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Emotion Economy

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Lesson Plan

Session 1 Plan

Introduce the Emotion Economy framework by mapping key emotions to currency values and exploring emotion roles through political analogies, enabling the student to start using spending/saving metaphors for managing big feelings.

This session leverages the student’s interests in money and politics to lower resistance toward talking about emotions. By creating familiar analogies, it builds engagement and provides a visual, structured framework for recognizing and managing big feelings.

Audience

4th Grade Student

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Use money and political metaphors.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Session Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Engage: Introduce Emotion Economy

3 minutes

  • Greet the student and explain that today’s session is called Emotion Economy.
  • Show a real coin or bill and then reveal the Emotion Currency Chart.
  • Explain that just like money, emotions have value and we can learn to spend, save, or invest them.

Step 2

Teach: Emotion Currency Mapping

5 minutes

  • Display the Emotion Currency Chart featuring emotions as different coins and bills (e.g., joy as a $1 coin, anger as a $5 bill).
  • Ask the student to recall a recent strong feeling and select the matching play money denomination from the Play Money Coins and Bills.
  • Have the student place their chosen denomination on the chart and name the emotion aloud.

Step 3

Explore: Emotional Government Roles

4 minutes

  • Introduce the Emotion Politics Roles Cards with roles like President of Calm, Senator of Sadness, Mayor of Excitement, etc.
  • Invite the student to choose one role and explain how they would use that emotion’s currency to help them feel better.
  • Use the Whiteboard to jot down their ideas (e.g., “President of Calm issues a calm coin when I feel upset”).

Step 4

Assess: Reflection & Check Understanding

3 minutes

  • Ask the student to explain in their own words how they might “spend” or “save” emotion currency when upset.
  • Use quick yes/no or thumbs-up/thumbs-down questions to confirm understanding:
    • “Can you pick the right currency for anger?”
    • “Is it okay to save some joy for later?”
  • Note their responses to guide next session planning.
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Slide Deck

Emotion Economy: Session 1

• 15-minute, 1-on-1 session
• 4th Grade Student

Today we’ll learn how emotions can act like money—you have a balance, you can spend, save, and invest them to feel better.

Welcome the student. Say: “Today we’re launching our Emotion Economy—think of emotions like money you can spend, save, or invest!” Use an actual coin or bill to hook interest.

What Is the Emotion Economy?

• Emotions = Currency
• Each feeling has its own value
• We can learn to manage big feelings by “spending” or “saving” them

Explain the core analogy. Emphasize that just like a bank keeps track of money, we’ll track our feelings using charts and roles.

Emotion Currency Chart

Joy = $1 coin
Anger = $5 bill
Sadness = 2¢ coin
Excitement = $10 bill

(See Emotion Currency Chart)

Reveal the chart. Ask the student to point out an emotion they felt recently and match it to its currency value.

Emotional Government Roles

President of Calm – issues calm coins
Senator of Sadness – allocates space to feel sad
Mayor of Excitement – distributes bursts of excitement

(Use Emotion Politics Roles Cards)

Introduce the cards. Let the student choose one role and describe how it helps them handle that emotion.

How to Map Your Emotions

  1. Recall a recent big feeling
  2. Pick its matching play-money currency
  3. Place it on the chart
  4. Name the emotion aloud

Guide the student through each step physically with play money and the chart. Prompt them if they get stuck.

Reflection & Check Understanding

• How would you “spend” your anger currency?
• When might you “save” some joy for later?

Thumbs Up if you feel ready to manage big feelings!

Ask the reflection questions. Use thumbs-up/thumbs-down or yes/no to check understanding. Praise their effort.

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Worksheet

Emotion Currency Chart

Use this chart to see which currency matches each emotion. Print and display it during your session.

EmotionCurrency
Joy🪙 $1 coin
Sadness🪙 2¢ coin
Anger💵 $5 bill
Excitement💵 $10 bill
 
 

Your Turn

Choose one emotion you’ve felt recently. Draw or write the matching currency below.

