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Weather Of Feelings

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Lesson Plan

Weather Of Feelings Lesson Plan

Students will learn to identify and label their emotions using weather metaphors, practice a calming breathing strategy, and reflect on their feelings to build foundational emotional regulation skills.

Early emotional regulation helps children understand and communicate feelings, develop empathy, and form strong social connections, setting the stage for lifelong self-awareness and resilience.

Audience

Pre-K

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Metaphor-driven activities plus guided breathing

Materials

Emotion Weather Chart, Weather Feeling Cards, Cloud Thought Bubbles Worksheet, Calm-Down Glitter Bottle (one per class), and Music player with calming instrumental tracks

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Welcome and Emotion Introduction

5 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle on the rug.
  • Explain that today we’ll talk about our feelings using weather words (sunny, stormy, cloudy).
  • Model naming your own emotion: “I feel a little cloudy today because I’m a bit sleepy.”

Step 2

Weather Check-In

7 minutes

  • Display the Emotion Weather Chart.
  • Invite each child to select a Weather Feeling Card that matches how they feel.
  • As each child shares, place their card under the matching weather icon and name the emotion aloud.

Step 3

Cloud Thought Bubbles Activity

8 minutes

  • Give each child a Cloud Thought Bubbles Worksheet.
  • Ask children to draw or color a picture of what makes them feel stormy (angry/sad) in one bubble and sunny (happy/calmed) in another.
  • Circulate and prompt discussion: “What can we do when we feel stormy?”

Step 4

Calm-Down Cloud Breathing

5 minutes

  • Explain we can calm stormy feelings with deep breaths called “cloud breaths.”
  • Model: Breathe in slowly through nose (lift arms up like a balloon), exhale through mouth (arms float down like a cloud).
  • Play soft instrumental music and lead 5 slow cloud breaths together.

Step 5

Reflection and Closing

5 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share how cloud breathing felt and which weather they feel now.
  • Reinforce that emotions change like weather and we can always use tools to feel better.
  • Praise their sharing and encourage using cloud breaths anytime they feel stormy.
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Slide Deck

Weather Of Feelings

Welcome, friends! Today we’ll explore our emotions using weather words like sunny, cloudy, and stormy.

Greet students warmly and invite them to sit in a circle. Introduce the lesson’s theme and spark excitement.

Our Objectives

• Identify and name our feelings with weather words
• Practice a “cloud breathing” calming strategy
• Reflect on how our emotions change like the weather

Briefly explain why we’re learning about feelings. Reinforce that understanding emotions helps us stay healthy and happy.

Materials

• Emotion Weather Chart
• Weather Feeling Cards
• Cloud Thought Bubbles Worksheet
• Calm-Down Glitter Bottle
• Calming instrumental music

Show or hold up each item as you mention it. Ensure children know these will help them during activities.

Welcome & Emotion Introduction

  1. Gather in a circle on the rug.
  2. Explain we’ll use weather words to talk about feelings.
  3. Teacher models: “I feel a little cloudy today because I’m a bit sleepy.”

Model naming a feeling using a weather word. Encourage enthusiastic participation.

Weather Check-In

  1. Display the Emotion Weather Chart.
  2. Invite each child to pick a Weather Feeling Card.
  3. Place each card under the matching weather icon and name the emotion aloud.

Point to the chart and cards clearly. Praise children for sharing bravely.

Cloud Thought Bubbles Activity

  1. Give each child a Cloud Thought Bubbles Worksheet.
  2. Draw what makes you feel stormy in one bubble and what makes you feel sunny in another.
  3. Discuss: “What can we do when we feel stormy?”

Encourage creativity. Ask open-ended questions to prompt discussion.

Calm-Down Cloud Breathing

  1. Explain “cloud breaths” help calm stormy feelings.
  2. Breathe in through nose (arms rise like a balloon).
  3. Exhale through mouth (arms float down like a cloud).
  4. Lead 5 slow cloud breaths with soft music.

Demonstrate the breath and movements slowly. Use calm, soothing voice.

Reflection & Closing

• Invite volunteers to share how the breathing felt.
• Ask which weather they feel now.
• Remind: Emotions change like weather and we can use tools to feel better.

Celebrate shared experiences and reinforce the metaphor. Encourage them to use cloud breaths anytime.

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Worksheet

Cloud Thought Bubbles Worksheet

Draw a big cloud shape around the two thought bubbles below. In the Stormy Thought Bubble (left), draw or color something that makes you feel upset, angry, or sad. In the Sunny Thought Bubble (right), draw or color something that makes you feel happy, calm, or excited.

Stormy Thought Bubble













Sunny Thought Bubble













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Activity

Weather Check-In Cards

Description: A set of cards depicting weather icons, simple facial expressions, and emotion words. Children choose the card that matches how they feel at the start of class.

Cards (print and cut apart)

Weather IconEmotion WordFacial ExpressionUsage Tip
☀️ Sunnyhappy😀 smiling face“I feel bright and cheerful!”
☁️ Cloudyokay😐 neutral face“I feel so-so—neither sunny nor stormy.”
🌧️ Rainysad😢 teardrop face“I feel a little down or teary.”
⛈️ Stormyangry😠 frowning face“I feel upset, like there’s thunder in me.”

How to Use:

  • Lay the cards face-up where all children can reach them.
  • Invite each child to pick the card that shows how they feel today.
  • As each child places their card under the matching weather icon on the Emotion Weather Chart, name the emotion together.
  • Encourage children to notice that it’s okay to feel any weather and we can use tools (like cloud breaths) when we feel stormy.
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Reading

Emotion Weather Chart

We use weather words to help us name our feelings! When you look at this chart, find the weather picture that shows how you feel today.

Weather IconFeeling WordWhat It Feels Like
☀️ SunnyhappyFeels bright, cheerful, and warm—like the sun is shining.
☁️ CloudyokayFeels so-so or neutral—neither very happy nor very sad.
🌧️ RainysadFeels a little down or tearful—like cloudy rain in your heart.
⛈️ StormyangryFeels upset, frustrated, or like thunder is rumbling inside.

How to Use:

  • At the start of class or whenever you need, look at the chart.
  • Say the weather word that matches your feeling (sunny, cloudy, rainy, or stormy).
  • Show or point to the picture that fits your feeling.
  • Remember: All feelings are okay, just like all kinds of weather!
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