Master Teacher Option: Responding with Emojis

(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will draw their own emojis in response to various situations.
Provide each student with three pieces of paper and a pen/pencil.

Ask: What is your favorite emoji and why? As students answer, point out that we love emojis because they help us convey reactions without having to type a lot of words. Distribute the paper and pens.

Divide students into groups of five or six. Explain that you are going to name six situations, and students will have ten seconds to draw their own emojis on the paper and hold them up to share within their small groups. Share that emojis do not have to be a replica of typical ones used on the computer. Point out that students will use both the fronts and backs of all three sheets of paper to draw six emojis.

Read the following situations, one-by-one, allowing students ten seconds to draw their responses and hold it up:

You won a new phone.
Your dog literally ate your science project.
Your parents grounded you.
You found $20 in your coat pocket.
You made a 100 on a difficult test.
Your favorite celebrity passed away.

When all situations have been read, drawn, and shared, ask: Did you see any similarity in the way your group members responded? Why? After responses, point out that, in most cases, knowing how to react to something that happens around us is pretty easy. Explain that today, students will look at Mary’s resolute response to Gabriel’s unexpected message to her.