Lesson Plan
My Inner Weather Report
Students will be able to identify and articulate at least three different emotions by relating them to weather patterns and explore simple coping strategies.
Understanding and expressing emotions is a crucial life skill. This lesson provides a fun, relatable framework for young students to develop emotional literacy, helping them to better understand themselves and others.
Audience
Kindergarten to 2nd Grade Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Through metaphors, visuals, and interactive tasks.
Materials
Smartboard or projector for Slide Deck: My Inner Weather Report, Activity: Weathering Our Feelings, Worksheet: My Feelings Forecast, and Drawing supplies (crayons, markers, paper)
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Slide Deck: My Inner Weather Report and practice the script.
- Print copies of the Worksheet: My Feelings Forecast for each student.
- Gather drawing supplies (crayons, markers, paper).
- Arrange the classroom for group activity.
Step 1
Warm-Up: How's the Weather Today?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students about the actual weather outside. "What's the weather like today? Is it sunny, cloudy, rainy?"
- Transition by saying, "Just like the weather outside, our feelings inside can change too! Today, we're going to explore our inner weather reports."
- Introduce the Slide Deck: My Inner Weather Report (Slide 1-2).
Step 2
Exploring Inner Weather
15 minutes
- Use the Slide Deck: My Inner Weather Report (Slides 3-7) to introduce different emotions as weather patterns (e.g., sunny for happy, stormy for angry, cloudy for sad).
- For each 'weather' feeling, ask students to share what that feeling looks like, sounds like, or feels like in their bodies.
- Facilitate a brief discussion on how emotions can change, just like the weather.
- Show Slide 8 to discuss that all weather (and all feelings) are okay and normal.
Step 3
Activity: Weathering Our Feelings
15 minutes
- Guide students through the Activity: Weathering Our Feelings.
- Provide each student with drawing supplies.
- Encourage students to draw their own
Step 4
Warm Up: Inner Weather Report
5 minutes
Discussion Questions:
1. How do you feel right now? (e.g., sunny, a little cloudy, a little stormy)
2. What makes your inner weather change? (e.g., a good morning, feeling tired, something exciting happening)
Step 5
Exploring Inner Weather
15 minutes
Teacher Led Instruction:
- Review the Slide Deck: My Inner Weather Report (Slides 3-7) to introduce different emotions as weather patterns.
- Explain each weather-emotion connection:
- Sunny (Happy): Feeling bright, joyful, energetic.
- Cloudy (Sad/Gloomy): Feeling low, quiet, a bit down.
- Stormy (Angry/Frustrated): Feeling upset, loud, like you want to shout.
- Windy (Anxious/Worried): Feeling shaky, nervous, like butterflies in your tummy.
- Rainy (Tearful/Disappointed): Feeling like crying, disappointed.
- For each emotion, ask students: "What does this feeling look like on your face? What does it feel like in your body?"
- Emphasize that all feelings are okay and normal, and they change, just like weather.
Step 6
Activity: Weathering Our Feelings
15 minutes
- Introduce the Activity: Weathering Our Feelings.
- Explain that students will draw their inner weather and share why they feel that way.
- Provide drawing supplies and guide them through the activity steps.
- Circulate and offer support, prompting students with questions like: "What color is your sunny feeling? What makes your storm get bigger or smaller?"
- Allow time for a few students to share their drawings and explanations with the class.
Step 7
Worksheet: My Feelings Forecast
5 minutes
- Distribute the Worksheet: My Feelings Forecast.
- Explain that this worksheet is like a mini-weather report for their feelings today and for tomorrow.
- Guide them through filling out the simple prompts.
- This can be started in class and finished as homework or an extension activity.
Step 8
Cool Down & Wrap Up
5 minutes
- Gather students back together.
- Ask: "What's one new thing you learned about your feelings today?"
- Reiterate that it's okay to have all kinds of feelings and that talking about them helps.
- Conclude by saying: "Remember, no matter what your inner weather report is, you are still wonderful!"
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Slide Deck
Welcome to Our Class!
