Lesson Plan
The Emotion Thermometer: Reading My Inner Weather Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify and describe different intensities of their emotions using an 'emotion thermometer' and connect these intensities to appropriate coping strategies.
Understanding the intensity of our emotions helps us choose the right coping strategies, leading to better self-awareness and healthier emotional responses.
Audience
Grades 1-4
Time
45-60 minutes
Approach
Through visual aids, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities.
Materials
Whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, Emotion Thermometer Slide Deck, Construction paper (red, orange, yellow, green, blue), Scissors, Glue sticks, Emotion Thermometer Worksheet, and Emotion Charades Game Cards
Prep
Preparation
15 minutes
- Review all generated materials: The Emotion Thermometer: Reading My Inner Weather Lesson Plan, Emotion Thermometer Slide Deck, Emotion Thermometer Activity, Emotion Thermometer Worksheet, and Emotion Charades Game.
- Print or prepare to display the Emotion Thermometer Slide Deck.
- Gather construction paper in red, orange, yellow, green, and blue.
- Print and cut out the Emotion Charades Game Cards.
- Have scissors and glue sticks ready for the activity.
- Make copies of the Emotion Thermometer Worksheet for each student.
Step 1
Introduction: What's Your Inner Weather?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "How do you feel today?" Encourage a variety of answers.
- Introduce the idea that just like the weather outside, our 'inner weather' (our feelings) can change and have different intensities.
- Ask: "Can you be a little bit mad, or really, really mad? What's the difference?"
Step 2
Introducing the Emotion Thermometer (Slide Deck)
10 minutes
- Present the Emotion Thermometer Slide Deck.
- Go through each slide, explaining how the thermometer works: different colors represent different emotion intensities (e.g., green for calm, yellow for a little frustrated, orange for mad, red for furious).
- For each level, discuss what that emotion might feel like in their bodies and what a small, appropriate coping strategy could be (e.g., deep breaths for yellow, counting to ten for orange).
Step 3
Emotion Thermometer Activity: Building Our Own
15 minutes
- Distribute construction paper (red, orange, yellow, green, blue), scissors, and glue sticks.
- Guide students through the Emotion Thermometer Activity to create their own physical emotion thermometers.
- As they build, encourage discussion about what each color/level means to them personally.
Step 4
Applying the Thermometer: Worksheet
10 minutes
- Distribute the Emotion Thermometer Worksheet.
- Explain that students will draw or write about situations that might make them feel different levels on their thermometer and what they can do to cope.
- Circulate and assist students as they work. This is a chance for individual reflection and application.
Step 5
Game: Emotion Charades
10 minutes
- Introduce the Emotion Charades Game.
- Divide students into small groups or play as a whole class.
- Explain the rules: students will act out emotions from the game cards, and others will guess the emotion and its intensity level on the thermometer.
- Emphasize acting out intensity (e.g., subtly annoyed vs. stomping mad).
Step 6
Conclusion: Checking Our Inner Weather
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Reiterate the importance of recognizing their emotions and using their emotion thermometers and coping strategies as tools.
- Ask students to share one new thing they learned or one way they plan to use their emotion thermometer. Encourage them to be their own "inner weather reporters."
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
The Emotion Thermometer: Reading Your Inner Weather
How do you feel today? Have you ever noticed your feelings change throughout the day?
Welcome students and introduce the concept of 'inner weather.' Ask them to think about how their feelings can change, just like the weather.
What is an Emotion Thermometer?
Just like a real thermometer measures temperature, an emotion thermometer helps us measure our feelings!
It shows us how big or small our feelings are.
Learning to read it helps us understand ourselves better!
Explain that an emotion thermometer helps us understand how strong our feelings are, from calm to very strong.
Green Zone: Calm, Happy, Content
When you're in the Green Zone, you feel:
- Calm
- Happy
- Content
Your body feels relaxed, and you can focus easily.
What makes you feel green?
Introduce the 'Green Zone.' Discuss what calm, happy, and content feel like. Reinforce that these are good feelings and we want to stay in this zone as much as possible.
Yellow Zone: A Little Frustrated or Worried
When you're in the Yellow Zone, you might feel:
- A little frustrated
- A bit worried
- Annoyed
Your body might feel a little tense, like a tiny buzzing.
What can you do? Take a deep breath! Count to three!
Introduce the 'Yellow Zone.' Discuss feelings like a little frustrated, worried, or annoyed. Talk about early signs in their body and simple strategies like taking a deep breath or counting to three.
Orange Zone: Mad, Anxious, or Really Frustrated
When you're in the Orange Zone, you might feel:
- Mad
- Anxious
- Really frustrated
Your body might feel hotter or tighter, like a rumbling volcano!
