Lesson Plan
Inner Weather Wisdom
Students will be able to identify and articulate their emotions using weather metaphors, and begin to understand how to manage their feelings.
Emotional literacy is crucial for students' well-being and social development. This lesson provides a relatable framework for understanding complex emotions.
Audience
Elementary School Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Through relatable weather metaphors, students will explore and express their emotions.
Materials
Decoding Your Emotional Climate (slide-deck), Cloudy or Sunny Mood Check-in (warm-up), Weathering the Storm Scenarios (activity), My Daily Emotional Forecast (journal), and Lesson Script (script)
Prep
Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Inner Weather Wisdom Lesson and all linked materials: Decoding Your Emotional Climate, Cloudy or Sunny Mood Check-in, Weathering the Storm Scenarios, My Daily Emotional Forecast, and Lesson Script.
- Ensure projector/screen is set up for the Decoding Your Emotional Climate slide deck.
- Print copies of Cloudy or Sunny Mood Check-in (1 per student).
- Prepare scenario cards for Weathering the Storm Scenarios (cut out scenarios, 1 set per small group or individual).
- Print copies of My Daily Emotional Forecast (1 per student).
- Familiarize yourself with the Lesson Script to guide the session.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Cloudy or Sunny Mood Check-in
5 minutes
- Begin the lesson by distributing the Cloudy or Sunny Mood Check-in warm-up.
- Ask students to silently reflect and mark how they are feeling using the weather metaphors.
- Briefly discuss a few anonymous responses as a class, emphasizing that all feelings are okay. (Refer to Lesson Script for detailed talking points).
Step 2
Introduction to Inner Weather
10 minutes
- Using the Decoding Your Emotional Climate slide deck, introduce the concept of emotions as 'inner weather.'
- Discuss examples of sunny, cloudy, stormy, and breezy feelings.
- Engage students with questions about when they've experienced these feelings. (Refer to Lesson Script for detailed talking points).
Step 3
Activity: Weathering the Storm Scenarios
15 minutes
- Distribute the Weathering the Storm Scenarios activity sheet.
- Explain the instructions: students will read scenarios, identify the 'inner weather,' and suggest coping strategies or ways to enjoy positive feelings.
- Allow students to work individually or in pairs. Circulate to provide support and facilitate thinking. (Refer to Lesson Script for detailed instructions and prompts).
Step 4
Discussion & Sharing
10 minutes
- Bring the class together for a discussion of the scenarios.
- Encourage students to share their ideas for each scenario, emphasizing diverse and healthy responses.
- Reinforce the idea that noticing and responding to 'inner weather' is a valuable skill. (Refer to Lesson Script for detailed discussion points).
Step 5
Wrap-Up: My Daily Emotional Forecast
5 minutes
- Distribute the My Daily Emotional Forecast journal pages.
- Explain its purpose as a tool for ongoing self-reflection and emotional awareness.
- Conclude the lesson by reiterating the importance of understanding and managing 'inner weather.' (Refer to Lesson Script for detailed talking points and wrap-up.)
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Slide Deck
What's Your Inner Weather?
How do you feel right now?
Think about the weather outside...
- Is it sunny and bright?
- Cloudy and grey?
- Stormy with thunder and lightning?
Our feelings can be a lot like the weather too!
Welcome students and set a positive tone. Introduce the idea that just like the weather outside, our feelings can change. Ask them to think about different types of weather.
Emotions as Weather
Sunny Day Feelings ☀️
- Happy, joyful, excited, calm
Cloudy Day Feelings ☁️
- Sad, confused, bored, worried
Stormy Day Feelings ⛈️
- Angry, frustrated, scared, overwhelmed
Breezy Day Feelings 🌬️
- Silly, playful, energetic
Explain that different emotions can feel like different kinds of weather. Go through the examples on the slide.
When Do You Feel This Way?
Think about a time when you felt:
- Like a sunny day?
- Like a cloudy day?
- Like a stormy day?
Ask students to share examples of when they might feel each type of 'inner weather.' Encourage a few volunteers to share.
Check Your Forecast!
Just like we check the weather outside, we can check our 'inner weather' inside!
This helps us understand how we're feeling.
Introduce the idea of checking their 'inner weather' regularly. Explain the warm-up activity they are about to do.
