The Feeling Forecast: Weathering Emotions Together Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify and express various emotions using weather as a metaphor, and recognize feelings in themselves and others.
Understanding and expressing emotions is a crucial life skill for young children. By using a familiar concept like weather, this lesson provides an accessible and engaging way for K-2 students to develop their emotional literacy, building a foundation for empathy and healthy emotional regulation.
Begin by asking students about today's weather outside. 'Is it sunny, cloudy, rainy?' - Introduce the idea that just like the weather outside, our feelings can change throughout the day. 'Sometimes our feelings are like weather too!' - Show the first few slides of the Feeling Forecast Slide Deck to introduce the concept of emotions as weather. - Discuss how different weather types might feel (e.g., sunny feels bright and warm, stormy feels loud and a bit scary).
Step 2
Exploring Emotions with Weather Cards
15 minutes
Distribute the Feeling Weather Cards to students, or display them visibly. - Go through each card, asking students: 'What emotion does this weather represent to you?' 'When do you feel like this weather?' - Encourage students to share their experiences and connect personal feelings to the weather metaphors (e.g., 'When I'm happy, I feel sunny!' or 'When I'm frustrated, I feel like a little storm cloud is over my head.'). - Use the corresponding slides in the Feeling Forecast Slide Deck to reinforce each emotion and its weather metaphor.
Step 3
My Emotion Weather Report
15 minutes
Hand out the My Emotion Weather Report Worksheet to each student. - Explain that they will draw or write about how they are feeling right now, using a weather metaphor. - Guide them through the worksheet, encouraging them to think about what makes them feel that way. - Circulate around the room, offering support and prompting students with questions like: 'Why does a cloudy day represent how you're feeling?'
Step 4
Sharing and Reflecting
10 minutes
Invite students to share their 'Emotion Weather Report' with a partner or the whole class (optional, respecting student comfort levels). - Facilitate a brief discussion: 'What did we learn about our feelings today?' 'How can we help a friend who is having a stormy day?' - Emphasize that all feelings are okay and that it's important to talk about them. - Conclude with a positive affirmation about managing emotions.
Slide Deck
Welcome to the Feeling Forecast!
How are you feeling today?
Welcome students and set a positive tone. Introduce the idea that feelings are a normal part of life.
Weather Outside, Weather Inside
What's the weather like today? ### Can our feelings be like weather too?
Ask students about the weather outside. Connect this to how our feelings can change, just like the weather.
Sunny Day Feelings!
When you feel happy, joyful, or excited! ### What makes you feel like a sunny day?
Introduce 'Sunny Day' feelings. Ask students when they feel sunny.
Cloudy Day Feelings...
When you feel a little sad, confused, or thoughtful. ### What makes your day feel a bit cloudy?
Introduce 'Cloudy Day' feelings. Ask students when they feel cloudy.
Rainy Day Feelings...
When you feel sad, disappointed, or need to cry. ### What makes you feel rainy?
Introduce 'Rainy Day' feelings. Discuss that it's okay to feel sad or teary sometimes.
Stormy Day Feelings!
When you feel angry, frustrated, or upset. ### What makes you feel stormy inside?
Introduce 'Stormy Day' feelings. Emphasize that it's okay to feel angry, but we need safe ways to express it.
Windy Day Feelings!
When you feel silly, energetic, or restless. ### What gives you a burst of windy energy?
Introduce 'Windy Day' feelings. Discuss feelings of being silly or energetic.
All Feelings Are Okay!
Just like the weather, our feelings change. ### It's okay to feel happy, sad, angry, or silly! ### What can we do when our feelings change?
Summarize that all feelings are okay. Encourage students to talk about their feelings.
Your Emotion Weather Report!
Let's create our own weather reports for our feelings! ### What weather matches how you feel right now?
Transition to the activity. Explain that they will be creating their own emotion weather report.
Activity
Feeling Weather Cards
Instructions: Print and cut out the cards below. Show each card to students and discuss the emotion it represents. Ask students to share when they feel like that particular weather.
Sunny Day!
Emotion: Happy, Joyful, Excited, Content
Discussion Prompts:
What makes you feel like a sunny day?
What does a sunny day feel like in your body?
How can you help a friend have a sunny day?
Cloudy Day...
Emotion: Sad, Thoughtful, Confused, Worried (a little)
Discussion Prompts:
What makes you feel like a cloudy day?
What does a cloudy day feel like in your body?
What can you do when you feel a bit cloudy?
Rainy Day...
Emotion: Very Sad, Disappointed, Tearful, Grieving
Discussion Prompts:
What makes you feel like a rainy day?
What does a rainy day feel like in your body?
Who can you talk to when you feel rainy?
Stormy Day!
Emotion: Angry, Frustrated, Upset, Furious
Discussion Prompts:
What makes you feel like a stormy day?
What does a stormy day feel like in your body?
What are safe ways to show your stormy feelings?
Windy Day!
Emotion: Silly, Energetic, Restless, Excited
Discussion Prompts:
What makes you feel like a windy day?
What does a windy day feel like in your body?
What can you do with all that windy energy?
Worksheet
My Emotion Weather Report
Name: _____________________________
Date: _____________________________
What is the weather like for your feelings today?
Draw a picture of what your feelings look like as weather today. Is it sunny, cloudy, rainy, stormy, or windy? You can even draw a mix of weather!
Tell us about your feeling weather.
What makes you feel this way today? You can draw more pictures or ask your teacher to help you write about it.
What can you do if your feeling weather changes?
If your feelings change, what is something you can do to help yourself feel better or to keep feeling good?
