Emotional Weather

Hallie Lambert

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Emotional Weather Plan

Students will learn to identify and express emotions by linking them to weather metaphors and create personal “emotional weather maps” to articulate their feelings.

Helping young learners recognize and communicate feelings builds emotional intelligence, supports self-awareness, empathy, and healthy social interactions from an early age.

Audience

Kindergarten–2nd Grade Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive storytelling, discussion, and creative mapping.

Materials

Weather Metaphor Slide Deck, - Emotional Weather Map Worksheet, - Storybook Illustration Cards, - Crayons or Colored Pencils, and - Large Chart Paper and Markers

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Print copies of the Emotional Weather Map Worksheet
Upload and review the Weather Metaphor Slide Deck
Gather crayons or colored pencils
Prepare story props (storybook illustration cards)

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

Display the Weather Metaphor Slide Deck title slide
Ask students: “How is weather like our feelings?”
Elicit examples of sunny, cloudy, or stormy feelings

Step 2

Read-Aloud and Story Discussion

10 minutes

Show storybook illustration cards depicting emotions
Read a short weather-emotion story aloud
Pause to ask: “How do you think the character feels right now?”

Step 3

Group Discussion

7 minutes

On large chart paper, draw simple weather icons (sun, cloud, rain, storm)
Invite students to name emotions and match them to each icon
Label icons (e.g., happy = sunny, sad = rainy, angry = stormy)

Step 4

Emotional Weather Map Activity

15 minutes

Distribute the Emotional Weather Map Worksheet and art supplies
Students draw weather symbols showing how they feel today
Encourage use of colors and brief labels under each symbol

Step 5

Sharing and Reflection

8 minutes

Invite volunteers to present their weather maps
Ask: “Why did you choose that weather for your feeling?”
Reinforce the practice of naming feelings and showing empathy

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Slide Deck

Emotional Weather: Navigating Our Feelings

Welcome! Today we’ll learn how our feelings can be like different kinds of weather. By the end, you’ll make your own Emotional Weather Map!

Welcome students to the lesson. Introduce yourself and build excitement about exploring feelings with weather. Mention that bright colors will guide us through today’s journey.

Weather and Feelings

• How is weather like our feelings?
• Can you think of a “sunny” feeling?
• What about a “stormy” feeling?

Show simple weather icons (sun, cloud, rain, storm) on this slide. Point to each as you ask questions.

Story Time: A Weather-Emotion Tale

Let’s listen to a short story where the sky reflects a character’s heart.

As we read, think about:
• What weather shows this feeling?

Hold up your storybook illustration cards. Pause at each key emotion to ask students how the character feels.

Group Discussion: Match It Up

On the chart we have:
☀️ Sunny
☁️ Cloudy
🌧️ Rainy
🌩️ Stormy

Which emotion matches each icon?

Display a blank chart with drawn icons. Invite volunteers to come up and label each icon with an emotion.

Activity: Create Your Weather Map

Draw the weather that shows your feelings today.

• Use colors and symbols
• Add a word or two under each weather picture

Hand out the Emotional Weather Map Worksheet. Circulate to encourage color choices and labels. Remind students they can mix weather symbols.

Sharing and Reflection

• Who wants to show their map?
• Why did you choose that weather?
• Let’s practice saying, “I understand how you feel.”

Invite a few students to share—model kind listening. Reinforce empathy by asking classmates to respond positively.

Activity

Emotional Weather Map

Name: _________________________ Date: _______________

Instructions

Think about how you feel today. In the box below, draw a weather symbol (sunny, cloudy, rainy, stormy, or your own) that shows your feeling. Then under your drawing, write a word or two to name your emotion.

Draw your feeling here:

Weather Symbol Chosen: ____________________________

Feeling Word: _____________________________________

Optional: Another Feeling

If you have a second feeling today, draw another weather symbol and label it below.

Draw another feeling here:

Weather Symbol Chosen: ____________________________

Feeling Word: _____________________________________