LESSON 14: Sad Face Play
Lesson Focus: Sequential Memory
Age Group: 2-3 years old
Duration: 30 minutes
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Remember: Recognize sad expressions
2. Understand: Differentiate happy from sad
3. Apply: Express sadness appropriately
    

MATERIALS:

1. Music player with 2 gentle/sad tracks and 2 neutral tracks
2. Visual cue cards: SAD FACE (gentle emoji or photo), NEUTRAL FACE
3. Drum or hand clapper (for start/stop cues)
4. Floor spots or tape (to define personal space)
5. Powerpoint:

LESSON PROCEDURES:

1) Welcome and Warm-Up (3 minutes)

• Circle time: soft wiggles, shoulder rolls, gentle stretches
• Introduce “sad face.” Show cue card and model a soft, downturned expression
• Learners copy and say “sad” in a quiet voice

2) Concept Demo: What is a Sad Face? (4 minutes)

• Teacher models sad vs. neutral face
• Highlight features: downturned mouth, droopy eyes, soft cheeks
• Call-and-response: show SAD FACE card; learners mirror expression
• Ask 2–3 learners to describe what makes a face look sad

3) Guided Practice: Sad Body Moves (8 minutes)

Use 30-second intervals to explore different body parts with gentle movement prompts:

• Sad hands – slow wave, soft drop, gentle fold
• Sad feet – slow steps, heel-toe drag, still feet
• Sad arms – droop, hug self, slow sway
• Sad shoulders – slump, roll slowly, gentle shrug
• Sad head – tilt down, nod slowly, rest to side
• Sad tummy – curl in, soft hug, gentle twist
• Sad knees – bend slowly, sit gently, stay still
• Sad whole body – curl, slow walk, quiet sit

Use soft music to guide tempo and drum/clap to cue transitions. Encourage calm, expressive movement.

4) Mirror Moment: Face and Feeling (5 minutes)

Invite learners to act out simple sad scenarios with both facial and body expression. Hold each for ~30 seconds:

1. Lost a toy – soft face, gentle reach
2. Rain stopped play – droopy eyes, slow walk
3. Tired after play – quiet face, resting body
4. Missing a friend – soft hug, downturned mouth
5. Dropped a snack – sad eyes, still hands
6. Waiting too long – slow sway, gentle sigh
7. Quiet story time – soft face, curled body
8. Feeling sleepy – droopy cheeks, slow blink

Narrate each with warmth and clarity. Remind children to show sad face and sad body gently.

5) Music Response: Sad Switches (5 minutes)

Use 4 music excerpts (2 gentle/sad, 2 neutral), each ~30 seconds. For each sad track, prompt:

1. Show your sad face
2. Move your sad body
3. Say a quiet sad word or sound – e.g., “Oh…” “Hmm…” “Hmm-mm…”
4. Freeze for 3 seconds when music stops

For neutral tracks, rest quietly with neutral face and still body. Alternate tracks and praise gentle transitions.

6) Application Game: Sad Parade (3 minutes)

Narrate a simple story with gentle sad scenarios. Children act out each part with sad face and body:

“Let’s go on a quiet parade. First, we walk slowly in the rain. Then we lose our toy—soft reach and sigh. We miss our friend—hug ourselves gently. We drop our snack—look down with sad eyes. And finally, we sit quietly and rest our heads.”

Use drum/clap to cue each scene. Keep narration slow, soft, and comforting.

7) Cool-Down and Reflect (2 minutes)

• Breathing: soft inhale, gentle exhale
• Reflection: “Show me your sad face.” “What helped you feel better today?”
• Optional: group cuddle or quiet wave goodbye

ASSESSMENT

• Identification: Learner points to or mimics sad face when shown cue card
• Demonstration: Learner produces clear sad facial expression and body movement on cue
• Connection: Learner links feeling to expression in mirror or scenario play
• Control: Learner switches between sad and neutral expression with music or verbal cues

REMARKS

• Safety and Inclusion: Offer seated options; model facial expressions gently
• Classroom Management: Use freeze signal consistently; narrate gentle examples (“I see your soft shoulders”)
• Language Support: Pair emotion words with visuals and gestures; keep prompts short (“Sad face.” “Freeze.”)
• Differentiation:
  • For emerging learners: focus on one feature (mouth only)
  • For advanced learners: combine face and body (sad walk with soft face)
• Transitions: Pre-cue switches (“Ready to show sad in 3-2-1”) to support executive function
• Environment: Clear space; place music source where you can pause quickly
• Family/Carer Note (optional): Try a home mirror game—make sad faces together and talk about what helps us feel better