Using Clumsy & Friends stories to develop emotional literacy
This social-emotional learning activity uses Clumsy & Friends stories as a springboard to help children identify, understand, and express different emotions. By examining how characters feel throughout the stories, students develop emotional vocabulary and empathy while connecting story situations to their own experiences.
Clumsy & Friends stories feature rich emotional content. Here are emotions commonly found in the stories:
Signs: Smiling, laughing, excited movements
Book Examples: Clumsy winning the Veggie Cup, Minnie making others laugh
Signs: Downturned mouth, tears, slumped posture
Book Examples: Clumsy breaking something special, friends feeling left out
Signs: Furrowed brow, tight lips, crossed arms
Book Examples: Clumsy trying repeatedly to succeed, Yawnzarella trying to fix the clocks
Signs: Wide eyes, biting lip, fidgeting
Book Examples: Characters facing new challenges, uncertain situations
Signs: Wide smile, bouncy movements, raised arms
Book Examples: Anticipating adventures, discovering something new
Signs: Tall posture, big smile, chest out
Book Examples: Characters accomplishing goals, helping others
Signs: Raised eyebrows, open mouth, wide eyes
Book Examples: Unexpected plot twists, discovering secrets
Signs: Blushing, looking down, hiding face
Book Examples: Clumsy making mistakes in front of others
1 Introduction
Tell students you'll be reading a Clumsy & Friends story, and their job is to be "emotion detectives" - looking for clues about how characters are feeling.
2 Pre-Reading
Introduce 3-5 key emotions that appear in the story. Practice making these facial expressions together.
3 Reading
Read the story expressively, pausing at emotional moments to draw attention to character feelings.
4 Emotion Check-ins
At key points, ask "How is [character] feeling right now?" and "How do you know they feel that way?"
Choose one or more of these activities based on your students' ages and needs:
Use these Clumsy & Friends scenarios to explore specific emotions:
Scene: Clumsy accidentally knocks over a friend's block tower that took a long time to build.
Questions:
Scene: Minnie Tickledust is about to perform for the first time in front of a large audience.
Questions:
Scene: The Skellies work together to create a beautiful rainbow after a storm.
Questions:
Here are specific Clumsy & Friends stories that work well for emotion exploration:
Key Emotions: Determination, disappointment, perseverance, pride, excitement
Discussion Focus: How Clumsy handles setbacks and keeps trying despite failures
Key Emotions: Joy, uncertainty, confidence, empathy
Discussion Focus: How Minnie uses humor to change others' feelings
Key Emotions: Frustration, curiosity, satisfaction, tiredness
Discussion Focus: Problem-solving emotions and persistence
Key Emotions: Fear, bravery, wonder, relief
Discussion Focus: Overcoming fears and trying new things
Through this activity, you can observe and assess:
Story: _______________________________
Character: _______________
What happened: _______________
How they felt: _______________
How I know: _______________
Character: _______________
What happened: _______________
How they felt: _______________
How I know: _______________
Character: _______________
What happened: _______________
How they felt: _______________
How I know: _______________
Character: _______________
What happened: _______________
How they felt: _______________
How I know: _______________
I felt the same way as _______________ when:
Print and cut out these emotion faces to use during discussions:
Happy
Sad
Angry
Afraid
Surprised
Disappointed
Proud
Embarrassed