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Emotional Forecast

Lesson Plan

Emotional Forecast Lesson Plan

Students will identify and express their emotions using a weather-report metaphor and build emotional vocabulary by charting and discussing their personal “emotional forecasts.”

This lesson fosters self-awareness, emotional vocabulary, and communication skills, creating a supportive classroom where students can articulate and understand feelings.

Audience

3rd Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Weather metaphor, charting, paired discussion.

Materials

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the “emotional weather report” metaphor
  • Display the weather-themed poster and discuss how weather (sunny, cloudy, stormy) changes daily
  • Ask students to recall times they felt “sunny” (happy) or “stormy” (angry)
  • Invite a few brief shares

Step 2

Main Activity

20 minutes

  • Distribute Emotional Weather Chart Template and Emotion Vocabulary Cards
  • Review each emotion word and group synonyms (e.g., “breezy” for calm)
  • Students select words matching today’s feelings and place cards on their charts
  • Pair up to share and explain emotional forecasts
  • Circulate to prompt discussions and support vocabulary use

Step 3

Cool-Down & Reflection

5 minutes

  • Reconvene for a whole-group reflection
  • Invite volunteers to share their emotional forecasts
  • Emphasize that all feelings are valid and that recognizing emotions builds self-awareness
  • Encourage use of the chart throughout the week as needed
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Slide Deck

Emotional Forecast

Using a weather report to understand and share our feelings.

Welcome students to today’s lesson. Introduce the idea that we’ll learn to do an “Emotional Forecast,” just like a weather report, to understand and share our feelings.

What Is Emotional Weather?

• Today, we’ll think of our emotions like weather: sunny, cloudy, stormy, and more.
• Just like weather changes, our feelings change too.

Begin with a quick discussion: What’s the weather today? How does it change? Then connect weather changes to how our feelings can change from day to day.

Emotion Words

• Sunny = Happy
• Cloudy = Sad
• Stormy = Angry
• Breezy = Calm
• Windy = Excited
• Foggy = Confused
• Rainy = Sad or Tearful

Display and review the Emotion Vocabulary Cards. Talk through each word and any synonyms students know.

Chart Your Forecast

  1. Pick cards that match how you feel today.
  2. Place each card on your chart in the right “weather.”
  3. Add any words or drawings to show how you feel.

Hand out the Emotional Weather Chart Template and the vocabulary cards. Model how to select cards and place them on the chart.

Share with a Partner

• Turn to a partner.
• Explain your emotional forecast.
• Listen and ask questions to learn more about their feelings.

Have students pair up and share their charts. Encourage them to ask questions and use emotion words.

Reflect & Close

• How did charting your feelings help you?
• How can you use this chart during the week?
• Remember: All feelings are valid and talking about them helps us understand each other.

Bring everyone back together. Invite a few volunteers to share. Use these reflection prompts to guide discussion.

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Worksheet

Emotional Weather Chart Template

Date: ___________________________

Use this chart to create your emotional forecast. For each weather type, choose emotion words or draw how you feel today.

WeatherMy Emotion Words or Drawing
☀️ Sunny





☁️ Cloudy





🌧️ Rainy





⛈️ Stormy





🍃 Breezy





🌬️ Windy





🌫️ Foggy





Instructions:

  1. Look at the weather icons and think about how they match your feelings.
  2. Write emotion words (from the Emotion Vocabulary Cards) or draw a picture that shows your feelings.
  3. Share your chart with a partner and explain your forecast!
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Activity

Emotion Vocabulary Cards

Print and cut each card along the lines. Use these to build your Emotional Weather Chart and expand your feeling vocabulary.

☀️ Sunny
Happy, Joyful, Cheerful

☁️ Cloudy
Sad, Blue, Unhappy

🌧️ Rainy
Sad, Tearful, Down

⛈️ Stormy
Angry, Mad, Frustrated

🍃 Breezy
Calm, Relaxed, Peaceful

🌬️ Windy
Excited, Energetic, Enthusiastic

🌫️ Foggy
Confused, Uncertain, Mixed-Up

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Emotional Forecast • Lenny Learning