Empathy Emotions Map

Empathy Emotions Map

How to:  

As individuals, create your own emotions map depicting how you feel. It could be across a particular day, a week or month. Each person can choose their own time frame, or you can all do the same one. There is no right or wrong way! Take inspiration from the Emotions Maps created by illustrators for EmpathyLab, including maps by Sophy Henn, Selom Sunu, Natelle Quek, Sarah Bowie and Alex Wharton HERE – or use your own imagination.  

NB. Be prepared for some children and young people to express troubling emotions. Ensure they have a safe person and place to discuss this. The Children’s Society website has advice on supporting young people understand their emotions: Helping children understand their emotions | The Children’s Society

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For younger children

• start by brainstorming lots of different emotions words – or use the emotions word grid on our Empathy Characters resource
• compare emotions maps – why is everyone’s different? Is it clear how people feel from what you can see?  
• try this activity around more stressful time, e.g. what were their feelings before, during and after taking part in a school play or concert? Or before, during, and after SATs?  

For older children and young people

• take inspiration from different artists – what artist’s work best expresses their feelings?  
• allow them to choose the timeframe they wish – a single day, a week, an hour!  
• discuss the ways in which emotions change over time, and if they can identify triggers to certain emotions? What does their map reveal about how they manage their emotions?