Science · Colouring and matching worksheet
Feelings and Emotions Worksheet (Free KS1 Colouring and Matching)
Learning to recognise and name feelings is one of the first steps in a child's emotional development, and it sits at the heart of the KS1 PSHE and RSHE curriculum. This free printable gives children aged 5 to 7 a gentle, hands-on way to explore four everyday emotions, happy, sad, angry and surprised, by matching simple face descriptions and colouring each expression.
The worksheet prints to a single A4 page and works well at home, in the classroom or during a calm-down moment. Use it as a conversation starter: as your child colours, ask them when they last felt each way, and help them build the varied vocabulary they need to talk about their own and other people's feelings.
How Do You Feel Today?
Free Science worksheet · Ages 5 to 7
Activity 1
Look carefully at the four faces. Colour each one in, and try to choose colours that match how the face feels.
- Colour the happy face (the one with a big smile).
- Colour the sad face (the one with a downturned mouth).
- Colour the angry face (the one with lowered, frowning brows).
- Colour the surprised face (the one with a wide open mouth and raised brows).
Activity 2
Read each clue and write the feeling it describes. Use the word bank to help you.
This face has a big smile and looks cheerful. The feeling is...
This face has a downturned mouth and might want to cry. The feeling is...
This face has lowered brows and a tight mouth, like something is unfair. The feeling is...
This face has raised brows and a wide open mouth because something unexpected happened. The feeling is...
How Do You Feel Today?owee.worldAnswer key
- This face has a big smile and looks cheerful. The feeling is... — happy
- This face has a downturned mouth and might want to cry. The feeling is... — sad
- This face has lowered brows and a tight mouth, like something is unfair. The feeling is... — angry
- This face has raised brows and a wide open mouth because something unexpected happened. The feeling is... — surprised
What children learn from this feelings worksheet
This activity supports the KS1 mental wellbeing objective that pupils should know how to recognise and name different feelings. Children look closely at four cartoon faces and connect each expression to a short description, such as a smiling mouth meaning happy or a wide open mouth meaning surprised. Reading faces is a real skill that develops with practice, and noticing the difference between a frown and a downturned mouth helps children begin to read emotions in the people around them. The colouring element keeps younger children engaged and gives them time to dwell on each expression, while the matching task adds a light reading and reasoning challenge for those ready for it.
How to use this worksheet at home or in class
Print the sheet and have colouring pencils ready. Start by talking through the four faces together before any writing or colouring begins, naming each feeling out loud. Encourage children to copy the expressions with their own face, which makes the link between the word and the feeling more memorable. As they complete the matching task, resist correcting too quickly; instead ask gentle questions like 'What is the mouth doing on this face?' In a classroom, the sheet works well in pairs, with children describing a face for their partner to point to. Keep the tone warm and curious, as the aim is comfort and confidence with feelings, not getting answers right.
Building a feelings vocabulary beyond the basics
The RSHE guidance asks that children develop a varied vocabulary for talking about feelings, so once the four core words are secure you can extend the conversation. Happy might also be cheerful, excited or proud; sad might be disappointed, lonely or upset; angry might be cross, frustrated or annoyed; and surprised might be shocked, amazed or startled. Introducing one or two extra words at a time, linked to real situations the child has experienced, helps the vocabulary stick. You might keep a simple feelings chart on the fridge or wall and add a new word each week, returning to this worksheet whenever a refresher is helpful.
Why naming feelings matters for young children
Being able to name a feeling is the first step towards managing it. When a child can say 'I feel angry' rather than acting the feeling out, they have a moment to pause and choose what to do next. Research and curriculum guidance both recognise that emotional literacy underpins wellbeing, friendships and readiness to learn. This worksheet is deliberately simple and non-judgemental: all feelings are presented as normal and acceptable, which reassures children that it is fine to feel sad or cross sometimes. Pairing the activity with everyday check-ins, such as asking how a child feels at the end of the school day, turns a one-off sheet into a lasting habit.
Frequently asked questions
What feelings worksheet is best for a 5 year old?
For a child aged 5, choose a worksheet that focuses on just a few clearly different feelings, such as happy, sad, angry and surprised, and that uses large, simple faces. This free KS1 sheet does exactly that, pairing a gentle matching task with colouring so very young children stay engaged while they learn to name each emotion.
How do I teach my child to recognise emotions?
Start with a small set of clearly different feelings and name them out loud as you spot them in faces, stories and everyday life. Encourage your child to copy the expressions and to link each feeling to a real moment, such as feeling excited before a party. Worksheets like this one give a calm, structured way to practise reading faces together.
Is this worksheet suitable for KS1 PSHE lessons?
Yes. It directly supports the KS1 mental wellbeing objectives in the PSHE and RSHE statutory guidance, particularly recognising and naming different feelings and building a varied feelings vocabulary. It can be used as a whole-class starter, a paired speaking activity or an independent task.
Is the feelings worksheet free to print?
Yes. The worksheet is completely free to download and print, and it fits onto a single A4 page. You can print as many copies as you need for your family or classroom.
What age is this feelings and emotions worksheet for?
It is designed for children aged 5 to 7, which covers Years 1 and 2 in KS1. The simple faces and short descriptions suit early readers, while older or more confident children can extend the activity by adding extra feelings words.
Curriculum links
- PSHE/RSHE statutory guidance, Mental wellbeing (KS1): pupils should know how to recognise and name different feelings.
- PSHE/RSHE statutory guidance, Mental wellbeing (KS1): pupils should know a varied vocabulary of words to use when talking about their own and others' feelings.
- PSHE/RSHE statutory guidance, Mental wellbeing (KS1): pupils should know how to judge whether what they are feeling and how they are behaving is appropriate and proportionate.
- PSHE Association Programme of Study (Key Stage 1), Health and Wellbeing: about different feelings that humans can experience and how to recognise and respond to them.
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
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