Lesson Plan
Emotion Tracker Lesson Plan
Students will accurately identify and record their emotions throughout the day and use a rubric-based self-assessment to choose coping strategies, fostering self-awareness and proactive self-management.
Building daily emotional awareness and self-assessment skills helps students regulate feelings proactively, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being and focus in class.
Audience
10th Grade Students
Time
10 minutes per session
Approach
Guided self-monitoring through structured logging and reflection
Prep
Gather Materials
2 minutes
- Ensure each student has a copy of the Daily Emotion Log Worksheet
- Familiarize yourself with the Self-Check Accuracy Guide Rubric
- Prepare the Emotion Identification Key Answer Key for reference
Step 1
Quick Mood Check
1 minute
- Prompt the student to identify their current feeling using two descriptive adjectives
- Refer to the Emotion Identification Key Answer Key to select accurate emotion terms
Step 2
Log Emotion Details
4 minutes
- On the Daily Emotion Log Worksheet, record the identified emotion, intensity rating (1–10), and triggering context
- Encourage the student to write a clear, specific description of the situation or thought that led to the emotion
Step 3
Self-Check Accuracy
3 minutes
- Compare the recorded emotion and intensity against the criteria in the Self-Check Accuracy Guide Rubric
- Adjust descriptors or intensity ratings as needed to ensure accuracy based on rubric standards
Step 4
Coping Strategy Planning
2 minutes
- Based on the self-assessment, have the student choose one evidence-based coping strategy (e.g., deep breathing, short walk)
- Document the chosen strategy on the log and outline a brief plan for implementation
Worksheet
Daily Emotion Log Worksheet
Use this log to record your emotions at four points during the school day. Before each entry, refer to the Emotion Identification Key Answer Key to choose accurate emotion terms. After logging, use the Self-Check Accuracy Guide Rubric to verify your descriptors and intensity ratings.
Entry 1
- Time of Day: _______________________________________
- Emotion (two adjectives):
- Intensity (1–10): ___________________________________
- Trigger/Cause (situation or thought):
- Chosen Coping Strategy & Plan:
- Reflection (after trying strategy):
Entry 2
- Time of Day: _______________________________________
- Emotion (two adjectives):
- Intensity (1–10): ___________________________________
- Trigger/Cause (situation or thought):
- Chosen Coping Strategy & Plan:
- Reflection (after trying strategy):
Entry 3
- Time of Day: _______________________________________
- Emotion (two adjectives):
- Intensity (1–10): ___________________________________
- Trigger/Cause (situation or thought):
- Chosen Coping Strategy & Plan:
- Reflection (after trying strategy):
Entry 4
- Time of Day: _______________________________________
- Emotion (two adjectives):
- Intensity (1–10): ___________________________________
- Trigger/Cause (situation or thought):
- Chosen Coping Strategy & Plan:
- Reflection (after trying strategy):
Rubric
Self-Check Accuracy Guide Rubric
Use this rubric to assess the accuracy of your emotion labels, intensity ratings, and supporting context. For each entry on your Daily Emotion Log Worksheet, compare your responses against the descriptors below and make adjustments to ensure precision and consistency.
| Criteria | 4 – Excellent | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emotion Label Precision | • Two adjectives precisely capture the nuanced feeling • Terms match the Emotion Identification Key Answer Key | • Appropriate adjectives that convey the general emotion • Minor difference from key terms | • Vague or general emotion terms • Partially aligned with context | • Inaccurate or overly broad labels • Does not match the identification key |
| Intensity Rating Accuracy | • Rating (1–10) clearly justified by detailed description • Evidence of specific cues (body, thoughts, events) | • Rating generally reflects intensity with minor inconsistencies • Some supporting details | • Rating shows mismatch with described feeling • Minimal justification | • Rating does not align with description • Lacks any justification |
| Trigger/Cause Alignment | • Trigger description is highly specific and directly supports chosen emotion/intensity | • Trigger relates clearly to emotion • Reasonably specific context | • Trigger is vague or only partly supports emotion/intensity | • Trigger missing or unrelated to chosen emotion/intensity |
After self-checking, revise any entries that fall in the Developing or Beginning columns to improve accuracy before moving on to coping strategy planning.
Answer Key
Emotion Identification Key
Use this key to select two precise adjectives that describe your current feeling. Consult this chart before each entry on your Daily Emotion Log Worksheet. Choose terms that best match your emotional experience in both valence (positive vs. negative) and arousal (high vs. low).
| Valence | Arousal | Common Emotion Adjectives |
|---|---|---|
| Negative | High | angry, anxious, frustrated, irritated, overwhelmed |
| Negative | Low | sad, disappointed, lonely, bored, fatigued |
| Neutral/Others | Mid/Variable | curious, thoughtful, uncertain, indifferent, reflective |
| Positive | Low | calm, content, relaxed, peaceful, satisfied |
| Positive | High | excited, enthusiastic, joyful, energized, optimistic |
How to Use
- Identify whether your emotion feels positive, negative, or neutral.
