What are emotions? What emotion do you experience the most? Are some emotions more important than others?
What other words can be used to describe each emotion (sadness = unhappy, crying etc. / joy = happy, laughter, dancing etc.).
List and discuss some possible causes for each type of emotion.
When you hear the word emotions, what comes to mind?
Did you immediately think of emotions like joy and happiness or emotions such as anger and sadness?
Why do you think you immediately relate the word emotions to a positive or negative thought?
What emotion do you think represent you most of the time? Are you a mixed bag of emotions?
Can we learn from our emotions? In the movie, the other emotions had difficulty understanding Sadness. How can sadness be an important emotion to experience as well?
Post Viewing Discussion Questions
An “Inside Out” (Disney/Pixar) Study Guide: Understanding Emotions. Click the link to download and/or print the study guide Written by Abigail Burd, LCSW.
Have the students use fotojet to create a cartoon using the characters from Inside out that shows their reaction to an emotional incident.
Example scenario: You tried out for the school soccer team (band, drama production). You thought you did very well but find out the next day you did not make the team (band, cast). You are upset and disappointed at not being chosen. Use the fotojet template (see directions below) to create a cartoon demonstrating how each emotion is reacting to the news and trying to help you cope with your disappointment.