Weathering the Storm
Sometimes feelings can be tricky, just like unpredictable weather!
Let's practice identifying and talking about our 'inner weather' in different situations.
Transition to the next activity. Explain that they will now practice identifying different 'weather' emotions in various situations.
My Daily Emotional Forecast
Let's keep track of our 'inner weather' each day!
This helps us become more aware of our feelings and how they change.
Introduce the journal activity as a way to continue monitoring their 'inner weather.' Emphasize that it's a private space for reflection.
Remember Your Forecast!
It's okay to feel all kinds of weather inside!
- Knowing your 'inner weather' helps you understand yourself.
- It helps you tell others how you're feeling.
- And it helps you find ways to feel better when the weather gets stormy!
Conclude the lesson by reminding students that all feelings are valid and that understanding their 'inner weather' helps them communicate and cope.
Warm Up
Cloudy or Sunny Mood Check-in
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Circle the picture that best shows how your feelings are right now:
- Sunny & Bright! (Happy, excited, calm)
- A Little Cloudy... (A bit sad, confused, bored)
- Rainy/Stormy! (Angry, frustrated, worried)
- Windy/Breezy! (Silly, energetic, restless)
What makes you feel this way today? Draw or write a little something here:
Activity
Weathering the Storm Scenarios
Instructions: Read each scenario. Circle the 'inner weather' you think the person might be feeling. Then, write or draw what you think they could do to 'weather the storm' or enjoy the sunny day!
Scenario 1: The Building Block Bust
Liam was happily building a tall tower of blocks. He was almost done when his little sister ran by and accidentally knocked it all down! Liam's face turned red, and he felt a big lump in his throat.
What's Liam's inner weather?
☀️ Sunny ☁️ Cloudy ⛈️ Stormy 🌬️ Windy
What could Liam do?
Scenario 2: Perfect Playtime
Maya and her best friend are playing their favorite game at recess. They are laughing and having so much fun, and Maya feels light and happy inside.
What's Maya's inner weather?
☀️ Sunny ☁️ Cloudy ⛈️ Stormy 🌬️ Windy
What could Maya do?
Scenario 3: Missing Homework Mystery
It's time to turn in homework, and Ben can't find his! He searched his backpack three times, and now he feels a knot in his stomach. He's worried the teacher will be upset.
What's Ben's inner weather?
☀️ Sunny ☁️ Cloudy ⛈️ Stormy 🌬️ Windy
What could Ben do?
Scenario 4: New Kid Nerves
A new student, Chloe, joined the class today. She sits quietly at her desk during lunch, and it looks like she doesn't know anyone yet. Chloe feels a little shy and unsure of what to do.
What's Chloe's inner weather?
☀️ Sunny ☁️ Cloudy ⛈️ Stormy 🌬️ Windy
What could Chloe do?
Journal
My Daily Emotional Forecast
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Today's Inner Weather Report:
Circle or draw the weather that best describes your feelings today:
- Sunny ☀️ (Happy, joyful, calm)
- Cloudy ☁️ (Sad, worried, confused)
- Rainy 🌧️ (Frustrated, a little down)
- Stormy ⛈️ (Angry, overwhelmed, scared)
- Windy 🌬️ (Silly, energetic, restless)
Why do I feel this way today?
Write about what might be causing your inner weather today. Was it something that happened at school, at home, or with friends?
What can I do with my inner weather?
If your weather is stormy or rainy, what can you do to help yourself feel a bit better? If it's sunny, how can you keep that feeling going?
My Reflection:
How did checking my inner weather help me today?
Script
Lesson Script: What's Your Inner Weather Report?
(5 minutes) Warm-Up: Cloudy or Sunny Mood Check-in
"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to start with a little check-in about how we're feeling inside. Just like the weather outside can be sunny, cloudy, or stormy, our feelings can change throughout the day too. I've handed out a Cloudy or Sunny Mood Check-in sheet to everyone. Take a moment to look at the different weather pictures."
"Silently, I want you to think about how you're feeling right now, deep inside. Circle the picture that best matches your 'inner weather' today. There are no right or wrong answers; it's just about noticing how you feel. If you like, you can also write or draw a little something about why you feel that way."