- Assess how intense or activated it feels (high vs. low arousal).
- Pick two adjectives from the matching row above.
- If your exact experience isn’t listed, choose the closest fit and be prepared to justify your choice during self-check.
Refer to these terms when completing each emotion log entry to ensure consistency with the Self-Check Accuracy Guide Rubric.
Slide Deck
Emotion Tracker Tool
Self-Management | 10th Grade | Tier 3 Individual Support
A 10-minute daily session to monitor, assess, and manage emotions.
Welcome to today’s Emotion Tracker session. Introduce the purpose: a daily tool for self-managing emotions and building self-awareness. Explain that this is a Tier 3 individual support activity for 10th grade.
Lesson Objective
- Accurately identify and record emotions throughout the school day
- Self-assess entries using a clear rubric
- Choose and plan one evidence-based coping strategy each session
Review the session objectives with the student. Emphasize how each objective builds toward better emotional regulation and proactive coping.
Materials
Ensure the student has each of these materials ready at their desk. Briefly show them where to find each resource.
Step 1: Quick Mood Check (1 min)
Prompt the student to select two descriptive adjectives for their current emotion using the Emotion Identification Key Answer Key.
Explain Step 1: Quick Mood Check. Ask the student to pause and notice their current feeling. Use the identification key to find two adjectives.
Step 2: Log Emotion Details (4 min)
On the Daily Emotion Log Worksheet, record:
- Time of day
- Emotion (two adjectives)
- Intensity rating (1–10)
- Trigger or cause (specific situation or thought)
Guide the student through recording details. Encourage specificity in descriptions.
Step 3: Self-Check Accuracy (3 min)
Use the Self-Check Accuracy Guide Rubric to review each entry:
- Precision of emotion labels
- Justification for the intensity rating
- Alignment of the trigger description
Walk the student through the rubric criteria. Show examples of strong versus weak entries.
Step 4: Coping Strategy Planning (2 min)
Based on the self-assessment, choose one coping strategy (e.g., deep breathing, short walk). Document the strategy and outline a brief implementation plan.
Discuss evidence-based coping strategies briefly. Help the student choose one that feels doable right now.
Reflection & Next Steps
- Reflect on strategy effectiveness in the log entry
- Repeat the four daily check-ins each school day
- Review trends weekly and adjust coping plans as needed
Encourage the student to reflect on the strategy’s effectiveness and to repeat this process daily. Highlight tracking progress over time.
Script
Emotion Tracker Script
Teacher: Hi there! It’s time for our 10-minute Emotion Tracker session. Today, we’ll pause and notice how you’re feeling, record those feelings, check for accuracy, and pick one strategy to help you cope.
Step 1: Quick Mood Check (1 minute)
Teacher: First, take a deep breath and pause for a moment. On your Emotion Identification Key Answer Key, find two adjectives that best describe how you feel right now.
Teacher (prompt): Which two words did you choose?
Teacher (follow-up): What made you pick those words? Can you share one thought or body cue that guided your choice?
Step 2: Log Emotion Details (4 minutes)
Teacher: Great. Now, open your Daily Emotion Log Worksheet to Entry 1.
- Time of Day: Write the current time.
- Emotion (two adjectives): Copy the two words you selected.
- Intensity (1–10): Rate how strong your feeling is right now. What number did you pick?
- Trigger/Cause: Describe the situation or thought that led to this feeling in as much detail as you can.
Teacher (check-in): Can you read your trigger description aloud? I’ll listen for clarity and detail.
Step 3: Self-Check Accuracy (3 minutes)
Teacher: Let’s use the Self-Check Accuracy Guide Rubric to review your entry.
- Emotion Label Precision: Does your pair of adjectives match the key and capture your exact feeling?
- Intensity Rating Accuracy: Is your number justified by your description and cues?
- Trigger/Cause Alignment: Does your trigger clearly explain why you feel this way?
Teacher (prompt): Look at the rubric column where your entry lands. If it’s Developing or Beginning, what small change could make it Proficient or Excellent?
Step 4: Coping Strategy Planning (2 minutes)
Teacher: Based on your self-check, choose one evidence-based coping strategy. Examples are deep breathing, a short walk, or listening to music.
- Coping Strategy & Plan: Write the strategy and a short step-by-step plan for how you’ll use it when you notice this feeling again.
Teacher (prompt): How do you think this plan will help you manage that emotion?
Reflection & Next Steps
Teacher: After you try your strategy, write a quick reflection in your log about how it felt and what worked. We’ll repeat these four check-ins again later today and over the next few days.
Teacher (encouragement): Tracking your emotions this way will help you see patterns and pick the best strategies over time. You’re doing great—keep it up!