Big feelings, what next — sorting cards
What to do with a big feeling · 5–9 · Roo Bloom
How to use these pages
- Print all the pages. A4, single sided, at 100% — not “fit to page”.
- Cut along the dashed lines to make the cards.
- Put the two mats on the table, a bit apart.
- Read a card out, or let your child read it, and put it on the mat they choose.
- The answer key on the last page is for you. It is not for marking — it is so you have the explanation ready when your child asks why.
Read each card out and let your child place it. If a card lands somewhere surprising, the reason on the key is more use than moving it.
HELPS
Helps
HARDER
Makes it harder
The cards
Cut along the dashed lines
The park trip is off. Zara feels disappointed.
Zara: “I feel really disappointed about the park.”
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
Kai feels angry. He lost the game again.
He throws the controller at the floor.
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
Omar feels angry. His block tower fell over.
He goes to his room and yells into a pillow.
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
Ines feels embarrassed. She knocked the paint pot over.
She says Beau did it.
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
Priya feels embarrassed. Everyone laughed when her chair squeaked.
She goes quiet and looks at her hands.
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
Sam feels confused. He cannot tell what the maths sheet wants.
Sam: “I don't know what to do.”
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
Hana feels confused. The library sheet has too many words.
She hides the sheet in her bag.
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
Leo feels excited. Nina is opening a present.
He grabs the present out of Nina's hands.
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
Ruby feels excited. She is going camping tonight.
She jumps up and down and talks very fast.
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
Finn feels worried. Omar's nose is bleeding at the back table.
Finn stops Mr Reed mid-sentence to tell him.
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
Eli feels frustrated. His shoelace will not go through.
Eli: “I'm really frustrated. Can you help?”
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
Suri feels jealous. Lily got a scooter for her birthday.
Suri tells Lily the scooter looks rubbish.
Big feelings · Roo Bloom
For grown-ups: what each card is about
Cards marked “either” are the interesting ones. Both answers are defensible and the conversation is the point.
1. HELPS
Dad now knows about the disappointed feeling and can sit with Zara.
Say the feeling out loud.
2. HARDER
Now the controller is broken and the game has stopped.
Say you need a break. — Say you need a break, then stomp outside.
3. HELPS
The angry feeling gets out and nothing is broken.
Find a safe place for anger.
4. HARDER
Beau gets in trouble for something he did not do.
Say what really happened. — Say the paint went over by accident.
5. HELPS
Priya takes the quiet minute she needs. Nothing got harder.
A quiet minute is allowed.
6. HELPS
Now Ms Patel can show Sam the part he missed.
Say when you don't know yet.
7. HARDER
Nobody finds out Hana is stuck, so the sheet stays hard.
Tell someone you are stuck. — Ask the librarian to read one line.
8. HARDER
Nina's turn stopped and the paper tore.
Ask before you touch their thing. — Jump on the spot and ask for a look.
9. HELPS
Ruby's body lets the excited feeling out. Nothing is in the way.
Big excitement can move your body.
10. Either
If someone is hurt, tell a grown-up now. Other news can wait for a pause.
Hurt and danger go first.
11. HELPS
Nan hears the feeling and the job, so help arrives fast.
Name it, then ask for help.
12. HARDER
Lily feels flat, and Suri still has no scooter.
Tell a grown-up the jealous feeling. — Tell Dad you wish you had one too.