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Emotional Thermometer: Inner Climate

Lesson Plan

Emotional Thermometer: Inner Climate

Students will be able to identify, label, and gauge the intensity of their emotions using an 'emotional thermometer' framework, and understand the impact of emotions on thoughts and actions.

Developing emotional literacy helps students better understand themselves and others, leading to improved self-regulation, communication, and overall well-being.

Audience

High School Students

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, self-reflection, and scenario analysis.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Slide Deck: Inner Climate, Worksheet: My Emotional Range, and Pens/Pencils

Prep

Review Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Hook

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: 'How often do you truly think about what you're feeling and how much you're feeling it?' (1 minute)
    * Introduce the concept of an 'emotional thermometer' as a tool to measure emotional intensity. (2 minutes)
    * Explain today's objective: to understand their inner climate and build a stronger emotional vocabulary. (2 minutes)
    * Refer to Slide 1 and Slide 2 of the Slide Deck: Inner Climate.

Step 2

Exploring the Emotional Spectrum

10 minutes

  • Present the idea of a thermometer, but instead of temperature, it measures emotional intensity. (2 minutes)
    * Discuss different emotions and where they might fall on a scale from 'cool' (mild) to 'hot' (intense). Use examples like 'annoyed' vs. 'furious', or 'content' vs. 'elated'. (5 minutes)
    * Encourage students to share examples of emotions and discuss their intensity. (3 minutes)
    * Refer to Slide 3 and Slide 4 of the Slide Deck: Inner Climate.

Step 3

Introducing the Worksheet: My Emotional Range

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Worksheet: My Emotional Range. (2 minutes)
    * Explain the activity: students will use the thermometer model to identify emotions, rate their intensity, and reflect on triggers. (3 minutes)
    * Give students 10 minutes to work independently on the worksheet, prompting them to think about recent experiences. (10 minutes)
    * Refer to Slide 5 of the Slide Deck: Inner Climate.

Step 4

Group Discussion & Sharing

15 minutes

  • Facilitate a class Discussion: Mapping Your Emotions. (3 minutes)
    * Ask students to share (voluntarily) some of the emotions they identified and where they placed them on their personal emotional thermometer. What made an emotion feel 'hot' or 'cool'? (7 minutes)
    * Discuss how understanding emotional intensity can help them respond more effectively to situations. (5 minutes)
    * Refer to Slide 6 and Slide 7 of the Slide Deck: Inner Climate.

Step 5

Conclusion & Takeaways

5 minutes

  • Summarize the key learning points: emotional literacy, identifying intensity, and the importance of self-awareness. (2 minutes)
    * Encourage students to continue practicing their emotional thermometer in their daily lives. (2 minutes)
    * End with a positive affirmation about the strength they gain through understanding their emotions. (1 minute)
    * Refer to Slide 8 and Slide 9 of the Slide Deck: Inner Climate.
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Slide Deck

Emotional Thermometer: Understanding Your Inner Climate

Navigating the spectrum of feelings.

Today, we'll explore how to measure and understand our emotions better!

Welcome students and introduce the topic with an engaging tone. Briefly mention the importance of understanding emotions.

How's Your Inner Climate Today?

What emotions are you experiencing right now?
How intensely are you feeling them?

Pose this question to the class. Encourage a moment of reflection. This sets the stage for the 'why' behind the lesson.

The Emotional Thermometer

Just like temperature, emotions have different levels of intensity.

From cool to boiling hot, our feelings can range in strength.

Introduce the metaphor of an emotional thermometer. Explain that emotions aren't just 'on' or 'off,' but have different levels of intensity.

Measuring Emotional Intensity

Think about it:

  • Mild: Annoyed, Content, Bored
  • Moderate: Frustrated, Happy, Anxious
  • Intense: Furious, Ecstatic, Terrified

Where do your emotions usually fall?

Provide clear examples. You might draw a quick thermometer on the board or ask students for their own examples. Emphasize that there's no 'right' or 'wrong' intensity, just different levels.

Mapping Your Emotions

Now it's your turn to explore!

Use the Worksheet: My Emotional Range to identify your feelings and their intensity.

Explain the instructions for the worksheet. Let students know they'll have time to work on it individually and reflect.

Share & Discuss

What did you discover about your emotional range?

  • What emotions did you identify?
  • What makes an emotion feel 'hot' or 'cool' for you?

Transition to the group discussion. Reassure students that sharing is voluntary and the goal is to learn from each other's experiences.

Why Does Intensity Matter?

How can recognizing the intensity of your emotions help you?

  • In responding to situations?
  • In communicating with others?
  • In making decisions?

Deepen the discussion by asking about the impact of this awareness. Connect emotional intensity to actions and decision-making.

Key Takeaways

You now have a tool to:

  • Identify your emotions.
  • Label their intensity.
  • Understand their impact on you.

Summarize the key takeaways from the lesson. Reinforce the concept of emotional literacy as a valuable life skill.

Keep Practicing!

The more you practice, the better you'll become at understanding your inner climate.

Your emotions are signals—learn to listen to them!

End with an encouraging note, prompting students to continue practicing this skill.

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Worksheet

My Emotional Range: A Personal Thermometer

Name: _________________________ Date: _____________

Part 1: Design Your Own Emotional Thermometer

Imagine a thermometer, but instead of measuring temperature, it measures the intensity of your emotions. Draw your emotional thermometer below. Label at least three different intensity levels (e.g., Cool, Warm, Hot, Boiling) and list a few emotions you might feel at each level.













Part 2: Emotional Scenarios & Intensity

Think about different emotions you might experience. For each emotion listed, describe a time you felt it and then rate its intensity on a scale of 1 (very mild) to 10 (very intense).

  1. Emotion: Annoyance

    • Scenario:


    • Intensity (1-10): _____

  2. Emotion: Happiness

    • Scenario:


    • Intensity (1-10): _____

  3. Emotion: Frustration

    • Scenario:


    • Intensity (1-10): _____

  4. Emotion: Calmness

    • Scenario:


    • Intensity (1-10): _____

  5. Emotion: Sadness

    • Scenario:


    • Intensity (1-10): _____

Part 3: Reflect & Connect

  1. What did you notice about the relationship between an emotion and its intensity? Can the same emotion be felt at different intensities? Explain.






  2. What kinds of situations or thoughts tend to increase the intensity of your emotions? What tends to decrease it?






  3. Why do you think it is important to recognize not just what you are feeling, but how intensely you are feeling it?






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Discussion

Discussion: Mapping Your Emotions

Objective: To facilitate a class discussion that encourages students to share insights from their emotional thermometer activity and reflect on the practical benefits of emotional literacy.

Discussion Prompts:

  1. Opening Share (Voluntary):
    *
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