Lesson Plan
Color Hunt Plan
Students will match four basic emotions to corresponding colors and articulate a personal moment they experienced each emotion, demonstrating understanding of color-emotion associations and recognition of body cues.
This lesson builds foundational emotional literacy by helping preschoolers identify feelings through colors, express themselves verbally and visually, and develop self-awareness and social skills.
Audience
Pre-Kindergarten Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on color hunts with discussion and journaling
Prep
Review and Setup Materials
5 minutes
- Review Rainbow Feelings Slides to ensure familiarity with each color-emotion pair.
- Read through Guided Color Hunt Script and note key prompts.
- Print, cut, and hide Classroom Color Scavenger Cards around the classroom at varied heights.
- Prepare one copy of My Color Feelings Journal for each student.
- Arrange carpet seating for circle time and designate a table or mat area for journaling.
Step 1
Introduce Color-Emotion Pairs
5 minutes
- Gather students in a circle on the carpet.
- Display one slide at a time from Rainbow Feelings Slides.
- Ask students to name the color and match it to the feeling shown (e.g., “This is red. Red means angry.”).
- Discuss how our bodies feel with each emotion (e.g., fast heartbeat, big smile).
Step 2
Classroom Color Hunt Activity
10 minutes
- Explain that colored cards are hidden around the classroom.
- Follow the Guided Color Hunt Script to cue students.
- Students search for a card, bring it back to the circle, name the color, and state the emotion.
- Encourage classmates to applaud each finder.
Step 3
Share Personal Stories
5 minutes
- Invite each student to hold up their found card.
- Prompt: “Tell us about a time you felt this way. What happened? How did your body feel?”
- Encourage active listening and turn-taking among peers.
Step 4
Guided Breathing with Color
5 minutes
- Have students hold their color card in front of them.
- Lead a breathing exercise tied to each color:
• Red/Angry: three quick breaths (like a stamp of the foot)
• Yellow/Happy: two big sighs
• Blue/Sad: one long, slow exhale
• Green/Calm: five gentle belly breaths - Model each and count aloud together.
Step 5
Journal Reflection Drawing
5 minutes
- Distribute My Color Feelings Journal to each student.
- Prompt students to draw and color a picture of a time they felt one of the emotions.
- Encourage them to label their drawing with the color name and emotion word.
- Collect journals for review and display later.
Slide Deck
Red = Angry
How does your body feel when you are angry? (e.g., fast heartbeat, clenched fists)
Show this slide to introduce the color–emotion pair “Red = Angry.”
Script/Talking Points:
• “Class, what color do you see on the screen?” (Wait for “Red.”)
• “Yes, this is red. Our class calls red the ‘angry color.’ When we feel angry, our bodies might feel hot, our hearts beat fast, and our fists clench.”
• “Can you give me a thumbs-up if you know what anger feels like? Great!”
• “Now, let’s talk together: How does your body feel when you are angry?”
Encourage 2–3 student responses, modeling any vocabulary as needed.
Yellow = Happy
How does your body feel when you are happy? (e.g., big smile, warm tummy)
Introduce “Yellow = Happy.”
Script/Talking Points:
• “Okay friends, what color do we see now?” (Wait for “Yellow.”)
• “Right! Yellow makes us think of happiness. When you feel happy, your face might be smiling, your heart feels light, and you might want to giggle.”
• “Who here feels happy when they play with a friend or a favorite toy?” (Invite 1–2 quick examples.)
• “Let’s share: How does your body feel when you are happy?”
Listen for words like smile, warm, butterflies, and praise each student’s answer.
Blue = Sad
How does your body feel when you are sad? (e.g., teary eyes, heavy heart)
Introduce “Blue = Sad.”
Script/Talking Points:
• “Look at this slide—what color is it?” (Wait for “Blue.”)
• “Blue is our ‘sad color.’ Sometimes when we feel sad, our eyes might feel teary, our shoulders might slump, and our hearts feel heavy.”
• “Can anyone quietly tell me a time they felt a little sad?” (Accept brief responses.)
