Lesson Plan
Storm to Sunshine Lesson Plan
Students will identify and label their emotions using weather metaphors and practice two regulation strategies (deep breathing and reflection) to transform “stormy” feelings into “sunshine.”
Building early social-emotional skills helps kindergarteners recognize feelings and apply simple coping tools, supporting classroom climate and individual self-regulation.
Audience
Kindergarten
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Weather-themed discussion, breathing practice, drawing and reflection
Materials
Emotion Weather Chart, Deep Breathing Technique Cards, Storm to Sunshine Reflection Worksheet, Blank Drawing Paper, and Crayons
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and cut out Emotion Weather Chart for classroom display
- Print and laminate Deep Breathing Technique Cards
- Make copies of Storm to Sunshine Reflection Worksheet for each student
- Gather drawing paper and crayons
- Set up a quiet corner with cushions for calm-down practice
- Review each generated material before class
Step 1
Welcome and Weather Check-In
10 minutes
- Gather students in a circle on the rug
- Explain that people have feelings like weather: sunny, cloudy, stormy
- Invite each child to share today’s feeling using a weather word
- Model sharing: “I feel a little cloudy because I missed my friend”
Step 2
Introduce Emotion Weather Chart
10 minutes
- Display the Emotion Weather Chart
- Point to each weather icon and name the emotion (happy, sad, angry, calm)
- Ask volunteers to come up and point to how they feel today
- Reinforce correct emotion labels and expand vocabulary
Step 3
Deep Breathing Practice
10 minutes
- Explain that deep breaths can help calm a storm inside us
- Show and read through Deep Breathing Technique Cards
- Model one deep-breath exercise: inhale for 4, hold 2, exhale for 6
- Have students stand up and practice 3 rounds together
- Encourage children to notice how their bodies feel afterward
Step 4
Drawing Feelings Activity
15 minutes
- Give each student drawing paper and crayons
- Prompt: “Draw a picture of you when you feel stormy, then draw you when you feel sunny.”
- Circulate and ask open questions: “What made your storm? How did you feel sunny?”
- Praise effort and self-expression
Step 5
Group Reflection and Worksheet
10 minutes
- Hand out Storm to Sunshine Reflection Worksheet
- Read prompts together: “When I feel like a storm, I can…,” “A friend can help me by…”
- Let students complete with words or drawings
- Share a few examples aloud, celebrating ideas for regulation
Step 6
Closing and Sunshine Song
5 minutes
- Gather back on the rug in a circle
- Teach a simple “Sunshine Song” (to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle”):
- “Sunshine, sunshine, in my heart, chase those stormy clouds apart”
- Lead one sung round, encouraging hand motions (arms wide for sun)
- Remind students to use these tools any time they feel stormy
Slide Deck
Storm to Sunshine
Social-Emotional Regulation Strategies for Kindergarten
Welcome everyone! Today we’re going to learn how to turn our “stormy” feelings into “sunshine.” Introduce the title, get kids excited about weather words and feelings.
Weather Check-In
• Sit in a circle
• Share how you feel as a weather word (sunny, cloudy, stormy)
• Example: “I feel a little cloudy because I missed my friend.”
Gather students on the rug. Explain that feelings are like weather—sometimes sunny, sometimes stormy. Model your own feeling and encourage each child to share using a weather word.
Emotion Weather Chart
Refer to the Emotion Weather Chart:
• Sunny = Happy
• Rainy = Sad
• Stormy = Angry
• Clear = Calm
Ask volunteers to point and name their feeling.
Display the Emotion Weather Chart. Point to each icon and name its feeling. Invite volunteers to come up and point to the icon that matches their current feeling. Expand vocabulary: e.g., “breezy” for calm.
Deep Breathing Practice
Use the Deep Breathing Technique Cards:
- Inhale for 4 seconds
- Hold for 2 seconds
- Exhale for 6 seconds
Practice 3 rounds as a class.
Explain that deep breaths help calm our inner storm. Show the Breathing Technique Cards and model one round: inhale 4, hold 2, exhale 6. Guide students through three rounds, counting out loud together.
Drawing Your Feelings
• Draw you when you feel “stormy”
• Then draw you when you feel “sunny”
Materials: Blank Drawing Paper & Crayons
Hand out blank paper and crayons. Prompt students: first draw themselves feeling stormy, then draw themselves feeling sunny. Circulate, ask open-ended questions, and praise effort.
