fitCLUB

Mood Run

Kids learn vocabulary words to help them express their feelings and emotions. Labeling your mood helps you make healthier choices about sleep, relaxation, food, and movement.

Kids and leader sitting in a circle
Kids writing their ideas on paper
Kids playing in gym.
Group of kids doing movement activities on a field outside
Group of kids playing a game outside
Girls relaxing on yoga mats outside
Home fitClub Session 1-Get to Know the fit Connection S1 Activity 3-Mood Run

Activity Purpose

Kids will learn vocabulary to help them express the feelings and emotions that create their mood state. Additionally, they will learn the role mood plays as an influencer of choices they make.

Objectives

  • Describe "mood" as your motivation.
  • Recognize that feelings and emotions put you in a mood.
  • Recognize that moods change throughout the day.
  • Recognize that your mood influences your healthy choices throughout the day.

Preparation

  • Talk Time: Kids sit and stretch or stand and march in place. Be sure they are a safe distance (arm’s length) apart.
  • Activity: Randomly place 20 cones around the activity area. Place 1 Mood Activity Card and 1 pencil or marker under each cone. Give each player a Feelings and Emotions printable.
  • Wrap Up: Kids sit a safe distance apart for group discussion.

Talk Time

Introduction

Q: How many choices do you make every day?
A: Thousands!

The choices you make are influenced by your mood.

  • Mood is how you feel at the moment.
  • Your feelings and emotions put you in a mood.
  • Your mood is your motivation to make healthy choices. It's when you tell yourself "I will" make a healthy choice or "I won't" make a healthy choice.
  • Moods are not necessarily good or bad, but they do influence the choices you make—especially your healthy choices!

This activity will help you learn about the different feelings and emotions that put you in a mood. 

Do The Activity

Activity Instructions

Diagram showing activity area set up for Mood Run

  1. Randomly place 20 cones around the activity area. Place 1 Mood Activity Card and 1 pencil or marker under each cone.
  2. Give each player a Feelings and Emotions printable.
  3. Set a timer for 2-3 minutes. 
  4. Leader starts the timer and says "Go!" 
  5. Players run to a cone and match the picture on the card to a picture on their handout. They write the name of the feeling on their handout.
  6. Next, players run to another cone and match the card to a picture on handout.
  7. Continue matching feelings cards that are under various cones to pictures on the handout.
  8. When the time is up, gather kids back into a standing circle. All march in place (or leader-selected movement) while you ask the following mood discussion questions. 
       a. What choices do you make when you feel bored?
       b. What choices do you make when you feel tired?
       c. What choices do you make when you feel energetic?
  9. Continue with additional questions using the feeling and emotion words from the cards. Guide kids to recognize that feelings and emotions put you in a mood, and your mood influences your choices. 
  10. Inform kids that they will learn about things they can do when they decide to motivate their moods and make healthy choices. 

Wrap Up

Reflections

Turn and talk: With a partner, take turns telling each other what you know about mood.

Allow time for partner discussions, then ask kids to share their thoughts with the group. 

Reinforce comments that support the activity objectives: 

  • Mood is your motivation. 
  • Feelings and emotions put you in a mood. 
  • Moods change throughout the day. 
  • Mood influences health-related choices.
Challenge

When you get home from school today, stop and think:

  1. Is your mood the same as it was at school? 
  2. What is your mood influencing you to do?
Next Activity

Time: 5 Minutes

What You'll Need

Resources
Materials
  • Markers or Pencils
  • Cones or Place Markers
  • Timer
Helpful Tips
  • Safety First! Place pencils or markers under cones so kids are not running with pencils or markers!
  • No cones? No problem! Use other objects to cover the Mood Activity Cards or just place cards face down.

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