This activity consists of a group analysis of the position of the different parts of the face when faced with the expression of different emotions.
Images of the emotions of disgust, surprise, fear, anger, sadness and joy are used to carry out this activity. The teacher explains the facial features of each emotion and makes the students imitate them. After this, the students are asked to give examples of situations that provoke some of the emotions explained.
From my point of view, it can be an activity that facilitates the recognition of the emotions of each one and the rest. It can also be useful for children with ASD (since one of their difficulties is the recognition of emotions, this can be a useful activity for them and in turn so that they can be integrated into the group).
ACT 5: SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY!
This activity aims to get students to openly express the emotions they feel and if they need help to overcome certain obstacles, they can count on the support and opinion of their peers. This activity encourages students' oral expression and promotes empathy.
With activities like this, interpersonal relationships are greatly encouraged (it may even help to reduce bullying), which is part of what emotional education is all about.
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