Hidden and Masked Feelings · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

When Feelings Hide Behind a Smile

Personal & Social Development · Emotional Literacy · ages 7-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Mateo feels sad but smiles and says 'I'm fine' at school. What is Mateo doing?

    • Lying about everything
    • Hiding his true feeling
    • Feeling nothing

  2. What does it mean when someone hides or 'masks' their feelings?

    • They show a different feeling than what they truly feel
    • They forget how they feel
    • They feel nothing at all

  3. Hiding your feelings sometimes is something only a few people do.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Why might someone say 'I'm fine' even when they are not?

    • They don't want to worry other people
    • They enjoy confusing their friends
    • They have never learned any feeling words

  5. Priya says 'Nothing's wrong' in a shaky voice while looking at the floor. What is the mismatch here?

    • Her words and body both say she's fine
    • She is speaking too loudly
    • Her words say she's fine, but her voice and body suggest she's upset

  6. If a friend hides a sad feeling, the sad feeling has completely gone away.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. Liam thinks that if a friend might be masking a feeling, the best thing to do is ignore it because it's private. Is Liam's idea usually best?

    • Yes, because masked feelings are never real
    • Yes, feelings are always private and should never be discussed
    • No, it's usually better to gently check in or encourage them to talk to someone trusted

  8. Jamal laughs loudly with his friends at recess, but all week you notice he goes quiet and stares at his lunch. What might this suggest?

    • Jamal is definitely fine because he laughed at recess
    • Jamal might be hiding a feeling he hasn't shared yet
    • Jamal simply doesn't like lunch food
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_E5ju6kQSu3-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

When Feelings Hide Behind a Smile W1-mt_E5ju6kQSu3-s1

  1. Hiding his true feeling · Mateo is masking his sadness by showing a happy face instead of his real feeling.
  2. They show a different feeling than what they truly feel · Masking means showing one feeling on the outside while feeling something else inside.
  3. False · Hiding feelings is very common. Most people do it sometimes.
  4. They don't want to worry other people · People often hide feelings because they don't want to burden others or feel embarrassed.
  5. Her words say she's fine, but her voice and body suggest she's upset · Her cheerful words don't match her shaky voice and downcast eyes. That's a mismatch.
  6. False · Hiding a feeling only covers it up. It doesn't make it disappear, which is why sharing it usually helps more.
  7. No, it's usually better to gently check in or encourage them to talk to someone trusted · Noticing a hidden feeling is a chance to check in gently or encourage sharing with someone trusted, not to look away.
  8. Jamal might be hiding a feeling he hasn't shared yet · A pattern of quietness underneath a cheerful moment can be a clue that a feeling is being hidden.
Worksheet · LightMySky