Emotion: ________________________________





Currency: ________________________________





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Activity

Emotion Politics Roles Cards

Use these role cards to explore how different emotions can govern your day-to-day decisions. Print, cut out, and let the student pick a card each time they want to think about managing a big feeling.

Role TitleImageDescription
President of CalmPresident of CalmIssues calming strategies (deep breaths, counting down) when things get tough.
Senator of SadnessSenator of SadnessAllocates safe time and space to feel sad and acknowledges feelings without judgment.
Mayor of ExcitementMayor of ExcitementDistributes bursts of joyful activities (like a quick dance or celebration).
Treasurer of TensionTreasurer of TensionManages built-up tension by spending it on muscle relaxation or drawing.
Governor of GratitudeGovernor of GratitudeInvests in thank-you notes and positive thoughts to boost mood for later.
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Lesson Plan

Session 2 Plan

Guide the student to use an ATM withdrawal metaphor to ‘withdraw’ calm currency through deep breathing and grounding exercises, reinforcing a practical coping strategy.

Building on the Emotion Economy framework, this session gives the student a hands-on, familiar analogy (ATM) to practice and internalize a simple deep-breathing and grounding routine, reducing fight/flight/freeze responses.

Audience

4th Grade Student

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Use ATM withdrawal metaphor.

Materials

Prep

Prepare ATM Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Engage: Revisit Emotion Economy

3 minutes

  • Greet the student and remind them of the Emotion Economy concept.
  • Display the ATM Withdrawal Chart and explain that instead of a bank, we’ll use an ATM to get our calm currency.
  • Ask the student to recall one role from the Emotion Politics Roles Cards (e.g., President of Calm).

Step 2

Teach: Introduce ATM Withdrawal

5 minutes

  • Show the Toy ATM Prop and explain that pressing a button lets us withdraw calm coins or bills when we feel big emotions.
  • Walk through the ATM Withdrawal Chart:
    • 1 deep breath = withdraw 🪙 $1 calm coin
    • 5 slow breaths = withdraw 💵 $5 calm bill
    • Grounding counts (5-4-3-2-1 senses) = bonus 💵 $10 calm bill
  • Use the Breathing Bank Script to model the steps verbally.

Step 3

Practice: Withdraw Calm Currency

4 minutes

  • Invite the student to “make a withdrawal” at the ATM Prop by following the script:
    • Step 1: Inhale slowly for a count of 4
    • Step 2: Exhale slowly for a count of 4
    • Step 3: Name 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, 1 thing you taste
  • Use the Timer to pace breaths if needed.
  • After each withdrawal, have the student place the corresponding play-money calm coin/bill into a “Calm Vault” (a container or corner of the table).

Step 4

Assess: Reflection & Check Understanding

3 minutes

  • Ask the student to explain how they would use the ATM when feeling upset.
  • Use thumbs-up/thumbs-down or yes/no prompts:
    • “Can you show me how to withdraw one calm coin?”
    • “Can you tell me when to do grounding counts?”
  • Praise successes and note any steps that need reteaching next session.
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Worksheet

ATM Withdrawal Chart

Use this chart to see how to withdraw calm currency when you feel big emotions. Print and display it during your session.

Calm CurrencyHow to Withdraw
🪙 $1 Calm CoinTake 1 deep breath (inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts)
💵 $5 Calm BillTake 5 slow breaths (inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts, five times)
💵 $10 Calm BillGrounding exercise (5-4-3-2-1 senses)

Practice Your Withdrawals

Think about a time you felt upset. Complete each step to withdraw calm currency:

  1. Withdraw one calm coin by taking a deep breath:
    What did you notice?





  2. Withdraw five calm bills by taking five slow breaths:
    How did your body feel?







  3. Withdraw a bonus $10 calm bill using grounding:
    • Name 5 things you see: ______________________________

    • Name 4 things you can touch: _______________________

    • Name 3 things you hear: ____________________________

    • Name 2 things you smell: ____________________________

    • Name 1 thing you taste: _____________________________

  4. Reflection: Which withdrawal helped you the most, and why?








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Script

Breathing Bank Script

Teacher (enthusiastic tone): “Okay, [Student Name], our ATM is ready! When we feel big emotions, we can press the button and withdraw calm currency. Let’s practice together step by step.”

