Happy Sad Robot ESL lesson thumbnail
Book 0B · Unit 5Starter · Ages 4–6

Happy Sad Robot

This feelings ESL lesson teaches happy, sad, angry and scared with a fun robot theme. Children sing, point to emotion cards, draw expressive robot faces and act out different moods. They match feelings to shadows, play Robot Says and explain what makes their robot happy or sad.

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Lesson format

2 × 45 minutes

Level

Starter

Age group

Ages 4–6

Main focus

Speaking first

What students will learn

• Recognise four core emotions: happy, sad, angry, scared
• Associate facial expressions with feelings
• Draw and label an emotion on a robot
• Identify emotions in characters
• Match emotions to actions or expressions
• Build vocabulary through songs and flashcards

Lesson flow

Children greet each other with a feelings check-in, sing along to emotion robot songs while pointing to matching flashcards, then draw faces onto robots and play an emotion-acting game. The second lesson reviews emotions through a shadow-matching worksheet and a 'Robot Says' roleplay where the teacher gives emotional tasks, finishing with a discussion about what makes their robot happy or sad.

Target language

  • • Emotion vocabulary
  • • 'How are you feeling?'
  • • 'I feel...'
  • • Simple descriptions

Key vocabulary

  • happy
  • sad
  • angry
  • scared
  • robot
  • emotion
  • feeling
  • face
  • expression

Speaking questions students answer

  • • How are you feeling today?
  • • Show me a happy robot face!
  • • What makes your robot happy?
  • • What makes your robot sad?
  • • Which robot do you feel like today?

Recommended teaching contexts

• Starter ESL and EFL classes• Ages 4–6• Primary school classrooms• Language schools• Private and small-group lessons• Teaching emotions vocabulary• Pair and whole-class speaking• Interactive whiteboards and online teaching

Why this lesson works

The lesson follows a clear progression: Name and act out happy, sad, angry, scared, draw and match robot faces to feelings, play a 'Robot Says' feelings game. Teachers can open the materials and start immediately, while students move from supported vocabulary practice to purposeful spoken English.

This lesson includes

• Interactive lesson slides
• Teacher guide
• Printable worksheets
• Speaking practice: "How are you feeling today?"
• Classroom games
• Videos
• Vocabulary practice
• Pair work
• Extension activities

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