An example of three of the emotion components embedded within a traditional nursery rhyme – the trigger is a spider, the emotion word is frightened, and the behavioural response is to run away, (although running away could also be seen as a regulation strategy too).

For Emotion Works learning you could use Little Miss Muffet as a stimulus across the following levels…

Vocabulary Development

• Set up a role play area with props, and include a number of symbol/pictures around about to support talking and adult commentary
• Symbol suggestions – frightened, yum, yuck, spider,  scream, jump, run away, wide eyes, open mouth, hands over face, some body sensation symbols heart, arms, legs, shaky, and regulation strategies eg. hide, tell someone, hug…
• You could also have different sized spiders as props, (or photos from the internet), to encourage the use of language concepts for size and intensity eg. big, little, huge, thick, thin

First Cogs & Concepts, and Simple Links

• Use individual cog cards for Triggers, Emotion Words and Behaviours with a limited choice of symbols for children to sort and engage in learning conversations about the cog concepts
• Rather than just relevant symbols eg spider, frightened, and run away, it might also be useful to add in alternative triggers, emotion words and behaviours so that selections and choices can be explored

4- and 5-part Models

• You could use this well known nursery rhyme as a simple starter stimulus for older learners using the 4- and 5- part model Note board and Story board tools expanding into the Body Sensations and Regulation Strategies cogs too.