What is Emotion Works?

The model of emotion (cog model) is a visual curriculum that scaffolds the emotion works teaching and learning programme. The model contains 7 different coloured cogs and each of them represent a different aspect of emotion to look at and learn about.

It uses different coloured cogs to help children understand the component model of emotions: how our emotions work and how they link to triggers, behaviours, body sensations, regulation strategies, intensity and influences.

Orange cog- Emotion Words: The words we use to name our feelings and emotions.

Red cog – Body Sensations: The sensations we notice in our body when we feel an emotion.

Yellow cog – Triggers: The things that happen to cause or trigger an emotional reaction.

Green cog – Behaviours: The things we do to show our emotions on the outside.

Blue cog – Regulation Strategies: The things we can do to make us feel better when emotions don’t feel good.

Purple cog – Influences: The things that influence how we react to emotional triggers.

Grey cog – Intensity: The different ways we can report the size and strength of our emotions.

From Reception up to Year 4, the children will primarily learn about the 5-cog model. Focusing on the vocabulary, the body sensations, the behaviours, regulating and triggers.         

In year 5 and 6, the cog model is extended to include the intensity cog and the influences cog.

For more information, please see the guide below.