lenny

Traffic Light Check-In

user image

Lesson Plan

Traffic Light Check-In Lesson Plan

Students will learn to recognize and self-monitor their emotions using the Traffic Light Check-In tool, enabling them to identify their emotional state and select strategies to stay in the green zone throughout the day.

Teaching this simple, visual self-regulation strategy builds self-awareness, supports emotional growth, reduces disruptions, and helps students stay focused and ready to learn.

Audience

2nd Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Introduce, model, practice, and integrate the traffic light tool into daily routines.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

3 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle and ask, “How are you feeling right now?”
  • Listen to a few responses and acknowledge each feeling.
  • Explain that noticing our feelings helps us learn and play better with friends.

Step 2

Teach Traffic Light Check-In

4 minutes

Step 3

Model Check-In

3 minutes

  • Hold up a blank check-in card and think aloud as you choose a color based on an example scenario (e.g., “I’m calm—green zone”).
  • Repeat for a yellow (e.g., “I’m worried—yellow zone”) and red (e.g., “I’m angry—red zone”).
  • Describe one quick strategy you might use in each zone (deep breath, ask for help, take a break).

Step 4

Student Practice

3 minutes

  • Distribute the Traffic Light Check-In Cards and crayons.
  • Instruct students to color their card to match how they feel right now.
  • Have students pair up briefly to share their color choice and one reason why.

Step 5

Wrap-Up and Daily Routine

2 minutes

  • Invite students to place their colored cards on the check-in board under the matching color.
  • Remind the class to use the traffic light tool whenever they notice their feelings.
  • Praise students for practicing self-awareness and encourage them to help peers remember the tool.
lenny

Slide Deck

Traffic Light Check-In

A simple self-monitoring tool to help us notice and regulate our emotions throughout the day.

Welcome class and introduce the topic. Say: Today we're going to learn a fun way to check in with our feelings called the Traffic Light Check-In!

How Are You Feeling?

Think about how you feel this morning. Are you calm, worried, or maybe upset?

Ask students: How are you feeling right now? Invite a few responses, acknowledge them, and emphasize that noticing feelings helps us learn and play better.

Traffic Light Zones

Green Zone: Ready to learn and feeling good.

Yellow Zone: Feeling a bit worried or distracted.

Red Zone: Feeling upset or angry and need to calm down.

Introduce the traffic light zones. Explain each zone with clear examples.

See the Posters & Feelings List

Check out our Traffic Light Check-In Posters and the Emotion List Handout for examples of feelings in each color.

Show the posters and emotion list. Point to each color and review common feelings under each.

Modeling the Check-In

Watch me pick a zone and share a quick calming strategy for each example.

Model selecting a zone and sharing a strategy. Think aloud: “I’m feeling worried, so I’ll choose yellow and take three deep breaths.”

Your Turn to Practice

Grab your Traffic Light Check-In Cards and crayons. Color how you feel and share with a friend one reason why.

Distribute the cards and crayons. Guide students: color your card to match how you feel and then share with a partner.

Daily Check-In Routine

Place your colored cards on our classroom check-in board under the matching color. Remember to use this tool throughout the day!

Explain the daily routine: students place cards on the board under the matching color and use the tool whenever they notice their feelings.

lenny

Reading

Traffic Light Check-In Posters

🟢 Green Zone: Ready to Learn

What it means: I feel calm, happy, and focused.

When I’m in the Green Zone, I can:

  • Listen carefully
  • Try my best
  • Work well with friends

I might feel:

  • Calm
  • Happy
  • Excited
  • Focused

🟡 Yellow Zone: Slow Down / Take a Break

What it means: I feel a little off-track or worried.

When I’m in the Yellow Zone, I can:

  • Take three deep breaths
  • Stretch or wiggle my fingers
  • Ask myself, “What do I need?”

I might feel:

  • Worried
  • Tired
  • Frustrated
  • Silly or Wiggly

🔴 Red Zone: Stop & Calm Down

What it means: I feel upset or angry and need help to calm down.

When I’m in the Red Zone, I can:

  • Ask a friend or teacher for help
  • Find a quiet space
  • Use my calming kit (deep breaths, fidget toy)

I might feel:

  • Angry
  • Overwhelmed
  • Sad
  • Scared

Display these posters where everyone can see them. Use the Traffic Light Check-In every day to notice how you feel and choose the right strategy!

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Emotion List Handout

Use this list to help you notice how you’re feeling and choose the right color on your Traffic Light Check-In card.

🟢 Green Zone Emotions

  • Calm
  • Happy
  • Excited
  • Focused
  • Proud
  • Content

🟡 Yellow Zone Emotions

  • Worried
  • Tired
  • Frustrated
  • Nervous
  • Silly
  • Confused

🔴 Red Zone Emotions

  • Angry
  • Overwhelmed
  • Sad
  • Scared
  • Annoyed
  • Mad

Keep this handout nearby during our Check-In time to help you pick your zone!

lenny
lenny

Activity

Traffic Light Check-In Cards

Name: ___________________________ Date: _______________

Circle how you feel right now (color only one):

◯ Green Zone ◯ Yellow Zone ◯ Red Zone

Draw or write why you feel this way:











Cut along the dotted line and keep this card at your desk. Use crayons or colored pencils to fill in your circle whenever you want to check in!

lenny
lenny