• “Now let’s say together: How does your body feel when you are sad?”
Reinforce empathy: “It’s OK to feel sad sometimes. Our bodies are just telling us how we feel.”
Green = Calm
How does your body feel when you are calm? (e.g., slow breaths, relaxed shoulders)
Introduce “Green = Calm.”
Script/Talking Points:
• “What color do you see here?” (Wait for “Green.”)
• “Green is our ‘calm color.’ When we feel calm, our breathing is slow, our bodies feel relaxed, and our minds feel peaceful.”
• “Think of a time when you sat quietly or listened to a story—how did your body feel?”
• “Let’s talk: How does your body feel when you are calm?”
Praise answers like slow breathing, relaxed shoulders, quiet tummy, and emphasize that calm helps us feel safe and ready to learn.
Script
Guided Color Hunt Script
Teacher: "Okay friends, it’s time for our Color Hunt! First, let’s practice our listening ears. Show me your listening ears… Yes! Now, remember our rules: we will use our super eyes to look for a hidden color card, walk safely, and be gentle in our classroom. When you find a card, hold it high, then bring it quietly back to our circle. Got it?"
Teacher: "I’ll model it first. Watch me. (Pretends to look, then ‘finds’ a yellow card.) Here it is! Yellow. Yellow means Happy! When I feel happy, I might giggle and smile. Thank you for watching."
Teacher: "Now it’s your turn! On the count of three, go look for one card! Ready? 1… 2… 3… Go!"
(Students search and return one at a time.)
Teacher (to first finder): "Thank you for bringing your card, Maria. What color do you have?"
Student: "Red!"
Teacher: "Yes—Red! Red means Angry. When I feel angry, my heart beats fast and my face might feel hot. Can you show me an angry face? Great! Let’s clap for Maria!"
Teacher: "Okay, let’s find another card. Ready… Go!"
Teacher (to next finder): "Alex, I see you have a blue card. What feeling is that?"
Student: "Sad."
Teacher: "Right—Blue means Sad. Our shoulders might slump and our eyes feel teary. Thank you for sharing, Alex. Let’s give Alex a big round of applause!"
Teacher: "One more hunt! Let’s find the rest! On your marks… Get set… Go!"
Teacher (to next finder): "I see green, Emma! Green means Calm—slow breaths, relaxed shoulders. Can you show me calm breathing? Wonderful! Applause for Emma!"
Teacher: "Last card—let’s find that happy yellow! 1… 2… 3… Go!"
Teacher (to final finder): "You found Yellow, Jayden—Happy! Big smile, light heart. Can you show us your happiest smile? Fantastic! Clap for Jayden!"
Teacher: "Great job, everyone! We found all our colors and named their feelings. Let’s gently place our cards in the basket and sit back in our circle for our next activity."
Game
Classroom Color Scavenger Cards
Printable cards for hiding around the classroom. Each card shows a bold color background with the matching emotion word. You’ll need 8 cards total (2 of each color–emotion pair).
Materials Needed:
- Cardstock or heavy paper
- Color printer or markers/crayons
- Scissors or paper cutter
Card Layout (2 per color/emotion):
-
Red = Angry
• Bold red background
• White text: “Angry” -
Yellow = Happy
• Bright yellow background
• Dark gray text: “Happy” -
Blue = Sad
• Deep blue background
• White text: “Sad” -
Green = Calm
• Soft green background
• Dark gray text: “Calm”
Preparation Steps:
- Print the cards on cardstock, two copies of each design.
- Cut them out into uniform rectangles (~4×6 inches).
- Laminate (optional) for durability.
- Hide around the room at varied heights for the hunt.
Use these cards during the Classroom Color Hunt Activity to help students find and identify each emotion color!
Journal
My Color Feelings Journal
Name: _______________________ Date: _______________________
Reflection Page
1. Which feeling did you choose today?
Emotion: ____________________ Color: ____________________
2. Draw a picture of a time you felt this way:
(Use crayons or markers to color your drawing!)
3. Tell us about your picture:
What happened? How did your body feel when you felt this emotion?