Lesson Plan
Feelings Forecast
Students will be able to identify different types of weather and connect specific weather conditions to emotions, developing emotional vocabulary and self-awareness.
Understanding weather helps students make sense of their environment, and linking it to emotions provides a safe and engaging way to explore feelings, fostering emotional intelligence and empathy.
Audience
3rd Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, visual aids, and a creative activity.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, Warm Up: Weather Word Cloud, and Activity: My Weather Mood Meter
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Feelings Forecast Slide Deck.
- Print or prepare to project the Warm Up: Weather Word Cloud.
- Prepare drawing materials and copies of Activity: My Weather Mood Meter for each student.
- Review the Teacher Script: Feelings Forecast to familiarize yourself with talking points and discussion prompts.
- Ensure sufficient space for students to work on their activity.
Step 1
Introduction: What's the Weather Today?
5 minutes
- Begin with the Warm Up: Weather Word Cloud to activate prior knowledge about weather.
- Ask students to share what they notice about the current weather outside.
- Introduce the concept of how weather can sometimes mirror or influence our feelings.
Step 2
Exploring Weather and Emotions
10 minutes
- Use the Feelings Forecast Slide Deck to show different weather types (sunny, rainy, stormy, cloudy, snowy, windy).
- For each weather type, lead a brief discussion: "What does this weather look like? How might someone feel on a day like this?" (e.g., sunny = happy, energetic; rainy = calm, sad; stormy = anxious, angry).
- Emphasize that there are no 'right' or 'wrong' feelings and that everyone experiences emotions differently.
Step 3
Activity: My Weather Mood Meter
10 minutes
- Distribute the Activity: My Weather Mood Meter worksheet.
- Explain the activity: Students will draw or write about how different weather conditions make them feel.
- Circulate and provide support, encouraging students to express themselves creatively and share their thoughts if comfortable.
Step 4
Wrap-Up: Sharing and Reflection
5 minutes
- Invite a few students to share one weather condition and the feeling they associated with it from their Activity: My Weather Mood Meter.
- Briefly reiterate that it's okay to feel different emotions, just like there are different types of weather.
- Conclude by thanking students for their participation and thoughtful reflections.
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Slide Deck
Weather & Feelings
How does the weather make you feel?
Welcome students and introduce the idea of connecting weather to feelings. Ask what kind of weather they like and why.
Sunny Day!
Bright, warm, clear skies!
How do you feel on a sunny day?
Discuss what a sunny day looks like and ask students to share feelings associated with it. Encourage a range of responses (e.g., happy, energetic, playful).
Rainy Day...
Cool, wet, sometimes grey.
How do you feel on a rainy day?
Discuss what a rainy day looks like. Prompt students for feelings like calm, cozy, or even a little sad. Emphasize that all feelings are okay.
Stormy Weather!
Loud, windy, sometimes scary.
How do you feel during a storm?
Discuss stormy weather. Feelings might include scared, anxious, or powerful. Reassure students that it's normal to feel different things.
Cloudy Day.
Soft, grey, sometimes cozy.
How do you feel on a cloudy day?
Discuss cloudy days. Feelings could be sleepy, peaceful, or a bit dull. Connect to real-life experiences.
Snowy Day!
White, cold, sparkling.
How do you feel on a snowy day?
Discuss snowy weather. Feelings might be excited, cold, or adventurous. Ask about their favorite snow activities.
Windy Day!
Breezy, wild, moving fast.
How do you feel on a windy day?
Discuss windy weather. Feelings could be energetic, playful, or a bit overwhelmed. Ask how the wind makes them move.
Our Feelings Forecast
Just like the weather changes, so do our feelings! It's okay to feel them all.
What did you learn about feelings and weather today?
Conclude by reminding students that feelings are like weather—they change, and it's okay to experience them all. Thank them for sharing.
Warm Up
Warm Up: Weather Word Cloud
Instructions: Think about all the different kinds of weather you know. What words come to mind when you think about weather?
Write down as many weather-related words as you can in the space below. We will share them to create a class weather word cloud!
