Sadness

• Materials: Sadness Images (click here for link).
• Emotion Wheel

Sadness Activity Instructions

These child-friendly illustrations depict social interactions or quiet moments that reflect sadness in its many forms. While the action in the image might seem simple — like a child sitting alone or missing out — the goal is to help children dig deeper into the emotional context and explore not just what is happening, but why it matters emotionally.

Exploring Core Emotions Under Sadness
At this level, children are encouraged to identify basic emotions connected to sadness, helping them begin expressing their own emotional experiences and recognize them in others.

• Lonely – Feeling isolated or disconnected from others.
• Vulnerable – Feeling exposed or easily hurt, either emotionally or physically.
• Desperate – A feeling of extreme urgency or hopelessness that pushes someone to act quickly, sometimes without thinking carefully.
• Guilty – Feeling like you did something wrong or hurtful.
• Depressed – Feeling deeply sad, hopeless, or empty for a long time; often losing interest in things that used to bring joy.
• Hurt – Feeling emotional or physical pain from being mistreated, let down, or injured.

Granular Emotions Under Sadness
In this advanced level, children are guided to use more emotionally specific words. Use the emotion wheel to support this exploration and build emotional vocabulary.

• Lonely
  • Isolated – Physically, socially, or emotionally separated from others.
  • Abandoned – Left behind or deliberately rejected.
• Vulnerable
  • Victimized – Actively hurt by others.
  • Fragile – Easily hurt because of inner sensitivity.
• Desperation
  • Grief – Emotional pain caused by a significant loss.
  • Powerless – Having no control over what’s happening.
• Guilty
  • Ashamed – Feeling bad about yourself, wanting to hide or disappear.
  • Remorseful – Deep regret or sorrow for your actions.
• Depressed
  • Empty – Loss, numbness, or disconnection from yourself or the world.
  • Inferior – Feeling like you are less than others.
• Hurt
  • Disappointed – Feeling let down because you expected too much.
  • Embarrassed – Feeling uncomfortable because you think you look foolish to others.

💬 How to Guide the Conversation

1. What emotions are the characters feeling?
   Help them go beyond just “sad” — prompt specific, rich vocabulary.

Example:

Girl: Lonely, rejected, left out

Boy: Ashamed, vulnerable, discouraged

2. What do you think happened before this moment?
   Encourage children to imagine the backstory that led to the current emotional state.

“Did someone say something hurtful? Did they get left out of a group or lose something important?”

3. What might the characters be thinking?
   Invite children to practice empathy and perspective-taking.

“What thoughts are running through their minds right now?”
“What do you think they were hoping for, and what changed?”

4. What could someone say or do to help?
   Support conversations about emotional repair and compassion.

“If you were in the picture, what could you do to make them feel better?”
“What kinds of words or actions can comfort someone when they’re sad?”

5. Pay attention to the background characters.
   Ask about the people in the scene who aren’t front and center.

“Are they noticing what’s happening?”
“Are they ignoring it, or unsure what to do?”
“What could they be doing differently?”