Reading with Emotion

Reading, reading, reading. I’m always looking for more ways to get students to read or re-read in my classroom! This Reading with Emotion activity is actually based off of an improv game I learned in high school called Changing Emotion and, like most improv games, is a ton of fun. It brings just the right mix of silliness and focus to make reading feel fresh again!

In the improv game, people are acting out a scene. The audience or director calls out an emotion and the actors act out the scene using the emotion. The idea is easily applied to reading! You give students an emotion and they read the selection using their voice, face, and body to convey the emotion!

That’s it! This activity can be done in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class. In class, I prefer small groups or pairs to get started. I think this helps students be more comfortable being a little goofy with their emotions as they read! Once we’ve done it in small groups and after we’re into the year and have some relationships built as a class is when I would use it with the whole group setting as it becomes a bit of a show!

You have a few options for how to switch the emotions. You could set a timer to buzz to switch emotions, or you could just read the room and call out a new one! Sometimes a scene or an emotion is just going so well you don’t want to cut it short so it’s nice to have that control.

Why Students Love Reading with Emotion

What makes Reading with Emotion such a hit in my classroom is how quickly it turns even the shyest readers into total performers. The second I toss out emotions like excited, angry, or nervous, everything changes. Suddenly the text is alive. Students start using their voices, faces, and bodies, and it is honestly so entertaining to watch. They laugh, they lean into it, and they actually enjoy reading aloud. It is one of those magical activities where they forget they are practicing fluency and just have fun. I love that it builds their confidence without them even realizing it. They just think they are being silly, and I am over here celebrating all the language growth happening.

Tips to Make Reading with Emotion Even More Fun

Want to take Reading with Emotion to the next level? Let your students pick the emotions. Seriously, you will hear suggestions like dramatic heartbreak or robot mode and the whole room lights up. You can even turn it into a mini performance with roles like emotion caller or narrator. Pick a short reading, get them in groups, and just let them go for it. The room fills with energy and laughter, and somehow they are reading and re-reading without a single complaint. It is one of my favorite ways to make literacy feel like play, and your students will be asking to do it again.

Want an easy resource to use to try this activity in your own classroom? have got you covered. Click here to check out the emotion cards in my store. They are ready to print and perfect for getting students up, moving, and having fun while reading. Whether you are using this in pairs, small groups, or a whole class setting, these cards make it simple to add a fun twist to your next reading lesson. Students will love it and you will love how easy it is to implement. Click here to see the emotion cards in my store!

More Reading Activities

You may like this podcast interview with Joshua Cabral that includes LOTS of activities for any reading. Give it a listen here!