Lesson Plan
My Feelings Weather Report
Students will be able to identify and express a range of emotions by metaphorically connecting their feelings to different types of weather, thereby increasing their emotional vocabulary and self-awareness.
Understanding and expressing emotions is a crucial life skill. This lesson provides a fun, relatable way for young students to articulate their feelings, fostering emotional intelligence and better communication.
Audience
Elementary School Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Through visual metaphors, discussion, and creative activities.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Feelings Weather Slide Deck, Construction paper or drawing paper, Crayons, colored pencils, or markers, Feelings Weather Activity Sheet, and My Weather Report Worksheet
Prep
Preparation Steps
15 minutes
- Review the Feelings Weather Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the Feelings Weather Activity Sheet (one per student).
- Print copies of the My Weather Report Worksheet (one per student).
- Gather art supplies: construction paper or drawing paper, crayons, colored pencils, or markers.
- Ensure whiteboard or projector is ready for the slide deck presentation.
Step 1
Introduction: What's the Weather Inside?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students about the weather outside today.
- Transition to asking if they know that people can have 'weather' inside them too, meaning different feelings.
- Introduce the lesson: Today we're going to become 'feelings meteorologists' and create our own 'Feelings Weather Report'! Refer to the Feelings Weather Slide Deck.
Step 2
Exploring Feelings Weather (Slide Deck & Discussion)
15 minutes
- Present the Feelings Weather Slide Deck.
- Go through each slide, discussing how different weather types can represent different feelings.
- Sunny (Happy): How does it feel when you're sunny and happy? What makes you feel this way?
- Rainy (Sad): What about a rainy day feeling? What makes you feel sad?
- Stormy (Angry): When do we feel stormy or angry? What does that look like?
- Cloudy (Confused/Worried): What might a cloudy feeling mean? Confused? Worried?
- Encourage students to share their own experiences and connect them to the weather metaphors. Use the Script: My Feelings Weather Report to guide the discussion.
Step 3
My Feelings Weather Activity
15 minutes
- Distribute the Feelings Weather Activity Sheet and art supplies.
- Explain that students will draw their current 'feelings weather' on their paper and write (or dictate) what makes them feel that way.
- Circulate and assist students, prompting them with questions like: 'What color is your sunny feeling?' or 'What makes your weather a little stormy today?'
Step 4
Share and Reflect (My Weather Report Worksheet)
10 minutes
- Have a few volunteers share their 'Feelings Weather Report' with the class.
- Distribute the My Weather Report Worksheet.
- Instruct students to complete the worksheet individually, drawing or writing about a time they felt each 'weather' type.
- Conclude by emphasizing that all feelings are okay and it's important to be able to name and share them. Summarize key takeaways from the Feelings Weather Slide Deck.
Slide Deck
Welcome, Meteorologists!
What's the weather like outside today?
Did you know people can have 'weather' inside them too? We call these feelings!
Welcome students and ask about the weather outside. Transition to talking about internal 'weather' (feelings).
Your Feelings Weather Report
Just like the sky, our feelings can change!
We're going to learn about our feelings by thinking of them like weather.
Introduce the concept of a 'Feelings Weather Report.' Explain that we'll be exploring how our feelings can be like different types of weather.
Sunny Feelings ☀️ = Happy!
When you feel sunny, you might feel:
- Joyful
- Excited
- Carefree
What makes your heart feel sunny?
Discuss how a sunny day can represent happiness. Ask students what makes them feel sunny and happy.
Rainy Feelings 🌧️ = Sad
When you feel rainy, you might feel:
- Down
- Disappointed
- Tearful
Sometimes it's okay to have a rainy day. What makes you feel a little rainy?
Discuss how a rainy day can represent sadness. Ask students what makes them feel rainy or sad.
Stormy Feelings ⛈️ = Angry
When you feel stormy, you might feel:
- Frustrated
- Mad
- Irritated
Storms can be big! What makes you feel stormy?
Discuss how a stormy day can represent anger. Ask students what makes them feel stormy or angry, and what that might look like.
Cloudy Feelings ☁️ = Confused / Worried
When you feel cloudy, you might feel:
- Unsure
- Anxious
- Puzzled
Cloudy days can make things hard to see. What makes your feelings cloudy?
Discuss how a cloudy day can represent confusion or worry. Ask students what makes them feel cloudy.
All Feelings Are Okay!
Just like the weather changes, your feelings can change too.
It's good to know what your feelings weather is, so you can tell others how you feel!
Explain that all feelings are okay and can change. Reiterate the importance of identifying and expressing feelings.
Your Feelings Weather Report
Time to draw your own Feelings Weather Report!
What's your feelings weather right now? Draw it on your paper!
Introduce the activity: drawing their current feelings weather.
Be a Feelings Meteorologist!
You are now a feelings meteorologist!
Remember to check in with your feelings weather and share it with someone you trust.
Conclude by summarizing the main idea and encouraging students to share their 'weather' with others when they need to.