Group Reflection
Complete the Storm to Sunshine Reflection Worksheet:
• When I feel like a storm, I can…
• A friend can help me by…
Distribute the reflection worksheet. Read each prompt aloud. Encourage students to draw or write responses. Select a few to share with the group, reinforcing regulation ideas.
Sunshine Song
Sunshine, sunshine, in my heart,
Chase those stormy clouds apart.
(Repeat)
Teach the song slowly, line by line, then add simple arm motions (arms open wide for sunshine). Sing together twice to build confidence and joy.
Remember Your Tools
• Weather Check-In
• Deep Breathing
• Drawing & Reflection
• Sunshine Song
Use these anytime you feel a storm inside!
Review all tools and remind students to use them whenever they feel stormy. Encourage them to add these strategies to their calm-down corner.
Worksheet
Storm to Sunshine Reflection Worksheet
Name: _______________________ Date: _____________
Instructions: Draw or write your ideas below each prompt.
- When I feel like a storm, I can…
- A friend can help me by…
(Feel free to use pictures, words, or both!)
Activity
Emotion Weather Chart
Use this chart to help you identify and share your feelings using weather words and pictures. Display it in your classroom so everyone can see and use it!
| Weather Icon | Weather Word | Feeling |
|---|---|---|
| ☀️ | Sunny | Happy |
| 🌧️ | Rainy | Sad |
| ⛈️ | Stormy | Angry |
| ⛅ | Clear | Calm |
Game
Sunshine Breath Game
Materials: Print, laminate, and cut out the cards below.
Cards
| Card | Icon | Step | Instruction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ☁️ | Breathe In | Inhale slowly for 4 seconds (count 1–4) |
| 2 | 🌟 | Hold | Hold your breath for 2 seconds (count 1–2) |
| 3 | ☀️ | Breathe Out | Exhale slowly for 6 seconds (count 1–6) |
How to Play
- Shuffle the cards and place them face down.
- Students take turns drawing a card and reading it aloud.
- The drawer leads the class in performing that breathing step.
- After completing all three steps in order, pause and notice how you feel.
- Repeat 3 full breath cycles for a calming exercise.
Extension Ideas
- Use a chime or timer to signal when to move to the next card.
- Encourage students to close their eyes and imagine calm weather while breathing.
Warm Up
Weather Feelings Warm-Up
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Emotion Weather Chart
Purpose
A quick check-in to help students notice and share how they’re feeling using weather words.
Steps
- Gather students in a circle or at the rug.
- Remind them of our weather feelings: sunny (happy), rainy (sad), stormy (angry), clear (calm).
- Point to the Emotion Weather Chart and say, “Show me how you feel today with a weather word!”
- Invite each student to:
- Name their weather feeling aloud, or
- Show it with a simple gesture (e.g., arms wide for sunny, hands flutter for rainy).
- (Optional) Ask one follow-up: “What made you feel this way this morning?”
Teacher Tip
Model your own weather feeling first (“I feel a little cloudy because I missed my friend”), to build trust and encourage sharing.
Cool Down
Sunshine Song Cool-Down
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: None (optional: simple percussion like clappers or scarves)
Purpose
A gentle, musical way to wrap up and reinforce emotional regulation tools. Singing the Sunshine Song helps children end class feeling calm and uplifted.
Instructions
- Gather students in a circle on the rug.
- Explain that when we sing the Sunshine Song, we’re sharing our sunshine feelings and pushing away any leftover storm clouds.
- Teach the song line by line to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”:Sunshine, sunshine, in my heart,
Chase those stormy clouds apart.
Sunshine, sunshine, in my heart,
Chase those stormy clouds apart. - Add simple arm motions:
- “Sunshine”: open arms wide in a big circle.
- “in my heart”: place hands gently over the heart.
- “chase those stormy clouds apart”: sweep arms outward like pushing clouds away.
- Sing together 2–3 times, guiding students to use the motions and notice how calm they feel.
Teacher Tips
- Model the melody and motions slowly the first time; then invite students to join in.
- Encourage a volunteer to lead one verse to build confidence.
- Use scarves or clappers for students who need extra sensory input while singing.