A series of lessons introducing the Intensity cog concept, creating Emotion Intensity Posters.

N.B. The Intensity Cog Concept should only be introduced once pupils are confident using the five main cogs and can use the 5 part cog model independently.

These posters were created as part of a series of lessons focusing exclusively on the Intensity Cog Concept. Pupils already had a good grasp of the five main cog concepts and could independently use these to make links and as part of the 4 and 5 part cog models. Different emotions were explored but with the focus very much on scale and intensity.

The concept of intensity was introduced to pupils as a measurement or scale. Together, the class rated various daily activities with a scale of 1-10. They studied the class timetable and grouped activities into two categories: those they liked a LITTLE and those they liked LOTS, using intensity symbols to support. They then rated the activities from least to biggest, then ascribed them a numerical value using the numbers to 10. They did the same with hobbies and weekly activities, as a homework task.

During that week, the adult led language in the classroom also focused on measure and intensity. Some of the vocabulary included big, bigger, smaller, least, most, middling, mildly, really and lots of numerical ratings.

(E.g. Teacher: What do you enjoy playing most at break time?

Pupil 1: I like toilet tig and hidey best.

Pupil 2: I love toilet tig! And Octopus. Probably Octopus more.

Pupil 1: Nah. Octopus isn’t my top one.)

Once pupils showed a firm understanding of the concept of measure and intensity, they were asked to apply this to the orange Emotion Words cog.  Each pupil chose an emotion word. They wrote this in the middle of their poster. They were then asked to think of 10 triggers for that emotion, writing them on the poster too. And, then to rank the triggers from 1-10 (leaving out 0), adding the numerical ranking to their poster.

In a follow up lesson, children used the Introducing Intensity Worksheets, to list and order the triggers from 1-10 on the Triggers Intensity Ladder. This time, they were asked to ascribe a synonym or variant of the original emotion to each one. (e.g. a Little Happy, Happy, Really Happy, Joyful, Ecstatic.) The teacher supported pupils to swap phrases containing very and really for alternative emotion words, referring to the Emotion Words word bank in the training booklet. For example, a Little Happy was replaced with Content.  Pupils completed the Intensity Ladder for Emotion Words using this vocabulary, ordering these in keeping with the Triggers Intensity Ladder.