What can you do? Count to ten! Ask a trusted adult for help! Take a quick break!
Introduce the 'Orange Zone.' These feelings are stronger, like mad or anxious. Discuss strategies like counting to ten, asking for help, or taking a short break.
Red Zone: Furious, Overwhelmed, Out of Control
When you're in the Red Zone, you might feel:
- Furious
- Overwhelmed
- Like you're losing control
Your body feels like it's exploding, and it's hard to think!
What can you do? Find a safe, quiet space. Talk to an adult immediately. Use a calming strategy like squeezing a stress ball or listening to calming music.
Introduce the 'Red Zone.' Explain that these are very strong feelings where it's hard to think clearly. Emphasize that it's okay to feel this way, but it's important to use big coping strategies and seek adult help. Brainstorm what 'safe' actions might be (e.g., finding a quiet space, talking to an adult).
Why is it important?
The Emotion Thermometer helps us:
- Understand our feelings better.
- Know how strong our feelings are.
- Choose the right tools (coping strategies) to help us calm down or handle big feelings.
Remember, all feelings are okay! It's what we do with them that matters.
Summarize how the thermometer helps. Reinforce that all feelings are okay, and the thermometer is a tool to help them manage.
Coping Strategies: Your Toolbox!
Just like we use different tools for different jobs, we use different coping strategies for different feelings!
- Green/Yellow: Deep breaths, positive self-talk, stretch.
- Orange: Count to ten, draw, talk to a friend, take a walk.
- Red: Get an adult, quiet space, sensory tools (stress ball, blanket).
What are YOUR favorite coping tools?
Review the concept of different coping strategies for different levels. Encourage students to think about what works best for them.
Be Your Own Inner Weather Reporter!
Now you have a tool to understand your feelings better!
Think about your Emotion Thermometer today and every day.
How can you use your thermometer to help you?
Conclude by encouraging students to use their 'inner weather reporter' skills.
Activity
My Own Emotion Thermometer Craft
Objective: Students will construct a visual aid to represent different intensities of emotions and personalize it with their own feelings and coping strategies.
Materials:
- One large sheet of white or light-colored construction paper per student (for the thermometer base)
- Strips of construction paper in red, orange, yellow, green, and blue (or colors of their choice)
- Scissors
- Glue sticks or tape
- Markers or crayons
Instructions:
Step 1: Create Your Thermometer Base (5 minutes)
- Take your large sheet of construction paper. This will be the base of your emotion thermometer.
- You can fold it in half lengthwise and cut, or just use a ruler to draw a long, rectangular shape like a thermometer. Cut it out.
Step 2: Color Your Emotion Levels (15 minutes)
- Take your colored strips of paper (red, orange, yellow, green, blue).
- Red: What does the strongest feeling look like? Write or draw what makes you feel furious or completely overwhelmed at the top of this strip.
- Orange: What does a strong feeling look like? Write or draw what makes you feel mad or very anxious on this strip.
- Yellow: What does a medium feeling look like? Write or draw what makes you feel a little frustrated or worried on this strip.
- Green: What does a calm feeling look like? Write or draw what makes you feel happy or peaceful on this strip.
- Blue: What does a very calm or sad feeling look like? Write or draw what makes you feel sad or tired on this strip.
Step 3: Stack and Glue Your Emotions (10 minutes)
- Arrange your colored strips on your thermometer base, with blue at the bottom (calm/low energy), then green, yellow, orange, and red at the top (most intense feelings).
- Glue or tape each colored strip onto your thermometer base, making sure they are neatly stacked.
Step 4: Add Your Coping Strategies (10 minutes)
- For each colored section, think of a coping strategy you can use when you feel that emotion.
- Red: (e.g., Talk to an adult! Take 5 deep breaths!)
- Orange: (e.g., Count to 10! Ask for a break!)
- Yellow: (e.g., Take a deep breath! Think happy thoughts!)
- Green/Blue: (e.g., Enjoy the feeling! Share your happiness!)
- Write or draw these coping strategies next to each color on your thermometer.
Step 5: Personalize It! (5 minutes)
- Decorate your thermometer! You can add a face to the top showing an emotion, draw a bulb at the bottom, or add a title like "My Feeling Meter" or "[Your Name]
's Inner Weather."
Congratulations! You've made your own Emotion Thermometer to help you understand your feelings! Keep it somewhere you can see it and use it to check your inner weather.
Worksheet
My Emotion Thermometer Check-In
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Part 1: What Do the Colors Mean to YOU?