  1. Step One: Withdraw a $1 Calm Coin
    • Teacher: “Press the ATM button now. Ready? Inhale slowly for a count of four: 1…2…3…4. Then exhale slowly for a count of four: 1…2…3…4.”
    • Teacher (prompt if needed): “Let’s try that breath again—nice and slow. How did that feel?”
    • Teacher (after student breathes): “Great! You just withdrew one calm coin. What did you notice in your body when you breathed?”

  2. Step Two: Withdraw five $5 Calm Bills
    • Teacher: “Now let’s withdraw five calm bills. Each time you hear me say ‘breathe,’ take one deep breath (inhale for four, exhale for four). Ready? Breathe…Breathe…Breathe…Breathe…Breathe.”
    • Teacher (encourage): “You’re doing awesome. After five breaths, how calm do you feel on a scale of 1 to 5?”

  3. Step Three: Withdraw a $10 Calm Bill with Grounding
    • Teacher: “Last step—grounding withdrawal. We’ll use our five senses. I’ll ask you to name things you notice. Ready?”
    • “Name 5 things you see.”
    • “Name 4 things you can touch.”
    • “Name 3 things you hear.”
    • “Name 2 things you smell.”
    • “Name 1 thing you taste.”
    • Teacher (after each prompt): “Great—what’s next? _______.”
    • Teacher (after all five): “You just withdrew a big $10 calm bill! How does your body feel now?”

  4. Closing Reflection and Deposit to Calm Vault
    • Teacher: “Let’s put all your calm currency into our Calm Vault. You earned one $1 coin, five $5 bills, and one $10 bill. Nice work!”
    • Teacher: “Which withdrawal helped you the most—coin, bills, or grounding? Why?”
    • Teacher (if student hesitates): “It’s okay—just pick the one that felt best and tell me how it helped you feel calmer.”

Teacher (praise and bridge): “Fantastic job withdrawing calm currency today! Next time you feel upset, remember our ATM is here—just press the button and breathe.”

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Lesson Plan

Session 3 Plan

Teach the student how to build an Emotion Savings Account by making regular “deposits” of coping skills, so they learn proactive strategies to boost resilience.

By framing coping skills as savings deposits, the lesson leverages the student’s interest in money analogies to encourage proactive emotion management and reduce reactive fight/flight/freeze responses.

Audience

4th Grade Student

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Use savings-account metaphor.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Savings Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Engage: Recap Emotion Economy

3 minutes

  • Greet the student and briefly revisit the ATM withdrawal and Emotion Economy concepts.
  • Display the Emotion Savings Chart and explain that just like a bank savings account, we can save up coping skills for when we need them.
  • Ask the student: “What’s one way you’ve withdrawn calm currency so far?”

Step 2

Teach: Introduce Emotion Savings Account

5 minutes

  • Show the Emotion Savings Chart with columns for coping skills and savings balance.
  • Explain deposit values (e.g., 💵 $5 deposit for 5-minute quiet time, 🪙 $1 deposit for a single stretch or positive thought).
  • Model a deposit: choose a coping skill, place the matching play-money into the “Emotion Savings Jar,” and write or sticker it on the chart.

Step 3

Practice: Make Your Own Deposits

4 minutes

  • Give the student a Savings Goals Worksheet.
  • Invite them to list 3 coping activities they enjoy (e.g., drawing, listening to music).
  • For each activity, have the student deposit the corresponding play money into the jar and decorate the worksheet with markers or stickers.
  • Encourage verbalizing: “I deposit $5 when I draw for five minutes.”

