lenny

My Inner Weather Report

user image

Lesson Plan

Personal Emotion Tracker Guide

Students will be able to identify and articulate their emotions using a personalized 'inner weather report' framework.

Understanding and naming your emotions is a fundamental step towards managing them effectively. This guide helps students build self-awareness, a crucial skill for social and emotional well-being.

Audience

7th Grade Student

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through a guided journal and discussion, students will learn to connect emotions to weather phenomena.

Materials

Understanding Your Climate (slide-deck), and Daily Emotional Forecast Log (journal)

Prep

Review Materials & Prepare Discussion

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: Your Inner Weather

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking the student: "Have you ever noticed how your feelings change throughout the day, almost like the weather?"
  • Explain that just like the weather, our emotions can be sunny, stormy, cloudy, or even a little bit breezy.
  • Introduce the concept of an "inner weather report" as a way to understand and track these feelings.
  • Briefly explain the objective of the session: to learn how to identify and name different emotions using weather as a metaphor.

Step 2

Exploring Emotional Climates

10 minutes

  • Present the Understanding Your Climate (slide-deck) to the student.
  • Go through each slide, discussing the different emotions and their corresponding weather metaphors (e.g., 'sunny' for happy, 'stormy' for angry, 'cloudy' for sad, 'breezy' for calm or relaxed).
  • Encourage the student to share their own initial thoughts or connections between emotions and weather.
  • Ask open-ended questions like: "What does 'thunderstorm' feel like in your body when you're angry?" or "What kind of weather describes how you feel when you're really proud of something?"

Step 3

Daily Emotional Forecast Log

10 minutes

  • Introduce the Daily Emotional Forecast Log (journal) to the student.
  • Explain how to use the journal: each day, they will briefly reflect on their primary emotions and describe them using weather language.
  • Model an example entry. For instance, "This morning, my inner weather was partly cloudy with a chance of sprinkles, feeling a bit anxious about a test, but also some calm as I ate breakfast."
  • Emphasize that there are no 'right' or 'wrong' feelings or 'weather reports' – the goal is self-awareness.
  • Discuss when and where they might complete this log each day.

Step 4

Reflection and Next Steps

5 minutes

  • Ask the student: "How do you think tracking your 'inner weather' might help you?"
  • Reiterate the importance of identifying and acknowledging emotions without judgment.
  • Encourage consistent use of the Daily Emotional Forecast Log (journal).
  • Offer a brief closing statement about the value of self-awareness.
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Your Inner Weather Report

Just like the weather outside changes, your feelings can change too!

Today, we'll learn to track our emotions like a daily forecast.

Welcome the student and introduce the idea of their 'inner weather.' Ask them to think about how their mood shifts.

Emotions & Weather: A Connection

Why connect emotions to weather?

  • Always Changing: Emotions aren't fixed, just like the weather.
  • Many Types: There's a wide range of feelings and weather patterns.
  • Impacts Us: Both can affect our day and how we interact with the world.

Explain that we often use weather metaphors naturally. Ask for examples if the student can think of any (e.g., 'feeling sunny,' 'a storm of emotions').

Sunny & Bright: Happy Emotions

When you feel:

  • Joyful
  • Excited
  • Optimistic
  • Content

Your inner weather might be Sunny, Clear Skies, or a Gentle Breeze!

Discuss 'sunny' feelings. Ask: 'When do you feel sunny? What does it feel like in your body?'

Cloudy & Grey: Sad Emotions

When you feel:

  • Sad
  • Disappointed
  • Lonely
  • Discouraged

Your inner weather might be Overcast, Misty, or a Light Drizzle.

Discuss 'cloudy' feelings. Ask: 'What makes you feel cloudy? How does a cloudy day make you feel normally?'

Stormy & Intense: Angry Emotions

When you feel:

  • Angry
  • Frustrated
  • Irritated
  • Furious

Your inner weather might be Thunderstorms, Heavy Rain, or Strong Winds!

Discuss 'stormy' feelings. Emphasize that it's okay to feel these, and identifying them is the first step. Ask: 'What does a stormy feeling feel like?'

Breezy & Restless: Anxious Emotions

When you feel:

  • Anxious
  • Nervous
  • Worried
  • Restless

Your inner weather might be Windy, Blustery, or a Swirling Gust.

Discuss 'windy' feelings. Explain anxiety or nervousness can feel restless. Ask: 'What might a breezy feeling be like?'

Cool & Calm: Peaceful Emotions

When you feel:

  • Peaceful
  • Relaxed
  • Serene
  • Centered

Your inner weather might be Cooling Temperatures, Calm Air, or a Gentle Snowfall.

Introduce the idea of 'calm' or 'cool' weather for peaceful states. Ask: 'What does feeling calm feel like?'

Your Daily Emotional Forecast

You'll use a special journal, your Daily Emotional Forecast Log, to:

  • Observe your feelings throughout the day.
  • Describe them using weather words.
  • Understand your own emotional patterns.

Explain the purpose of the journal. Encourage them to be creative with their weather descriptions.

Becoming Your Own Meteorologist

By tracking your inner weather, you'll:

  • Increase your self-awareness.
  • Learn to name and understand your emotions.
  • Develop tools to navigate your emotional landscape.

You are the expert of your own climate!

Emphasize that this is for their benefit and to help them understand themselves better. Reiterate no 'bad' weather.

lenny

Journal

Daily Emotional Forecast Log

Welcome, amazing meteorologist of your own mind! This journal is your space to observe, record, and understand your inner weather. Just like the actual weather, your feelings can change, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. There's no right or wrong weather, just different conditions.

Use this log daily to check in with yourself. How are you feeling? What kind of emotional weather is happening inside you?

My Inner Weather Report

Date:


Time:


Overall Inner Climate Today: (e.g., Mostly Sunny, Partly Cloudy, Stormy with a chance of calm, Gentle Breeze)






Specific Emotions/Weather Conditions I Noticed: (e.g., Felt a sudden 'thunderstorm' of anger when my game crashed, experienced 'clear skies' of happiness during art class, a 'light drizzle' of sadness after a friend moved away)












What Might Have Caused This Weather? (Think about events, thoughts, or interactions)












How did this Inner Weather impact my day or my interactions? (e.g., The 'storm' made me snappy, the 'sunshine' made me want to help others)












If my inner weather changed throughout the day, what shifts did I observe? (e.g., Started 'overcast,' but became 'sunny' after talking to my teacher)












Today's Reflection: What did I learn about my emotions or myself today through this inner weather report?
















Daily Forecast Icons (Optional: Draw or write beside your entries)

☀️ Sunny/Clear Skies: Happy, joyful, content

☁️ Cloudy/Overcast: Sad, disappointed, lonely

⛈️ Thunderstorm/Heavy Rain: Angry, frustrated, furious

🌬️ Windy/Breezy: Anxious, nervous, restless

❄️ Calm Air/Gentle Snowfall: Peaceful, relaxed, serene

🌈 Rainbow: Hopeful, optimistic, feeling balanced after a storm

lenny
lenny