Script
Script: My Feelings Weather Report
Introduction: What's the Weather Inside? (5 minutes)
"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Look outside the window for a moment. What kind of weather do you see today? Is it sunny, rainy, cloudy?"
"That's right! The weather outside changes all the time. But did you know that we can have different kinds of 'weather' inside us too? Not real rain or sunshine, but our feelings can sometimes feel a lot like weather!"
"Today, we're going to become 'feelings meteorologists' and learn how to create our very own 'Feelings Weather Report'! We'll learn to describe our feelings using different types of weather. This will help us understand ourselves better and tell others how we're feeling."
(Transition to the Feelings Weather Slide Deck - Slide 1 and 2)
Exploring Feelings Weather (15 minutes)
"Let's look at our first kind of feelings weather. (Advance to Slide: Sunny Feelings)"
"Sunny Feelings! When you feel sunny, what kind of feelings do you think that means? Yes, happy! Joyful! Excited! When our hearts feel sunny, we might feel light and bright, just like a beautiful sunny day.
"What are some things that make your heart feel sunny? Maybe playing with friends, getting a hug, or doing something you love? Share with a partner!"
(Allow brief partner discussion, then bring back to whole group)
"Great sharing! Now, sometimes the weather isn't always sunny, right? (Advance to Slide: Rainy Feelings)"
"Rainy Feelings. What might a rainy feeling be like? Yes, sometimes we feel sad, or a little down, like a gloomy, rainy day. It's okay to have rainy days. Everyone feels sad sometimes.
"What are some things that might make you feel a little rainy? Maybe missing someone, or when something doesn't go your way? How do you know if someone else is having a rainy feelings day?"
(Allow brief discussion)
"Let's think about a different kind of weather. (Advance to Slide: Stormy Feelings)"
"Stormy Feelings! Have you ever felt really, really mad or frustrated? Like a big storm brewing inside? That's a stormy feeling! Sometimes our stormy feelings can feel very strong, like thunder and lightning!
"What kinds of things make you feel stormy? What do you do when you have stormy feelings?"
(Allow brief discussion)
"And what about this kind of weather? (Advance to Slide: Cloudy Feelings)"
"Cloudy Feelings. When it's cloudy outside, sometimes it's hard to see the sun, and things might feel a little fuzzy. What feelings might feel like a cloudy day? Maybe confused, or worried, or a little unsure.
"Has anyone ever felt cloudy? What makes your feelings cloudy?"
(Allow brief discussion)
(Advance to Slide: All Feelings Are Okay!)
"Remember, just like the weather changes, your feelings can change too! And all your feelings are okay. It's important to know what your feelings weather is so you can tell others how you feel."
My Feelings Weather Activity (15 minutes)
"Now it's your turn to be a feelings meteorologist! I'm going to give you a special Feelings Weather Activity Sheet and some art supplies. Your job is to draw your feelings weather right now! How are you feeling in this very moment? Are you sunny? A little cloudy? Maybe a mix?"
"Draw what your feelings weather looks like on your paper. You can use colors, shapes, and even little pictures to show what you mean. Then, either write a sentence or two, or tell me, what makes you feel that way today?"
(Distribute materials. Circulate, offering support and asking guiding questions like: "What color is your sunny feeling?" or "What makes your weather a little stormy today?")
Share and Reflect (10 minutes)
"Wow, these are amazing Feelings Weather Reports! Who would like to be brave and share their feelings weather with the class today?"
(Allow 2-3 volunteers to share their activity sheets and explain their feelings. Affirm all feelings shared.)
"Thank you for sharing your wonderful reports! Now, we have one more thing to do. I'm going to hand out the My Weather Report Worksheet. On this worksheet, you'll have a chance to draw or write about a time you felt each of our 'weather' feelings: sunny, rainy, stormy, and cloudy.
"Take your time and think about those moments. When you're done, remember that it's always good to check in with your feelings weather, and it's always okay to share your feelings with a grown-up you trust. You are all incredible feelings meteorologists!"
Activity
My Feelings Weather Activity
Name: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
What is your feelings weather right now?
Draw a picture that shows how you are feeling today, like the weather! Are you sunny, rainy, stormy, or cloudy? You can use different colors and symbols to show your feelings.
What makes you feel this way today?
Write or draw about what is making you feel like your feelings weather today.
Worksheet
My Weather Report Worksheet
Name: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
My Feelings Weather Report
Think about times you have felt different emotions, just like we talked about with our feelings weather! Draw or write about a time you felt each one.
1. Sunny Feelings ☀️
When did you feel sunny and happy? Draw or write about it here!
2. Rainy Feelings 🌧️
When did you feel rainy and sad? Draw or write about it here!
3. Stormy Feelings ⛈️
When did you feel stormy and angry? Draw or write about it here!
4. Cloudy Feelings ☁️
When did you feel cloudy and confused or worried? Draw or write about it here!