Lesson Plan
Color Your Emotions Lesson Plan
Students will identify and release emotions by translating feelings into colors and art, then reflect and share to build healthy coping skills and peer support.
This lesson fosters emotional awareness and healthy expression through art, helping ACT art students manage feelings, reduce stress, and strengthen classroom community.
Audience
High School ACT Art Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Art-based expression and guided discussion
Materials
Art Supplies (Paint, Brushes, Paper), Emotion Color Guide, Color Your Emotions Slide Deck, and Emotion Reflection Worksheet
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Color Your Emotions Slide Deck
- Print enough copies of the Emotion Reflection Worksheet for each student
- Familiarize yourself with the Emotion Color Guide
- Gather and arrange art supplies on tables for easy access
- Set up seating in a circle or U-shape to facilitate group discussion
Step 1
Introduction & Emotional Check-In
5 minutes
- Welcome students and introduce the lesson’s objective
- Establish ground rules: respect, confidentiality, open-mindedness
- Use the slide deck to guide a brief emotional check-in (e.g., thumbs-up/neutral/thumbs-down)
- Emphasize that all feelings are valid and this is a safe space
Step 2
Exploring Color-Emotion Connections
5 minutes
- Present the Emotion Color Guide via slide deck
- Discuss how different colors can represent emotions (e.g., blue for calm, red for anger)
- Model by sharing a personal example of color-based expression
- Invite a couple of volunteers to name emotions and pick matching colors
Step 3
Art Expression Activity
15 minutes
- Distribute art supplies and copies of the Emotion Reflection Worksheet
- Ask students to choose an emotion they want to express today
- Instruct them to create an artwork using colors and shapes that represent that emotion
- Circulate to offer support, ask probing questions, and encourage creativity
- Remind students there’s no right or wrong way to express their feelings
Step 4
Group Discussion & Reflection
5 minutes
- Invite volunteers to share their artwork and describe the emotion and color choices
- Use the worksheet prompts to guide reflection: “What did you feel while creating this?” “How can art help you cope?”
- Encourage peers to offer positive, supportive feedback
- Summarize key takeaways: using art as an emotional outlet and supporting each other
- Close by thanking everyone for sharing and encouraging them to use these strategies going forward
Slide Deck
Color Your Emotions
A 30-minute group lesson for ACT art students to explore emotional release through creative expression and peer discussion.
Welcome students and set a positive tone. Briefly explain the purpose of the lesson: using art and color to explore and release emotions.
Objective
Students will identify and release emotions by translating feelings into colors and art, then reflect and share to build healthy coping skills and peer support.
Read the objective aloud, pointing out how today’s activity ties into emotional awareness and coping. Encourage students to keep this goal in mind as they work.
Emotional Check-In
• Establish ground rules: respect, confidentiality, open-mindedness
• Thumbs-up / neutral / down check-in
• Reinforce that all feelings are valid
• This is a safe, supportive space
Guide a quick check-in. Ask students to show thumbs-up (good), thumbs-neutral (okay), or thumbs-down (struggling). Note any students who may need extra support.
Emotion Color Guide
• Blue = Calm or Sad
• Red = Anger or Passion
• Yellow = Happiness or Energy
• Green = Growth or Tranquility
• Orange = Excitement or Warmth
• Purple = Creativity or Mystery
• Black = Grief or Intensity
Display as a visual reference. Explain each color–emotion pairing and invite a couple of volunteers to suggest their own examples.
Art Expression Activity
- Choose one emotion you want to express today
- Select colors and shapes on paper to represent that emotion
- Use paint, brushes, and creative techniques—no right or wrong
- Complete your artwork within 15 minutes
Read the steps clearly. Circulate, ask open-ended questions (e.g., “What drew you to that color?”), and affirm every student’s unique expression.
Group Reflection Questions
• What did you feel while creating this?
• How did your color choices reflect your emotion?
• How can art help you cope with tough feelings?
• What did you notice about your peers’ expressions?
Facilitate the sharing circle. Encourage positive feedback and remind students to refer to the worksheet prompts as they respond.
Worksheet
Emotion Reflection Worksheet
Name: ________________________ Date: _______________
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What emotion did you choose to express in your artwork?
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Why did you select that emotion today?
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Which colors and shapes did you use to represent your emotion? Explain your choices.
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Describe how you felt while creating your artwork.
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How did making this art help you understand or release your emotion?
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In what ways can art be a healthy outlet for emotions? List at least two reasons.
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After viewing a peer’s artwork, what new perspective did you gain about expressing feelings?
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Action Plan: Identify one specific step you will take this week to use art (or another creative activity) as a coping strategy.
Thank you for reflecting! Your insights help build a supportive art community where we use creativity to care for our emotional well-being.
Discussion
Color Your Emotions Discussion
Discussion Guidelines (5 minutes)
- Establish a safe, respectful space: students speak one at a time; everyone listens without judgment.
- Confidentiality reminder: what’s shared here stays here.
- Encourage honesty and kindness: use "I" statements to own your feelings (e.g., “I felt…”).
Conversation Starters (10 minutes)
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Connecting Color to Feeling
- What did you notice when you chose specific colors to represent your emotion? (Emotion Color Guide)
- Follow-up: Did any color surprise you by how strongly it represented your feeling? Why?
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Art as Insight
- How did creating shapes or patterns help you understand your emotion more deeply?
- Follow-up: Was there a moment during the process when your feeling shifted or became clearer?
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Peer Perspectives
- What stood out to you in a classmate’s artwork?
- Follow-up: How did their use of color or form offer you a new way to think about expressing emotions?
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Coping Strategies
- Based on today’s activity, how might you use color or art at home or in other settings to cope with strong feelings?
- Follow-up: What barriers might you face, and how could you overcome them?
Reflection & Action Planning (5 minutes)
- Invite volunteers to share one insight from their Emotion Reflection Worksheet.
- Ask each speaker to state one specific action step they’ll try this week for emotional release (Worksheet Q8).
- Group cheer: celebrate each plan and remind everyone that small steps build lasting coping skills.
Closing Reminder: Art is a tool you carry with you—use color, shape, and creativity whenever you need to name or release an emotion.
Thank you for your openness and support for one another!