What's the weather like outside today?
Greet students and start with a general conversation about the weather outside to set the stage.
My Inner Weather Report
Just like the weather outside, our feelings inside can change too!
Today, we're going to learn about our inner weather.
Introduce the idea that just like outdoor weather, our feelings can change and have different 'climates' inside us.
Sunny Days!
When we feel sunny, we might feel:
- Happy!
- Joyful!
- Energetic!
What makes your inner weather sunny?
Explain that 'sunny' feelings are happy feelings. Ask students what makes them feel sunny.
Cloudy Skies
When we feel cloudy, we might feel:
- A little sad
- Quiet
- A bit down
What makes your inner weather cloudy?
Explain that 'cloudy' feelings can be a little sad or gloomy. Ask students what makes them feel cloudy.
Stormy Weather
When we feel stormy, we might feel:
- Angry!
- Frustrated!
- Upset!
How do you know when a storm is brewing inside you?
Explain 'stormy' feelings as anger or frustration. Discuss how our bodies might feel during a storm.
Windy Worries
When we feel windy, we might feel:
- Nervous
- Worried
- Like butterflies are in our tummy
What makes your inner weather windy?
Describe 'windy' feelings as nervousness or worry. Ask students about butterflies in their tummy.
Rainy Blues
When we feel rainy, we might feel:
- Sad
- Disappointed
- Like crying
It's okay to feel rainy sometimes. What helps when you feel rainy?
Introduce 'rainy' feelings as sadness or disappointment. Talk about tears being like rain.
All Weather Is Okay!
Just like the weather outside, our feelings change!
- It's okay to feel sunny, cloudy, stormy, windy, or rainy.
- All feelings are normal.
- We can learn to "weather the storm"!
What can we do when our inner weather is tricky?
Emphasize that all feelings are okay and can change. Reassure students that there are ways to manage all types of 'weather'.
Activity
Weathering Our Feelings: Draw Your Inner Weather
Objective: To help students visually represent and articulate their current emotional state using weather metaphors, and to encourage sharing and self-awareness.
Materials: Drawing paper, crayons, markers, colored pencils.
Instructions:
-
Find Your Inner Weather: Close your eyes for a moment. How do you feel right now, inside your body and in your mind? Is it sunny, cloudy, stormy, windy, or rainy? Maybe it's a mix!
-
Draw Your Inner Weather: On your paper, draw what your inner weather looks like today. Use colors and shapes to show how you feel.
- If you feel sunny, what does your sun look like? Is it big and bright? What colors are you using?
- If you feel cloudy, how many clouds are there? Are they light gray or dark gray?
- If you feel stormy, what kind of storm is it? Is there thunder and lightning? What colors are the storm clouds?
- If you feel windy, how are the winds blowing? Is it a gentle breeze or a strong gust?
- If you feel rainy, are there a few raindrops or a big downpour?
Don't forget to draw yourself in your weather report! How do you look in your inner weather?
-
Share Your Report (Optional): When you are done, you can share your inner weather report with a partner or the class. Explain what your weather looks like and why you think you feel that way.
- "My inner weather is (sunny/cloudy/stormy/windy/rainy) today because..."
Teacher Tip: Encourage students to talk about why they feel a certain way, but do not push if they are not ready to share specific reasons. Focus on the identification and expression of the emotion.
Worksheet
My Feelings Forecast
Name: _________________________
Date: _________________________
Part 1: How Do I Feel Today?
Draw your inner weather for today! Remember, you can be sunny, cloudy, stormy, windy, or rainy.
Circle the feeling words that match your drawing:
Happy Sad Angry Worried Calm Excited
Part 2: What Makes My Inner Weather Change?
Write or draw one thing that can make your inner weather:
Sunny (Happy):
Cloudy (Sad):
Stormy (Angry):
Part 3: What Can I Do When My Inner Weather Is Tricky?
Draw or write one way you can "weather the storm" when you have a tricky feeling. (For example, take a deep breath, talk to a grown-up, draw a picture, play quietly.)