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Feelings Forecast

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Lesson Plan

Feelings Forecast

Students will be able to identify and name common emotions (happy, sad, angry, scared). Students will understand that feelings can change over time. Students will explore simple, healthy strategies for managing different emotions.

Learning to identify and express emotions is crucial for young children's social-emotional development. This lesson helps students build emotional literacy, develop empathy, and begin to understand self-regulation techniques, which are foundational skills for navigating relationships and daily life.

Audience

Kindergarten, 1st Grade

Time

2 sessions, 30-40 minutes each

Approach

Interactive storytelling, visual aids, and creative expression.

Materials

Feelings Forecast Slide Deck, My Feelings Weather Chart Activity, and Feeling Faces Worksheet

Prep

Preparation

15-20 minutes

Step 1

Session 1: Introducing Emotions

30-40 minutes

1. Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling Today? (5 minutes)
* Begin by asking students to think about how they are feeling at this moment. You can use a simple thumbs-up/thumbs-down or a quick show of emotion on their faces.
* Introduce the idea that feelings are like weather – they can change!

2. Slide Deck Presentation: Feelings Forecast (15-20 minutes)
* Use the Feelings Forecast Slide Deck to introduce different emotions: happy, sad, angry, scared.
* For each emotion, discuss what it looks like, how it feels in our bodies, and common situations when we might feel that way.
* Engage students with questions like: 'When do you feel happy?' 'What makes you feel sad?'

3. Activity: My Feelings Weather Chart (10-15 minutes)
* Distribute the My Feelings Weather Chart Activity.
* Explain how students will draw or write about times they've felt different emotions, connecting them to weather symbols (e.g., sunshine for happy, rain cloud for sad).
* Circulate and assist students, encouraging them to share their ideas.

4. Wrap-Up: Sharing One Feeling (5 minutes)
* Have a few students share one feeling from their chart and why they chose that weather symbol.

Step 2

Session 2: Managing Emotions

30-40 minutes

1. Warm-Up: Reviewing Feelings (5 minutes)
* Quickly review the emotions discussed in Session 1 using the Feelings Forecast Slide Deck or asking students to make faces.
* Reiterate that feelings change, just like the weather.

2. Discussion: What Can We Do? (10-15 minutes)
* Lead a discussion using the Feelings Forecast Slide Deck about healthy ways to manage emotions.
* Focus on simple strategies for each emotion (e.g., deep breaths for anger, talking to a grown-up for sadness, thinking happy thoughts for fear).
* Encourage students to share their own ideas.

3. Worksheet: Feeling Faces (10-15 minutes)
* Distribute the Feeling Faces Worksheet.
* Students will draw faces to represent different emotions and draw/write a way they can manage that feeling.
* Circulate and provide support and encouragement.

4. Cool-Down: Feelings Check-Out (5 minutes)
* Ask students to share one strategy they learned today to help with a feeling.
* End by reminding them that all feelings are okay, and it's important to talk about them.

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Slide Deck

Welcome to Feelings Forecast!

Just like the weather changes, our feelings can change too!

Today, we're going to be weather reporters for our feelings!

Welcome students and introduce the idea of feelings changing like the weather. Ask: "How are you feeling right now?" and have them show with a thumbs up/down or a face.

Sunny & Happy!

When we feel happy, it's like a bright, sunny day inside!

  • Smiling faces
  • Light and bubbly
  • Things that make us happy: playing, laughing, getting a hug

Introduce the "Happy" slide. Ask students to show a happy face. Discuss what makes them feel happy and what happy feels like in their body. Connect to sunshine.

Rainy & Sad...

Sometimes we feel sad, like a cloudy, rainy day.

  • Frowns, tears
  • Heavy, quiet
  • Things that make us sad: missing someone, feeling hurt, losing something

Introduce the "Sad" slide. Ask students to show a sad face. Discuss what makes them feel sad and what sad feels like. Connect to rain clouds.

Stormy & Angry!

When we're angry, it can feel like a big storm inside!

  • Scrunched up face, loud voice
  • Hot, tense body
  • Things that make us angry: unfairness, not getting our way

Introduce the "Angry" slide. Ask students to show an angry face. Discuss what makes them feel angry and what angry feels like. Connect to stormy weather.

Windy & Scared!

Feeling scared can be like a chilly, windy day.

  • Wide eyes, shaky
  • Butterflies in tummy, cold
  • Things that make us scared: loud noises, shadows, new things

Introduce the "Scared" slide. Ask students to show a scared face. Discuss what makes them feel scared and what scared feels like. Connect to a chilly, windy day.

All Feelings Are Okay!

It's okay to feel happy, sad, angry, or scared.

What can we do when our feelings feel big?

Transition to strategies. Emphasize that all feelings are okay and we can learn to manage them. Ask: "What can we do when we feel [emotion]?"

Happy Forecast: Keep the Sunshine!

When you're happy, keep shining bright!

  • Share your joy
  • Do more of what makes you happy

Discuss strategies for happiness. Reinforce that we want to do more of what makes us happy.

Rainy Day Blues: What to Do?

When you're sad, it helps to share.

  • Talk to a grown-up
  • Get a hug
  • Draw a picture

Discuss strategies for sadness. Model appropriate responses like talking to a trusted adult. Ask: "Who can you talk to?"

Storm Alert! Calming the Anger

When you're angry, take a deep breath.

  • Count to 5
  • Take 3 deep breaths
  • Walk away for a moment

Discuss strategies for anger. Emphasize calm down techniques like deep breaths. Practice deep breaths together. Ask: "What helps you calm down?"

Windy Worries: Feeling Brave!

When you're scared, be brave!

  • Tell a grown-up what scares you
  • Think happy thoughts
  • Remember you are safe

Discuss strategies for fear. Reinforce brave thoughts and seeking comfort. Ask: "What makes you feel brave?"

Your Feelings Forecast!

You are amazing weather reporters for your feelings!

Keep practicing naming your feelings and choosing what to do when they feel big.

Conclude by reiterating that we all have feelings and learning to talk about them and manage them is important. Encourage them to practice their 'feelings forecast'.

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Activity

My Feelings Weather Chart

Name: ________________________

Just like the weather changes, your feelings change too! Draw or write about a time you felt each feeling and connect it to a weather symbol.

Happy - Sunshine ☀️

Draw or write about a time you felt happy. What made you feel sunny?





Sad - Rain Cloud 🌧️

Draw or write about a time you felt sad. What made you feel rainy?





Angry - Thunderstorm ⛈️

Draw or write about a time you felt angry. What made you feel stormy?





Scared - Windy Day 🌬️

Draw or write about a time you felt scared. What made you feel windy?





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Worksheet

Feeling Faces Worksheet

Name: ________________________

Draw a face for each feeling. Then, draw or write one thing you can do when you feel that way.

Happy 😊

Draw a happy face:



What can you do when you feel happy?






Sad 😔

Draw a sad face:



What can you do when you feel sad?






Angry 😠

Draw an angry face:



What can you do when you feel angry?






Scared 😟

Draw a scared face:



What can you do when you feel scared?






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