Examples:
- Sunny
- Rainy
- Cloudy
- Stormy
- Windy
- Snowy
Activity
Activity: My Weather Mood Meter
Instructions: For each type of weather below, draw a picture or write a few words about how that weather makes you feel. Think about the colors, sounds, and sensations each weather type brings.
1. Sunny Day ☀️
How does a sunny day make you feel?
2. Rainy Day 🌧️
How does a rainy day make you feel?
3. Stormy Weather ⛈️
How does stormy weather make you feel?
4. Cloudy Day ☁️
How does a cloudy day make you feel?
5. Snowy Day ❄️
How does a snowy day make you feel?
6. Windy Day 🌬️
How does a windy day make you feel?
Script
Teacher Script: Feelings Forecast
Introduction: What's the Weather Today? (5 minutes)
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to be weather watchers and feeling explorers! We're going to talk about the weather and how it sometimes makes us feel.
First, let's start with our Warm Up: Weather Word Cloud. I want you to think about all the different kinds of weather you know. What words come to mind when you think about weather? Write them down on your worksheet. Don't worry about spelling, just get your ideas down!"
(Give students a few minutes to write. Then, invite them to share words, writing them on the board to create a class word cloud.)
"Fantastic words! We have so many different ways to describe the weather. Now, look outside for a moment. What's the weather like right now? How does it look? How does it feel?"
(Allow a few students to share observations.)
"Sometimes, the weather outside can feel a lot like the feelings inside us, can't it? Today, we're going to explore that connection."
Exploring Weather and Emotions (10 minutes)
"Let's look at some pictures of different kinds of weather on our Feelings Forecast Slide Deck and talk about how they might make us feel. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to feelings. Everyone feels things differently, and all feelings are okay to have."
(Go through each slide, pausing to ask questions and facilitate discussion.)
Slide: Sunny Day!
"Look at this sunny day! Bright and warm. How do you think a sunny day might make someone feel? What kinds of activities do you like to do when it's sunny, and how do those activities make you feel?"
Slide: Rainy Day...
"Now, a rainy day. Sometimes it's a gentle drizzle, sometimes it's a big downpour. How might a rainy day make you feel? Some people feel calm, some might feel a little sleepy, or even a bit sad. What about you?"
Slide: Stormy Weather!
"Oh, look, a storm! Thunder, lightning, strong winds. How might you feel if you were inside, watching a storm? It's okay if you feel a little scared or anxious. Storms can be big and loud!"
Slide: Cloudy Day.
"What about a cloudy day? The sun is hiding behind the clouds. How might this kind of day make you feel?"
Slide: Snowy Day!
"Brrr! A snowy day! How do you feel when you see snow? What kind of feelings does snow bring out in you?"
Slide: Windy Day!
"And finally, a windy day! The wind can be gentle or strong. How does the wind make you feel? Does it make you want to run around, or does it make you want to snuggle up?"
"Great job sharing your ideas! It's clear that different weather can bring out many different feelings in all of us."
Activity: My Weather Mood Meter (10 minutes)
"Now, you're going to create your very own Activity: My Weather Mood Meter! On your worksheet, for each type of weather, I want you to draw a picture or write a few words about how that weather makes you feel. You can use colors, stick figures, words, anything that helps you express your feelings. Take your time and be creative!"
(Circulate around the classroom, offering support and encouragement. Ask open-ended questions like, "What made you choose that color for a sunny feeling?" or "Tell me more about how the rain makes you feel.")
Wrap-Up: Sharing and Reflection (5 minutes)
"Alright, let's bring it back together. I'd love for a few volunteers to share one of their weather feelings from their Activity: My Weather Mood Meter. Which weather type did you choose, and how does it make you feel?"
(Call on a few students. Affirm their feelings and thank them for sharing.)
"Remember, just like the weather outside changes from sunny to rainy to cloudy, our feelings also change throughout the day and from day to day. It's totally normal to feel all sorts of emotions, and it's important to notice and understand them. Great job everyone, you were wonderful feeling explorers today!"