Lesson Plan
Inner Weather Report
Students will learn to recognize their emotions as internal weather patterns, understanding that feelings are temporary and can be observed without being overwhelmed.
Fostering emotional literacy helps students develop self-awareness and self-management skills, enabling them to navigate their feelings in a healthy way. This lesson introduces the fundamental idea that they have agency over their emotional responses.
Audience
3rd Grade Class
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Through a weather analogy, students will explore emotions, discuss feelings, and practice self-calming.
Materials
Smartboard or projector for My Emotional Climate Slide Deck, Feeling Thermometer Quick Check Warm-Up, Weathering the Storms Activity Sheet, Pencils or crayons, and My Forecast Exit Ticket Cool-Down
Prep
Preparation
15 minutes
- Review My Emotional Climate Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the Feeling Thermometer Quick Check Warm-Up (one per student).
- Print copies of the Weathering the Storms Activity Sheet (one per student).
- Print copies of My Forecast Exit Ticket Cool-Down (one per student).
- Ensure projector/Smartboard is set up for the slide deck.
Step 1
Introduction: Inner Weather (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Begin by displaying the first slide of My Emotional Climate Slide Deck.
- Distribute the Feeling Thermometer Quick Check Warm-Up and ask students to complete it individually.
- Lead a brief class discussion about different types of weather and how they make us feel (e.g., sunny = happy, stormy = anxious). Connect this to emotions as our 'inner weather.'
- Emphasize that just like real weather, our inner weather changes.
Step 2
Exploring Emotional Climates (15 minutes)
15 minutes
- Present slides from My Emotional Climate Slide Deck that introduce various emotions and their corresponding 'weather' metaphors (e.g., anger as a thunderstorm, sadness as a cloudy day).
- Facilitate a guided discussion using the prompts on the slides. Ask students to share examples of when their 'inner weather' felt a certain way.
- Introduce simple self-calming strategies like deep breaths (calm the storm) or imagining a peaceful place (sunny skies).
Step 3
Weathering the Storms Activity (15 minutes)
15 minutes
- Distribute the Weathering the Storms Activity Sheet.
- Explain that students will draw or write about a time their 'inner weather' was stormy and how they managed it, or what they could do next time.
- Circulate and provide support and encouragement. Remind them of the self-calming strategies discussed.
Step 4
Conclusion: My Forecast (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together. Ask a few volunteers to share (if comfortable) one thing they learned about their 'inner weather.'
- Distribute My Forecast Exit Ticket Cool-Down and have students complete it before leaving. This will gauge their understanding of emotions as temporary and their ability to identify a calming strategy.
Slide Deck
What's Your Inner Weather Report?
Have you ever noticed how the weather outside changes? Sometimes it's sunny, sometimes it's stormy!
Our feelings are a lot like the weather inside us. They can change too!
Today, we're going to explore our 'inner weather.'
Welcome students and introduce the idea of 'inner weather' to describe our feelings. Explain that just like the weather outside changes, our feelings inside change too. Use the Feeling Thermometer Quick Check Warm-Up to get them thinking.
Emotions Are Like Weather
Sunny Day Feelings
What does it feel like to be happy, joyful, or excited?
Cloudy Day Feelings
What does it feel like to be a little sad, calm, or quiet?
Stormy Day Feelings
What does it feel like to be angry, frustrated, or worried?
Explain that different feelings can be like different kinds of weather. Encourage students to think about how these types of weather make them feel physically and emotionally. Ask: 'What kind of weather feels like happiness to you?' or 'What kind of weather feels like frustration?'
Meet Your Emotional Climate
- Happy = Sunny & Bright!
When everything feels light and easy. - Calm = Gentle Breeze!
A peaceful and relaxed feeling. - Sad = Cloudy & Gray.
When you feel down or disappointed. - Angry = Thunderstorm!
When you feel hot, frustrated, or ready to burst. - Worried = Drizzly Rain.
When you feel a bit uneasy or nervous.
Introduce specific emotions and their weather connections. Ask students for examples of when they felt these emotions and what their 'inner weather' was like. Emphasize that all weather, and all feelings, are okay.
Weathering the Storms
Just like we prepare for real storms with umbrellas or raincoats, we can learn to prepare for our emotional storms!
When your inner weather gets stormy, what can you do?
One way is to take a Deep Breath!
- Breathe in slowly through your nose (like smelling a flower).
- Hold for a count of three.
- Breathe out slowly through your mouth (like blowing out a candle).
Transition to self-calming strategies. Explain that even when the weather is stormy, we can learn ways to find our sunshine again. Introduce a simple breathing exercise.
Finding Your Sunshine Again
What else can help when your inner weather is stormy?
- Talk to someone you trust. (A parent, teacher, friend)
- Do something you enjoy. (Read a book, draw, play)
- Take a break. (Go to a quiet space)
- Move your body. (Run, jump, stretch)
Remember, your inner weather always changes, and you can learn to help it shift!
Discuss other simple coping strategies. Ask students what other things they do to feel better when they are upset. This slide will lead into the Weathering the Storms Activity Sheet.
Your Inner Weather Forecast
Your feelings are like the weather – they come, they go, and they change!
You can observe your feelings without being swept away by them.
What's your emotional forecast for today, and how will you manage it?
Conclude by reiterating that feelings are temporary and observable. Introduce the My Forecast Exit Ticket Cool-Down as a way for them to reflect on their own emotional forecast and a strategy they can use.
Warm Up
Feeling Thermometer Quick Check
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________
How is your inner weather today?
Circle the picture that best shows how you are feeling right now.
1. Sunny and Bright!
(Feeling happy, excited, energetic)
2. Gentle Breeze!
(Feeling calm, peaceful, relaxed)
3. Cloudy and Gray.
(Feeling a little sad, tired, or quiet)
4. Drizzly Rain.
(Feeling a bit worried, uneasy, or shy)
5. Thunderstorm!
(Feeling angry, frustrated, or upset)
Why do you feel this way? (Optional)
Activity
Weathering the Storms Activity Sheet
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________
My Inner Weather Story
Think about a time your "inner weather" felt stormy (like you were angry, frustrated, or worried).
1. What was your stormy inner weather like?
Draw a picture or describe with words how you felt and what was happening.
2. How did you (or how could you) weather the storm?
What did you do, or what could you do next time, to help your inner weather become calmer? (Think about deep breaths, talking to someone, doing something you enjoy).
Cool Down
My Forecast Exit Ticket
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________
Reflection on Inner Weather
1. What did you learn about your feelings today? (Hint: Think about how they are like weather!)
2. Imagine your inner weather is getting cloudy or stormy later today. What is ONE thing you can do to help yourself feel calmer?
3. On a scale of 1 to 5, how well do you feel you understand that feelings change, just like the weather?
(Circle one)
1 = Not at all
2 = A little bit
3 = Pretty well
4 = Very well
5 = I totally get it!