In this adapted version of hopscotch, the traditional numbered squares are replaced with emotions such as “joy,” “anger,” “fear,” or “curiosity.”

Skill focus

Primary Skill Focus

• Emotional awareness, regulation and communication

Complementary/Secondary Skill Focus

• Empathy
• Curiosity, sense of wonder and openness
• Connectedness

Age group	Student number	Duration
6-10 years old	2 to 10 children (pairs or small groups)	20-30 minutes

How to play – brief game rules

1. Draw a traditional hopscotch grid on the ground using chalk or tape. Instead of numbers, label each square with a different emotion (e.g., joy, sadness, anger, surprise, pride, fear).
2. Children take turns standing behind the starting line and tossing a small object (like a beanbag or stone) onto one of the squares.
3. The player hops through the grid on one foot, skipping the square where the object landed, as in classic hopscotch.
4. When they reach the end, they turn around and hop back toward the start.
5. Upon finishing their turn, the child picks up the object and pauses to interact with the emotion written in that square by doing one of the following:

• Share a personal story or memory related to that emotion
• Act out the emotion using facial expression and body language
• Describe a strategy they use to regulate or manage that emotion

6. The teacher may suggest which of the three tasks to perform or let the child choose.
7. The game continues until all children have had at least one turn.