Troll Emotions Activity for Kids

When I think of the troll in Three Billy Goats Gruff, I assume it’s an angry kind of troll. But really, the troll is probably lonely – living all by himself under a bridge and eating everyone that comes by.

So I thought it might be interesting to do a troll emotion activity.

Troll Emotions Activity

There are many types of trolls in mythology, movies, literature, etc. When I think of movies and toys I picture cute little trolls with colorful hair – my personal favorite when it comes to trolls. I was an 80s baby, so that might explain!

When I think of Harry Potter I think of a gigantic, bumbling, drooling being.

And then there are fairy tales in which trolls are just mean, angry, loners that eat people for crossing a bridge.

It’s interesting that there are so many variations of trolls.

Why Should Kids Learn About Emotions?

I always assumed emotions would be something kids would just pick up on. But if we don’t name things for kids, how are they going to pick up on them?

I realized when my kids were young that it was empowering to give them the words for how they were feeling. And it helped to do that when they weren’t feeling an intense emotion.

So we’ve done a lot of emotion activities over the years and given them many words for how they may be feeling.

I’ve found it especially helpful to do this through literature. Authors are so good at showing how a character is feeling and it’s easy to relate to them.

Anytime we have a chance to discuss emotions within literature, we jump on it.

Check out these free printable emotion faces for more emotion learning!

How to Use the Troll Dry Erase Page

Once upon a time I did an art class in which we discussed how simple changes to the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth could produce a huge variety of emotions. That lesson has really stuck with me all of these years.

We this activity is all about changing the mouth and eyes and seeing how the emotions come to life before your very eyes.

There are 2 pages – the trolls face and a roll and draw page.

Laminate the trolls face (or put it in a sheet protector). Then find a dry erase marker or crayon.

Now roll a die and draw the corresponding eyebrows. Then roll again and draw the corresponding mouth.

What emotion do you think the troll is feeling?

Have a discussion with your kids and see what you think.

Then erase the marker and roll again!

It’s amazing how many variations there are with just a small change.

How to Use the How Does the Troll Feel Booklet?

I wanted to include a booklet that showed how the troll feels to match the activity. So the booklet is pretty simple.

On each page there is a sentence that starts with ‘The troll feels” and then names an emotion.

Above the sentence is a blank space. There are pictures of the troll emotions for you to cut out and place in the booklet!

Can’t figure out the emotion? I get it – some of them are a bit ambiguous to me. But I included a colorful set of the troll emotion faces that include the emotion! Use these as an answer guide (or just go with your gut).

Get Your Download Here

Get your copy of the Troll Emotions Activity Here!