Lesson Plan
Mood Mapping Lesson Plan
Students will identify and articulate their emotions by mapping moods to colors and images, building self-awareness and emotional vocabulary aligned with CASEL’s self-awareness competency.
Developing emotional literacy helps students recognize and name feelings, enhances self-awareness, and supports positive social–emotional skills and classroom relationships.
Audience
3rd Grade Class
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Creative visualization and discussion
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Mood Mapping Lesson Plan
- Load and preview Feelings Visualization Slides
- Print or assemble Emoji Icebreaker Cards
- Gather paper, magazines, markers, glue for Mood Vision Boards
- Print One-Word Reflection Sheets
Step 1
Emoji Icebreaker
5 minutes
- Distribute Emoji Icebreaker Cards to each student.
- In pairs, students choose an emoji card and share a moment they’ve felt that emotion.
- Assessment: Observe accurate emotion identification and sharing.
- Differentiation: Provide sentence starters or visual cues for students needing extra support.
Step 2
Feelings Visualization
10 minutes
- Project Feelings Visualization Slides showing colors and associated emotions.
- Guide students to match colors to common feelings (e.g., red = anger, blue = sadness).
- Ask volunteers to offer examples of times they felt each emotion.
- Assessment: Note participation and correct emotion–color matches.
- Differentiation: Offer a word bank or allow drawing responses for English learners.
Step 3
Mood Vision Boards
20 minutes
- Distribute supplies for Mood Vision Boards.
- Students select a current mood, then create a collage or drawing using colors, images, and words.
- Circulate to prompt deeper reflection: “Why did you choose these images?”
- Assessment: Check that visuals align with the chosen emotion.
- Differentiation: Provide pre-cut images or allow digital collage creation for students who need support.
Step 4
One-Word Reflection
10 minutes
- Hand out One-Word Reflection Sheets.
- Students write one word describing their mood and one sentence explaining why.
- Invite volunteers to share reflections with a partner or the class.
- Assessment: Review sheets for clarity and emotional vocabulary usage.
- Differentiation: Allow drawing or verbal recording instead of writing for emerging writers.
Slide Deck
Feelings Visualization
Colors can help us express how we feel. Today we’ll map colors to emotions and share our own experiences.
Introduce the concept that colors can represent how we feel. Explain that today we’ll look at different colors and the emotions they often symbolize.
Anger – Red
Red often represents anger, frustration, or strong intensity.
• Can you think of a time you felt ‘red’?
• What did your body feel like?
Show a large red square or image. Ask: “What do you think of when you see red?” Then explain that red often stands for anger or strong intensity.
Sadness – Blue
Blue can represent sadness, loneliness, or feeling down.
• When have you felt ‘blue’?
• How did you cope with that feeling?
Display a blue background. Invite students to share what blue might mean. Guide them to sadness or feeling low.
Happiness – Yellow
Yellow often symbolizes happiness, energy, and warmth.
• What makes you feel ‘yellow’?
• Share something fun that brightens your day.
Use a bright yellow image. Ask: “How does yellow make you feel?” Lead them to happiness or joy.
Calmness – Green
Green can stand for calmness, balance, and peace.
• What helps you feel ‘green’ and relaxed?
• Describe a calm place you enjoy.
Show a soothing green picture. Discuss how green feels calm like nature or peace.
Excitement – Orange
Orange is often linked to excitement, enthusiasm, and energy.
• When do you feel your ‘orange’ energy?
• What activity makes you feel pumped up?
Present an orange background. Ask: “What might orange represent?” Connect to excitement or enthusiasm.
Surprise & Creativity – Purple
Purple can represent surprise, mystery, or creative thinking.
• Can you share a surprising or creative moment?
• How did it make you feel?
Use a purple image. Invite ideas. Explain that purple can mean surprise or creativity.
Confusion – Gray
Gray often conveys confusion, uncertainty, or mixed feelings.
• When have you felt ‘gray’ and not sure what to do?
• How did you figure it out?
Display a soft gray image. Talk about ambiguity or confusion.
Mixing Emotions
Sometimes we feel more than one emotion at once.
• Pick two colors from above and describe how those emotions mix for you.
• Example: Red + Blue = Purple might feel 'angry and curious.'
Explain that sometimes emotions mix, just like colors. Encourage students to think about complex feelings.
Which Color Are You Today?
Choose one color that matches your current mood.
• Why did you pick that color?
• What can that tell us about how you’re feeling?
Ask each student to choose a color that matches their mood right now and be ready to share.
Warm Up
Emoji Icebreaker
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Emoji Icebreaker Cards (#emoji-icebreaker)
Steps:
- Distribute one emoji card to each student.
- In pairs, students show their emoji and share a time they felt that emotion.
- After 3 minutes, invite a few volunteers to share their pairing with the whole class.
Assessment:
- Listen for accurate emotion naming and clear sharing.
Differentiation: - Provide sentence starters ("I felt __ when…") or visual cues for students needing extra support.
Activity
Mood Vision Boards
Time: 20 minutes
Materials: Feelings Visualization Slides, Emoji Icebreaker Cards, paper, magazines, markers, scissors, glue
Steps:
- Explain the task: students will create a personal “Mood Vision Board” that visually represents their current emotion using colors, images, and words.
- Distribute collage supplies (paper, magazines, markers, scissors, glue).
- Invite students to select a color (or mix of colors) that matches their mood and find or draw images and words that express how they feel.
- As students work, circulate and ask guiding questions:
- “Why did you choose these images?”
- “How do these colors show your feeling?”
- “What words describe your mood?”
Prompts to Consider:
- “Why did you choose these images?”
- “If your mood were a scene (happy beach, stormy sky), what would you include?”
- “What textures or shapes match your feeling?”
Assessment: - Review each board to see if visuals align with the student’s stated emotion.
- Listen to student explanations to check use of emotional vocabulary.
Differentiation: - Provide pre-cut images or color swatches for students needing fine-motor support.
- Allow digital collage (on tablets) or guided drawing for students who benefit from technology or structured templates.
Cool Down
One-Word Reflection
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: One-Word Reflection Sheets (#one-word-reflection)
Steps:
- Distribute the One-Word Reflection Sheets to each student.
- Ask students to write one word that best describes their current mood on the line below.
Word: ___________________________
3. In the space provided, write one sentence explaining why you chose that word.
Why I feel this way:
4. If time allows, students may draw a small picture that represents their mood in the box below.
5. Invite a few volunteers to share their one word and sentence with a partner or the class.
Assessment:
- Review each sheet to ensure the student uses emotional vocabulary and clearly explains their choice.
Differentiation: - Provide a word bank or sentence starters: “I feel __ because…” for students who need support.
- Allow emerging writers to draw or record their response verbally instead of writing.