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My Inner Weather Report

For Schools

Lesson Plan

My Inner Weather Report

Students will be able to identify and name different emotions, associate them with various weather patterns, and express their feelings using the 'Inner Weather Report' metaphor.

Understanding and expressing emotions is crucial for healthy social-emotional development. This lesson provides a relatable and engaging metaphor to help young students build emotional vocabulary and self-awareness.

Audience

2nd-4th Grade

Time

45-60 minutes

Approach

Interactive learning with visual aids, discussion, and creative expression.

Materials

My Inner Weather Report Slide Deck, Inner Weather Worksheet, Weather Emotion Cards (for activity), Chart paper or whiteboard, and Markers or colored pencils

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students how they are feeling today, encouraging one-word answers or simple phrases.
    - Introduce the idea that feelings can be like weather – they change, and sometimes we can predict them, but other times they surprise us.
    - Use My Inner Weather Report Slide Deck Slide 1-2.

Step 2

Introducing the Inner Weather Report

10 minutes

  • Present the concept of an 'Inner Weather Report' using My Inner Weather Report Slide Deck Slides 3-6.
    - Explain that our emotions can feel like different types of weather inside us.
    - Discuss examples: 'Sunny' might feel happy, 'Stormy' might feel angry, 'Rainy' might feel sad.
    - Ask students for their ideas on what other weather patterns might represent different emotions.

Step 3

Exploring Emotions and Weather Associations

15 minutes

  • Go through My Inner Weather Report Slide Deck Slides 7-12, discussing each emotion and its associated weather.
    - Encourage students to share personal (but appropriate) examples of when they felt a certain emotion and what that 'inner weather' felt like.
    - Facilitate a brief class discussion about how different people might associate different emotions with weather patterns, emphasizing that there's no single 'right' answer, but common associations exist.

Step 4

Inner Weather Worksheet Activity

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Inner Weather Worksheet.
    - Explain the instructions: students will draw or write about different weather types and the emotions they represent for them.
    - Circulate and provide support, prompting students with questions like 'What does a cloudy day feel like inside?' or 'When do you feel sunny?'

Step 5

Weather Emotion Cards Activity

10 minutes

  • Use the Weather Emotion Cards (for activity).
    - Divide students into small groups or conduct as a whole-class activity.
    - Hold up a 'Weather Card' (e.g., 'Stormy'). Ask students to name an emotion that matches this weather (e.g., 'Angry').
    - Then, hold up an 'Emotion Card' (e.g., 'Happy'). Ask students to name a weather type that matches this emotion (e.g., 'Sunny').
    - Encourage students to explain their reasoning.
    - Conclude by emphasizing that understanding our inner weather helps us understand ourselves and others better.

Step 6

Wrap-Up & Reflection

5 minutes

  • Bring the class back together.
    - Ask students to share one new emotion-weather connection they made today.
    - Remind them that it's okay for their 'inner weather' to change, just like real weather.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Our Feelings Forecast!

How are you feeling today?

Welcome students and introduce the topic of feelings. Ask a few students how they are feeling today using one word.

Feelings are Like Weather...

They can change! One minute it's sunny, the next it's cloudy. Our feelings are often like that too.

Explain that feelings can change, just like the weather outside. Some days we feel bright, other days a bit gloomy.

Your Inner Weather Report!

Imagine you have a weather report happening inside of you. What would it look like?

Introduce the main concept: our 'Inner Weather Report.' This is a way to describe how we feel inside.

Matching Feelings to Weather

We can use weather words to describe our feelings!

Explain that different emotions can be compared to different types of weather.

Sunny Day Feelings ☀️

When the sun is shining, how do you feel?

  • Happy
  • Joyful
  • Cheerful

Give the first example: Sunny. Ask students what emotions might feel like a sunny day.

Rainy Day Feelings 🌧️

When it's rainy and gloomy, how might you feel?

  • Sad
  • Upset
  • Lonely

Give the second example: Rainy. Ask students what emotions might feel like a rainy day.

Stormy Day Feelings ⛈️

When there's a big storm with thunder and lightning, how might you feel inside?

  • Angry
  • Frustrated
  • Annoyed

Give the third example: Stormy. Ask students what emotions might feel like a stormy day.

Cloudy Day Feelings ☁️

When it's cloudy and grey, how do you sometimes feel?

  • Calm
  • Quiet
  • Relaxed (or sometimes a bit bored)

Give the fourth example: Cloudy. Ask students what emotions might feel like a cloudy day.

Breezy Day Feelings 🌬️

When it's breezy and the wind is blowing, how might you feel?

  • Excited
  • Silly
  • Energetic

Give the fifth example: Breezy/Windy. Ask students what emotions might feel like a breezy day.

Why These Connections?

Why do you think we connect these feelings to this weather? Share your ideas!

Encourage students to think about why these associations make sense to them.

Your Unique Weather Report!

Everyone's inner weather report is special and unique to them. Your 'sunny' might be different from someone else's, and that's okay!

Explain that everyone's inner weather report is unique.

Time for Your Inner Weather Worksheet!

Now you get to create your own weather report for your feelings! We will use the Inner Weather Worksheet.

Introduce the worksheet. Explain that they will get to draw/write their own inner weather report.

All Weather is Okay!

Remember, all feelings are okay. It's important to know what your inner weather is so you can understand yourself better.

Remind students that all feelings are okay and it's important to recognize them.

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Worksheet

My Inner Weather Report Worksheet

Name: _________________________
Date: _________________________

Part 1: What's Your Inner Weather Today?

Think about how you feel right now. What kind of weather matches your feelings? Draw a picture and write a few words to describe it.

My Current Inner Weather:

Draw your inner weather here:












What feelings does this weather represent for you?






Part 2: Feelings Forecast

Draw or describe different types of weather and the feelings they represent for you.

1. Sunny Feelings ☀️

Draw or describe what a sunny feeling looks like for you.












What emotions do you feel when your inner weather is sunny?






2. Rainy Feelings 🌧️

Draw or describe what a rainy feeling looks like for you.












What emotions do you feel when your inner weather is rainy?






3. Stormy Feelings ⛈️

Draw or describe what a stormy feeling looks like for you.












What emotions do you feel when your inner weather is stormy?






4. Breezy Feelings 🌬️

Draw or describe what a breezy feeling looks like for you.












What emotions do you feel when your inner weather is breezy?






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Activity

Weather Emotion Cards Activity

Objective: To reinforce the connection between weather metaphors and emotions, and encourage students to express and identify feelings.

Materials: Printed and cut-out Weather Emotion Cards (for activity) (one set per small group or one large set for whole class).

Instructions for the Teacher:

  1. Preparation: Print and cut out the following cards. You can print them on thicker paper or laminate them for durability.

    • Weather Cards: Sunny, Cloudy, Rainy, Stormy, Breezy/Windy
    • Emotion Cards: Happy, Calm, Sad, Angry, Excited/Silly

  2. Activity Introduction (5 minutes):

    • Remind students of the
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