Think about our Emotion Thermometer. What do each of these colors mean for your feelings? Draw or write about it!
Green Zone: Calm & Happy
What does it feel like to be in the Green Zone? What makes you feel green?
Yellow Zone: A Little Worried or Frustrated
What does it feel like to be in the Yellow Zone? What makes you feel yellow?
Orange Zone: Mad or Anxious
What does it feel like to be in the Orange Zone? What makes you feel orange?
Red Zone: Furious or Out of Control
What does it feel like to be in the Red Zone? What makes you feel red?
Part 2: What's Your Inner Weather? Read the Scenarios!
Read each situation. First, circle the color on the thermometer that best matches how you think you would feel. Then, write or draw one thing you could do to help yourself.
Scenario 1:
You are building a tall tower with blocks, and your little brother accidentally knocks it over.
How do you feel?
Circle the color: GREEN YELLOW ORANGE RED
What could you do to help yourself?
Scenario 2:
It's your birthday, and you get to have cake and ice cream with all your friends!
How do you feel?
Circle the color: GREEN YELLOW ORANGE RED
What could you do to help yourself?
Scenario 3:
You are trying to learn a new game, but it's really hard, and you keep losing.
How do you feel?
Circle the color: GREEN YELLOW ORANGE RED
What could you do to help yourself?
Scenario 4:
You accidentally spill juice all over your homework, and now it's messy.
How do you feel?
Circle the color: GREEN YELLOW ORANGE RED
What could you do to help yourself?
Part 3: My Own Feelings
Think about a time this week when you felt a strong emotion (yellow, orange, or red).
What happened?
What color was your emotion thermometer?
What did you do, or what could you have done, to help yourself get back to green?
Game
Emotion Charades: Guess the Inner Weather!
Objective: Students will practice identifying and acting out emotions at different intensity levels, reinforcing their understanding of the Emotion Thermometer.
Materials:
- Emotion Charades Game Cards (to be printed and cut out)
- A hat or bag to put the cards in
- Optional: A timer
How to Play:
Step 1: Prepare the Cards
- Print out the Emotion Charades Game Cards and cut them into individual strips. Fold them and place them in a hat or bag.
Step 2: Explain the Rules (5 minutes)
- Divide the class into two or more teams.
- Explain that one student from a team will pick a card and act out the emotion and its intensity without speaking. They cannot make any sounds or point to anyone.
- Their team has a set amount of time (e.g., 1-2 minutes) to guess the emotion and the intensity level (e.g.,
Activity
Emotion Charades Game Cards
Instructions: Print these cards and cut them into individual strips. Fold them and place them in a hat or bag for the Emotion Charades Game.
Emotion: Happy
Intensity: Green Zone (Calm & Content)
Emotion: Annoyed
Intensity: Yellow Zone (A Little Frustrated)
Emotion: Sad
Intensity: Blue Zone (Very Calm / Low Energy)
Emotion: Excited
Intensity: Green Zone (Calm & Content)
Emotion: Worried
Intensity: Yellow Zone (A Little Worried)
Emotion: Frustrated
Intensity: Orange Zone (Mad / Anxious)
Emotion: Grumpy
Intensity: Yellow Zone (A Little Frustrated)
Emotion: Furious
Intensity: Red Zone (Furious / Out of Control)
Emotion: Surprised
Intensity: Green/Yellow (Depending on the surprise)
Emotion: Confused
Intensity: Yellow Zone (A Little Worried)
Emotion: Embarrassed
Intensity: Orange Zone (Anxious)
Emotion: Calm
Intensity: Green Zone (Calm & Content)
Emotion: Overwhelmed
Intensity: Red Zone (Furious / Out of Control)
Emotion: Joyful
Intensity: Green Zone (Calm & Content)
Emotion: Impatient
Intensity: Yellow Zone (A Little Frustrated)
Emotion: Disappointed
Intensity: Orange Zone (Anxious)
Emotion: Peaceful
Intensity: Green Zone (Calm & Content)
Emotion: Scared (a little)
Intensity: Yellow Zone (A Little Worried)
Emotion: Terrified
Intensity: Red Zone (Furious / Out of Control)
Emotion: Shy
Intensity: Blue/Green Zone (Calm / Low Energy)
Emotion: Brave
Intensity: Green Zone (Calm & Content)
Emotion: Jealous
Intensity: Orange Zone (Anxious)
Emotion: Proud
Intensity: Green Zone (Calm & Content)
Emotion: Cranky
Intensity: Yellow Zone (A Little Frustrated)
Emotion: Relieved
Intensity: Green Zone (Calm & Content)
Emotion: Stressed
Intensity: Orange Zone (Anxious)