Step 4

Assess: Plan for Future Withdrawals

3 minutes

  • Ask the student to explain how saving up these deposits will help when they feel upset.
  • Use yes/no or thumbs-up/down:
    • “Can you tell me your top coping deposit?”
    • “Will you save this deposit to use next time you feel angry?”
  • Praise their planning and note deposits to revisit in the next session.
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Worksheet

Emotion Savings Chart

Use this chart to track your “deposits” of coping skills into your Emotion Savings Account. Each time you practice a skill, place the matching play‐money into your Emotion Savings Jar and update your balance below.

Coping Skill DescriptionDeposit Value (🪙 $1 or 💵 $5)Total Savings Balance
1. ____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________________________________

Your Turn: Plan and Deposit

  1. Pick three coping activities you enjoy (e.g., drawing, music, stretch). Then for each:
    • Write the skill below.

    • Decide on a deposit value (🪙 $1 for a small act, 💵 $5 for a longer activity).

    • Place that money in your Jar and record your updated balance.

Skill 1: ____________________________

Deposit: ____________________________

Balance: ____________________________



Skill 2: ____________________________

Deposit: ____________________________

Balance: ____________________________



Skill 3: ____________________________

Deposit: ____________________________

Balance: ____________________________



Next Steps

When you feel a big emotion and need support, you can withdraw from your savings! Use your Savings Goals Worksheet to plan when and how you’ll make those withdrawals.

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Worksheet

Savings Goals Worksheet

Use this worksheet to plan how and when you’ll withdraw your saved coping skills from your Emotion Savings Account.

Plan Your Withdrawals

For each situation below, decide which saved skill you will withdraw, how much currency to use, and why it will help you.

  1. Situation: ____________________________________________

    Saved Skill: __________________________________________

    Currency to Withdraw (🪙 $1 or 💵 $5): _________________

    Why This Helps Me: _________________________________



  2. Situation: ____________________________________________

    Saved Skill: __________________________________________

    Currency to Withdraw (🪙 $1 or 💵 $5): _________________

    Why This Helps Me: _________________________________



  3. Situation: ____________________________________________

    Saved Skill: __________________________________________

    Currency to Withdraw (🪙 $1 or 💵 $5): _________________

    Why This Helps Me: _________________________________



When-Then Action Plan

Write an action plan using “When I notice… then I will…” to help you remember to withdraw your coping skills.

When I notice I feel ____________, then I will ____________________________.





After I use my saved skill, I will check in and answer:

  • How did I feel before? _______________
  • What happened after I used my skill? _______________
  • What could I adjust next time? _______________







Keep this worksheet handy. Your savings are ready whenever you need them!

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Slide Deck

Emotion Economy: Session 3

• 15-minute, 1-on-1 session
• 4th Grade Student

Today we’ll learn how to save up coping skills—just like money in a bank—to use when we feel big emotions.

Greet the student and remind them of our Emotion Economy theme. Say: “Today, we’re opening an Emotion Savings Account to build up coping skills before we need them.”

What Is an Emotion Savings Account?

• Think of coping skills as deposits you make now
• Each deposit builds a balance you can withdraw later
• By saving skills ahead of time, you’re ready for tough moments

Introduce the savings metaphor. Emphasize proactive emotion management.

Emotion Savings Chart

• Use the Emotion Savings Chart
• List your coping skills in the left column
• Decide on a deposit value (🪙 $1 or 💵 $5) for each skill
• Place matching play-money in your Emotion Savings Jar

Reveal the chart and explain how to record deposits.

Practice: Make Your Deposits

  1. Pick 3 coping activities you enjoy (e.g., drawing, music, stretching)
  2. For each, decide 🪙 $1 or 💵 $5 deposit
  3. Drop that money into your Emotion Savings Jar
  4. Decorate your Savings Goals Worksheet with markers or stickers

Guide the student through choosing and depositing skills.

Reflection & Next Steps

• Which deposit feels most helpful to you?
• When might you need to withdraw from savings?
• Use your Savings Goals Worksheet to plan when-then action steps

👍 if you feel ready to save your coping skills!

