LAB · ELEMENTARY (1–5)

💛 Big Feelings

Meet emotionally dynamic scenarios — school stress, friendships, family. Identify what you’re feeling and pick a healthy way to respond.

Progress: 0 / 4 stages complete

How to do this lab — read me first!

1.Take the pre-quiz below. Type your answer into the box for each question — it's okay if you're not sure! This shows what you already know. Spelling doesn't have to be perfect, and CAPS or lowercase both work the same.
2.Read the lab sections below the quiz — they explain the science in plain words. Tap "Go deeper" on any card for extra info.
3.Work through each lab module by tapping the bubbles near the top. Read it, then press "Mark module complete" to unlock the next one.
4.Do the hands-on sorting activity — use the up/down arrows to put the items in the right order, then press Check my order.
5.Take the post-quiz. It unlocks after you finish everything above. Type your answers in — short answers are fine, just write the main idea.
6.Sign in to save your scores and earn a badge. No account? You can still explore the whole lab.

💡 Stuck on a question? Scroll back and re-read the section about it, then return and try again. There's no time limit!

📝 Pre-quiz — what do you already know?

✏️ Type your answer in the box. Spelling close enough is OK — UPPER or lower case both work.

1. Emotions are:

2. Stress affects:

3. Coping means:

4. Anxiety is:

5. Breathing helps:

6. Emotions should be:

7. Support helps:

8. Emotional awareness is:

9. Stress is:

10. Feelings are:

Simulation overview

Students interact with emotionally dynamic scenarios involving school stress, friendships, and family challenges. They identify emotions through visual cues and choose coping responses like breathing, talking, or avoidance. The simulation shows how emotional regulation changes outcomes. Students see how reactions affect relationships and stress levels. The lab encourages naming emotions and responding thoughtfully. It builds emotional intelligence through practice.

Lab modules

Work through each module in order. Mark each one complete to unlock the post-quiz.

What feelings are and why we have them

Feelings are your body’s built-in message system. They tell you what matters, what feels safe, and what doesn’t. Even uncomfortable feelings have a job.

Feelings have jobs

· Sad: tells you something important was lost — slows you down to heal
· Angry: tells you a line was crossed — gives energy to protect
· Scared: tells you watch out — keeps you safe
· Happy: tells you do more of this
· Lonely: tells you you need people

Big feelings = big brain wave

When feelings get HUGE, the ‘thinking part’ of your brain (prefrontal cortex) goes quiet and the ‘feeling part’ (amygdala) takes over. That’s why it’s hard to think clearly when you’re mad. Tools help wake the thinking brain back up.

Naming = taming

Brain scans show that just naming a feeling out loud (‘I feel frustrated’) calms the amygdala. Drs call this ‘affect labeling.’ Kids call it ‘saying the feeling.’ Both work.

Key takeaways from this module

All feelings are okay; actions are what we choose.
Each feeling has a job.
Naming a feeling calms the brain.
The thinking brain needs the feeling brain to settle first.

🧩 Sort the feeling

Tap the emotion that fits the scenario. There's no wrong feeling — but matching helps you practice naming them.

Someone took the swing I was waiting for.

I have to give a class presentation in 5 minutes.

My best friend moved away today.

I got picked first for the team!

I'm sleeping over at a friend's for the first time.

I got an A on the hard quiz!

Hands-on activity: Naming and calming a big feeling

Order steps to handle a wave of big emotion.

1.Choose a coping tool
2.Notice the body signal
3.Slow your breath
4.Reflect — what did you learn?
5.Name the feeling out loud

Post-quiz locked

Finish all 4 lab modules (0/4 done). Complete the hands-on activity above.