Colorful Year Reflection

ldemoraes

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Session 1 Lesson Plan

Students will revisit the four Zones of Regulation colors and reflect by identifying one strategy per zone they will practice in 8th grade.

Revisiting Zones of Regulation empowers beginner multilingual learners with emotion vocabulary and strategies, boosting self-awareness and confidence as they transition to 8th grade.

Audience

8th Grade Beginner English Learners

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive review, guided reflection, and worksheet practice.

Materials

Zones of Regulation Review Slides, * Session 1 Reflection Worksheet, * Whiteboard and Markers, and * Colored Sticky Notes

Prep

Review and Print Materials

10 minutes

Preview the Zones of Regulation Review Slides to familiarize yourself with key colors and vocabulary.
Print enough copies of the Session 1 Reflection Worksheet for each student.
Gather colored sticky notes, markers, and prepare whiteboard space for zones chart.

Step 1

Warm-Up

5 minutes

Greet students and briefly discuss their favorite color.
Ask: “How can colors help us talk about feelings?”
Introduce today’s goal: revisiting the Zones of Regulation.

Step 2

Review Zones

10 minutes

Display Zones of Regulation Review Slides.
Point to each color zone (Blue, Green, Yellow, Red) and ask students to name feelings in that zone.
Use whiteboard to chart student answers under each color.
Model one strategy for each zone (e.g., deep breathing for Blue).

Step 3

Main Activity

8 minutes

Give each student 4 colored sticky notes (one per zone).
Prompt: “Write one strategy you remember for each color.”
Students place notes on the corresponding zone chart on the whiteboard.
Discuss examples and clarify vocabulary in simple English.

Step 4

Worksheet

5 minutes

Distribute the Session 1 Reflection Worksheet.
Students draw or write one personal goal for each zone to practice next year.
Circulate and support language and content as needed.

Step 5

Closure

2 minutes

Invite two volunteers to share a goal from their worksheet.
Praise effort and remind students next session they will set emotional goals for 8th grade.

Warm Up

Session 1 Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Materials:

Colored cards or a slide showing the four Zones of Regulation colors (Blue, Green, Yellow, Red)

Steps:

Hold up the Blue card. Ask: “What feeling goes with this color?”
Students call out one word (e.g., “sad,” “tired”). Write their answer under Blue on the board.
Repeat with Green, Yellow, and Red cards, recording each response.
Point to each student answer, model pronunciation, and briefly praise participation.

This quick match activates students’ prior knowledge of color–feeling connections before we review the Zones of Regulation in detail.