(Allow students a few minutes to complete the warm-up.)
"Okay, eyes up here when you're done. Does anyone feel comfortable sharing anonymously what kind of weather they chose and maybe why? Remember, we all have different feelings, and it's okay to feel all kinds of weather. Sometimes we feel sunny, and sometimes we feel stormy. What's important is that we notice it."
(10 minutes) Introduction to Inner Weather (Using Decoding Your Emotional Climate Slide Deck)
"Fantastic! Now, let's dive deeper into this idea of our 'inner weather.' I have some slides to share that will help us understand this better. Can everyone see the screen?"
(Advance to Slide 1: 'What's Your Inner Weather?')
"Look at this first slide. It asks, 'What's Your Inner Weather?' We just talked about how our feelings can be like the weather. Imagine you have a little weather report happening inside you all the time. Sometimes it's easy to tell what kind of weather it is, right?"
(Advance to Slide 2: 'Emotions as Weather')
"Here are some examples of emotions that can feel like different kinds of weather. When you're feeling sunny, you might be happy, joyful, or calm. When it's a cloudy day inside, you might feel a bit sad, confused, or worried. And when it's stormy... oh boy! That's when we might feel angry, frustrated, or even a little scared. Sometimes we even have breezy days, feeling silly or full of energy."
"Can you think of a time when you felt like a sunny day? What were you doing? (Pause for a few responses.) How about a cloudy day? (Pause.) And a stormy day? (Pause.) It's good to start connecting these feelings to the weather words."
(Advance to Slide 3: 'When Do You Feel This Way?')
"This slide asks us to think about when we feel these ways. Take a moment to think about one time you felt super sunny. What made you feel that way? Now, think of a time you felt cloudy. And finally, a stormy time. You don't have to share unless you want to, but it's good to make these connections in your mind."
(Advance to Slide 4: 'Check Your Forecast!')
"Just like we check the weather outside to know if we need a coat or an umbrella, we can check our 'inner weather' inside! This helps us understand how we're truly feeling at any moment. It's like having your very own emotional weather app!"
(15 minutes) Activity: Weathering the Storm Scenarios
"Now that we know how to connect feelings to weather, we're going to do an activity called Weathering the Storm Scenarios. I'm going to hand out a sheet with a few different stories, or 'scenarios.' Each story describes someone experiencing different 'inner weather.'"
(Distribute Weathering the Storm Scenarios worksheet.)
"Your job is to read each scenario and decide what kind of 'inner weather' the person in the story is having. Circle the weather picture that matches. Then, think about what that person could do to 'weather their storm' if it's a difficult feeling, or how they could enjoy their 'sunny day' if they're feeling good."
"You can work with a partner for this, or if you prefer, you can work on your own. We'll come back together in about 10 minutes to discuss some of your ideas."
(Circulate around the room, providing support and prompting students with questions like: 'Why do you think Liam feels stormy?' 'What's a calm thing Maya could do to keep her sunny feeling?' 'If Ben is worried, what's a small step he could take?')
(10 minutes) Discussion & Sharing
"Alright, let's bring our attention back together. Who would like to share their thoughts on Liam's scenario? What 'inner weather' did you pick for him, and what could he do?"
(Facilitate a brief class discussion for each scenario. Encourage diverse answers and emphasize healthy coping strategies or ways to maintain positive feelings.)
"It's great to see all your ideas! There are many ways to respond to our 'inner weather,' and the most important thing is to notice it and choose helpful actions."
(5 minutes) Wrap-Up: My Daily Emotional Forecast
"To help us continue practicing our 'inner weather' reports, I have one more sheet for you: My Daily Emotional Forecast. This is a journal page you can use each day, or whenever you want, to check in with yourself."
(Distribute My Daily Emotional Forecast journal pages.)
"It asks you to circle your inner weather for the day, think about why you might be feeling that way, and what you can do to help yourself. This is for you to keep and reflect on."
(Advance to Slide 5: 'My Daily Emotional Forecast')
"Remember, knowing your 'inner weather' helps you understand yourself better, helps you tell others how you're feeling, and helps you find ways to feel better when the weather gets stormy."
(Advance to Slide 6: 'Remember Your Forecast!')
"Great job today, everyone! Keep checking your 'inner weather' report!"