Check understanding and plan next steps.

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Lesson Plan

Session 4 Plan

Teach the student to plan a daily Emotion Budget by allocating limited emotion currency across potential feelings and coping needs, fostering proactive self-regulation.

Allocating a set amount of “emotion money” each day leverages the student’s interest in budgets to encourage anticipatory planning, helping reduce impulsive fight/flight/freeze responses.

Audience

4th Grade Student

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Use budget analogy and play-money allocation.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Budget Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Engage: Revisit Emotion Economy & Budget Concept

3 minutes

  • Greet the student and briefly recap withdrawals and savings from prior sessions.
  • Explain that today we’ll plan our emotions like a budget—deciding ahead of time how to “spend” or “reserve” our emotion currency each day.
  • Ask: “If we have $20 of feeling money, how might we want to spend or save it across calm, excitement, and stress?”

Step 2

Teach: Introduce Emotion Budget Worksheet

5 minutes

  • Display the Emotion Budget Worksheet with columns for Emotion Category, Budgeted Amount, and Actual Use.
  • Explain categories (e.g., Calm Coins, Excitement Bills, Stress Notes).
  • Demonstrate allocating a sample budget: place play money into each emotion category on the whiteboard chart (e.g., 🪙 $10 calm, 💵 $5 excitement, 🪙 $5 stress relief fund).
  • Show how to track actual “spending” in the worksheet’s third column.

Step 3

Practice: Complete Daily Emotion Budget Planner

4 minutes

  • Give the student the Daily Emotion Budget Planner.
  • Invite them to decide their own daily budget total (e.g., 20 currency units).
  • Have them allocate amounts to at least three emotion categories using play money and record their plan.
  • Encourage thinking aloud: “I’ll save $8 calm coins for tough moments after lunch.”

Step 4

Assess: Review & Reflect on Budget Plan

3 minutes

  • Ask the student to explain one category they prioritized and why.
  • Use thumbs-up/thumbs-down prompts:
    • “Can you show where you put your calm coins?”
    • “Is there enough reserve for when you feel stressed?”
  • Praise thoughtful planning and note any adjustments needed for next session.
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Lesson Plan

Session 5 Plan

Teach the student to **invest** emotion currency in coping strategies—like positive self-talk, movement breaks, social support, and guided visualization—that yield positive emotional returns over time.

Building on savings and budgets, the investment metaphor helps the student diversify coping skills and understand how proactive “investments” can boost mood and resilience, reducing fight/flight/freeze reactions.

Audience

4th Grade Student

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Use investment-portfolio analogy.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Investment Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Engage: Introduce Emotion Investments

3 minutes

  • Greet the student and recap savings and budget concepts.
  • Explain: “Today we’re emotion investors—putting our currency into strategies that grow our emotional wealth!”
  • Display the Emotion Investment Chart and point out different coping “stocks.”

Step 2

Teach: Show Investment Chart

5 minutes

  • Review the Emotion Investment Chart with columns for coping skill, cost, and expected return:
    • Positive Self-Talk: invest 🪙 $1 → return 💵 $5 confidence over time
    • Movement Break: invest 💵 $5 → return 💵 $10 energy regulation
    • Social Support Chat: invest 💵 $5 → return 💵 $15 connection and calm
    • Guided Visualization: invest 🪙 $2 → return 🪙 $6 relaxed focus
    • Creative Expression: invest 🪙 $3 → return 💵 $8 joy boost
  • Use Investment Portfolio Cards to illustrate each skill as a “stock.”

Step 3

Practice: Build Your Portfolio

4 minutes

  • Give the student play money and Investment Portfolio Cards.
  • Invite them to choose three investments (coping skills) to “buy” today.
  • For each selected skill, have them place the matching currency on the chart and record the purchase on their card.
  • Encourage decorating each card with markers or stickers to personalize their portfolio.

