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How Does Our Class Feel Today?

For Schools

Lesson Plan

Climate Check-In Outline

Students will reflect on and share their current feelings about classroom climate using visual tools, discuss collective insights, and collaboratively set one goal for a positive learning environment.

Regular climate check-ins build empathy, strengthen community, and empower students to take shared responsibility for a supportive classroom culture.

Audience

5th Grade Class

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Visual reflection, partner/group discussion, collective goal setting.

Materials

Feelings Meter Presentation, Emoji Mood Map, Circle Share Prompts, One-Word Exit Ticket, and Whiteboard or Chart Paper and Markers

Prep

Gather and Familiarize

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Emoji Mood Mapping

5 minutes

  • Distribute one Emoji Mood Map per student.
  • Ask students to quietly choose the emoji that best represents how they feel about the classroom climate today.
  • Invite volunteers to briefly point out their chosen emoji without explanation.

Step 2

Presentation: Feelings Meter

5 minutes

  • Display the Feelings Meter Presentation.
  • Explain the scale of feelings (e.g., “I’m comfortable and engaged” to “I’m uneasy or disconnected”).
  • Ask students to place a token or hand on the meter to show where they sit today.

Step 3

Discussion: Circle Share

10 minutes

  • Arrange students in a circle and distribute Circle Share Prompts.
  • In turn, each student responds to a prompt (e.g., “What helps you feel comfortable here?” or “What’s one thing we could change to feel safer?”).
  • Encourage active listening and respectful responses (e.g., “I hear you, I feel…”).

Step 4

Group Goal Setting

5 minutes

  • As a class, review common themes from the Circle Share.
  • Brainstorm one actionable goal (e.g., “Use kind words,” “Respect personal space”).
  • Record the goal visibly on the whiteboard or chart paper.

Step 5

Cool-Down: One-Word Exit Ticket

5 minutes

  • Hand out One-Word Exit Ticket cards.
  • Ask students to write a single word describing how they feel about today’s discussion and goal.
  • Collect and quickly scan for reflections to inform future check-ins.
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Slide Deck

Our Feelings Meter

A simple scale to show how you feel in class today.

Welcome students! Today, we’re going to use a tool called the Feelings Meter to check in with how we feel about our classroom climate. Explain that this is a safe space and honest responses help everyone.

Why Check In with Our Feelings?

• Helps us understand how comfortable and engaged we are
• Builds empathy by sharing emotions
• Guides us to improve our classroom environment

Explain why reflecting on feelings matters. Emphasize that noticing our emotions helps us support one another and learn better.

Meet the Scale

1 • I feel uneasy or disconnected
2 • I’m getting by but could use help
3 • I feel okay and ready to learn
4 • I feel engaged and comfortable
5 • I feel confident and energized

Introduce the scale. Describe each point briefly: 1 = disconnected/uncomfortable, 3 = okay/neutral, 5 = confident/fully engaged.

How to Use It Today

• Look at the Feelings Meter scale above
• Decide which number matches how you feel right now
• Place a token, sticker, or hand on that number

Demonstrate how to show where you are on the meter. You might place a token, raise your hand level, or quietly touch the corresponding number.

Practice Together

Scenario: You just solved a tricky math puzzle. Where would you place your token on the meter?

Walk through a quick practice. Read a scenario (e.g., “You just solved a tricky math problem”). Ask: “Where would you be on the meter?” Invite a few volunteers to respond.

Let’s Get Started

Take a moment to place your token on the Feelings Meter. We’ll discuss what we see next.

Transition to the activity. Remind students this is a nonjudgmental check-in and everyone’s feeling is valid.

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Warm Up

Emoji Mood Map

Circle the emoji that best shows how you feel about our classroom climate today.

😟 😐 🙂 😃 🤩

Name: _______________________

Optional: Write one sentence explaining why you chose this emoji.




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Discussion

Circle Share Prompts

Use these questions for your class circle share. Distribute one prompt per student and invite each to respond when it’s their turn.

  1. What helps you feel safe and comfortable in our classroom?



  1. Share one thing that makes you excited to come to class.



  1. Describe a moment this week when you felt proud of yourself or a classmate.



  1. What’s one change we could make to help everyone feel included and respected?



  1. If a friend is having a tough day, what could you or we do to help them feel better?



  1. Which classroom rule makes our learning environment the most positive? Why?



  1. How do you show respect to others here? Give an example.



  1. What’s one thing you appreciate about our classroom community?



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Cool Down

One-Word Exit Ticket

Write one word that describes how you feel about today’s discussion and the goal we set as a class.

One Word: _______________________




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