UIP-10: How Do Our Emotions Shape Who We Are?

1. Problem Statement ⚡

Emotions play a powerful role in shaping our thoughts, actions, and relationships. Yet, in today’s busy world, their impact on our choices and productivity is often      overlooked.

Every human being experiences emotions - happiness, sadness, anger, fear, excitement, that guide how we react and make decisions. However, many children are unaware of the importance of recognizing and managing their emotions.

Emotions significantly influence daily activities, yet their impact on productivity and decision making is often ignored. Understanding emotions helps us reflect on our behavior, make better choices, and build stronger connections.

This project encouraged students to explore an important question: How do emotions affect our daily routines, decisions, and overall well-being how can we manage them effectively to live balanced, happy lives?

2. Project Description 🎭

Students of Grade 7 undertook a Unit Integrated Project titled “How Do Our Emotions Shape Who We Are?”

The project aimed to help students explore how emotions develop as we grow and how they evolve into emotional intelligence - the ability to understand, express, and manage one’s own emotions while empathizing with others.

Through interactive activities and reflective discussions, students learned that emotions are a natural part of being human and that developing emotional intelligence is key to personal growth, better communication, and overall well-being.

✨ Activities included:

• Emotion Awareness Session: Students identified different feelings - happiness, sadness, anger, fear and discussed how emotions influence actions and decisions.

• Science of Emotions: Students explored how emotions are connected to brain activity- the amygdala processes emotions like fear and joy, while the prefrontal cortex helps control and understand them. They learned that positive emotions promote motivation and creativity, while negative emotions help us reflect and grow.

• Survey: Students conducted an Emotion Awareness Survey in their community to understand how people express emotions and whether emotional awareness improves relationships.

A community survey was conducted with questions like:

• Do emotions affect your relationships?

• Do you think emotional awareness can improve surroundings?

• How do you express emotions when you’re happy or upset?

  Results: Around 80% agreed that emotional awareness can improve surroundings, though many were unsure how to express feelings openly.

  
  

• Creative Expression: Students designed posters, wrote reflections, and shared slogans such as “Emotions Make Us Human - Cherish Them, Understand Them, and Let Them Guide You.”

• Reflection Circle: Students shared how understanding emotions made them more aware of their reactions and more empathetic toward others.

3. Project Goals / Objectives 🎯

This Unit Integrated Project aimed to help students understand how emotions influence behavior and how managing them enhances well-being, focus, and harmony.

Objectives:

💡 Understand the Role of Emotions: Help students analyze how emotions influence their choices, actions, and relationships.

🧠 Develop Emotional Intelligence: Encourage self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation.

🌈 Recognize All Emotions as Valid: Teach that both positive and negative emotions have value and purpose.

🎨 Promote Emotional Expression: Encourage students to use healthy outlets such as art, music, writing, or discussion to express feelings.

💬 Strengthen Empathy and Relationships: Promote understanding of others’ emotions to build compassion and teamwork.

💪 Enhance Well-being and Performance: Support emotional balance to improve focus, confidence, and productivity.

4. Process and Timeline 🗓️

• Introduction and Discussion: Students began by discussing what emotions are and how they influence thoughts and behavior in daily life.

• Research and Science Integration: They studied the science behind emotions and learned how the brain processes feelings, the amygdala triggers emotional responses, and the prefrontal cortex helps control them.

• Survey and Analysis: Through the community survey, students discovered that 80% of respondents agreed that emotional awareness can improve surroundings, but many lacked skills to express emotions properly.

• Creative Expression: Students used drawing, journaling, and role-play to depict various emotions and healthy coping mechanisms.

• Group Reflection: Each group presented its findings, focusing on how emotional intelligence builds better decision-making and teamwork.

5. Student Reflection 💭

❤️ Emotions Make Us Human: Every feeling - joy, sadness, anger, fear, has a purpose.

🧠 Awareness Builds Control: Understanding emotions helps us respond wisely rather than react impulsively.

🌍 Empathy Builds Connection: Recognizing others’ emotions strengthens trust and relationships.

🎭 Science Meets Emotion: Understanding how the brain

manages emotions helps us stay balanced.

💪 Emotional Intelligence Matters: It improves communication, resilience, and decision-making.

They concluded beautifully- “Emotions make us Human. Cherish them, understand them, and Let them Guide You.”

6. Closing Thought 🌟

“How Do Our Emotions Shape Who We Are?” was not just a project , it was a journey of self-awareness. Students realized that emotions are a vital part of human life and that learning to manage them leads to better health, confidence, and relationships.

At Ashraya, we nurture emotional intelligence as a core life skill. By helping children understand and express their emotions, we empower them to grow into mindful, empathetic individuals capable of handling life’s challenges with strength and compassion.

7. Call to Action ✊

Let’s create a world where emotions are understood, expressed, and celebrated, not confined or silenced.

✨ Recognize your emotions: Every feeling is valid and worth listening to.

✨ Express freely: Emotions aren’t just spoken or written, they can flow through art, music, drama, and movement.

✨ Practice empathy: Understanding others’ emotions builds harmony and connection.

At Ashraya, under the Department of Psychology and Counselling, we promote Arts-Based Therapy (ABT) - offering children a safe, creative way to express feelings beyond words through art, music, drama, and movement, building confidence, emotional balance, and self-awareness.

👉 Support Ashraya’s mission to nurture emotional intelligence, creativity, and compassion in every child.

Contribute here: ashrayainitiative.org/donate