Step 4

Assess: Reflect on Expected Returns

3 minutes

  • Hand out the Investment Returns Worksheet.
  • For each chosen investment, ask:
    • “What return (benefit) do you expect?”
    • “When do you think you’ll notice this benefit?”
  • Use quick checks:
    • “Did you invest in a movement break?”
    • “Do you expect more calm or energy?”
  • Praise their portfolio choices and note any areas to support in future sessions.
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Lesson Plan

Session 6 Plan

Consolidate all Emotion Economy strategies into a personalized toolkit and set up a maintenance plan, so the student can independently pick and use coping skills when big emotions arise.

Reviewing and customizing strategies reinforces mastery and builds confidence, while a clear maintenance plan promotes consistent use and long-term self-regulation.

Audience

4th Grade Student

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Review + toolkit creation

Materials

Prep

Prepare Consolidation Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Engage & Quick Review

3 minutes

Step 2

Create Your Toolkit

5 minutes

  • Introduce the Emotion Economy Toolkit Worksheet. It has sections for Withdraw, Save, Budget, and Invest.
  • Guide the student to choose their top 1–2 favorite skills from each category and record them:
    • Withdraw: e.g., deep breath or grounding
    • Save: e.g., quiet time activity
    • Budget: e.g., daily calm allocation
    • Invest: e.g., movement break or positive self-talk
  • Encourage decorating the worksheet with markers or stickers to personalize.

Step 3

Plan Maintenance

4 minutes

  • Show the Emotion Economy Maintenance Plan Chart.
  • Support the student in scheduling when and how often to review or practice their toolkit (e.g., each morning or after recess).
  • For each entry, have them place play money into a “Practice Fund” column and note a reminder cue (e.g., bell at lunch).

Step 4

Assess & Celebrate

3 minutes

  • Scenario Matching:
    • Present 2–3 brief hypothetical situations (e.g., “If you feel nervous before
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Worksheet

Emotion Economy Toolkit Worksheet

Use this worksheet to build your personal Emotion Economy Toolkit. In each section, list your top go-to coping skills and decorate with markers or stickers.

Withdraw (Immediate Calm)

Skills you can “withdraw” right away when emotions run high.

  1. ____________________________________________


  2. ____________________________________________


Save (Proactive Deposits)

Activities you “save up” to boost mood before you need them.

  1. ____________________________________________


  2. ____________________________________________


Budget (Daily Allocation)

Plan how much emotion currency to spend on each skill each day.

  1. Skill: ____________________
    Budget Amount: ________
    When to Use: ____________________


  2. Skill: ____________________
    Budget Amount: ________
    When to Use: ____________________


Invest (Long-Term Returns)

Choices that yield big emotional benefits over time.

  1. Skill: ____________________
    Cost: ________
    Expected Benefit: ____________________


  2. Skill: ____________________
    Cost: ________
    Expected Benefit: ____________________


Decorate your toolkit with colors, stickers, or drawings to make it truly yours! You now have a personal set of strategies ready for any big emotion.

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Worksheet

Emotion Economy Maintenance Plan Chart

Use this chart to schedule when and how often you’ll review and practice your personal Emotion Economy Toolkit. For each entry below, choose a skill, set a reminder cue, allocate some “Practice Fund,” and decide when/how often you’ll do it. Check off when you’ve completed each practice.

  1. Activity: ________________________________

    Reminder Cue: _____________________________

    Practice Fund (🪙 $1 or 💵 $5): _______________

    When & How Often: _________________________




  2. Activity: ________________________________

    Reminder Cue: _____________________________

    Practice Fund (🪙 $1 or 💵 $5): _______________

    When & How Often: _________________________




  3. Activity: ________________________________

    Reminder Cue: _____________________________

    Practice Fund (🪙 $1 or 💵 $5): _______________

    When & How Often: _________________________




Once you’ve filled this out, place your play money into a “Practice Fund” jar or section on your chart. When your reminder cue happens, spend that Practice Fund to review and reinforce your coping skill!

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