Lesson Plan
Mood Meter Workshop
Students will learn to identify and categorize their emotions using a color-coded mood meter, create their own meter, and reflect on strategies to regulate feelings.
Building self-awareness helps students recognize and communicate emotions, supports emotional regulation, and fosters a positive classroom climate.
Audience
4th Grade Students
Time
25 minutes
Approach
Interactive visuals, hands-on creation, and guided discussion.
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Print or copy enough Build Your Meter Activity handouts for each student.
- Load and preview the Mood Zones Slides.
- Print Today’s Mood Journal pages or set them up digitally.
- Review the Zone Talks Discussion Guide prompts.
Step 1
Introduction & Check-In
3 minutes
- Welcome students and introduce today’s goal: learning to track and talk about emotions.
- Briefly ask: “What’s one feeling you’ve had today?”
- Explain how the mood meter will help us notice and manage feelings.
Step 2
Explore the Mood Zones
7 minutes
- Display the Mood Zones Slides.
- Describe each color zone (e.g., red for intense, yellow for alert).
- Provide student examples of feelings in each zone.
- Invite volunteers to share a feeling and identify its zone.
Step 3
Build Your Meter Activity
8 minutes
- Distribute the Build Your Meter Activity handouts.
- Instruct students to draw and label four quadrants for the mood zones.
- Have students list 2–3 emotions they often feel in each zone.
- Encourage creativity with colors and labels.
Step 4
Zone Talks Discussion
5 minutes
- Pair students or form small groups.
- Share the Zone Talks Discussion Guide.
- Prompt discussion: “Which zone do you visit most?” and “What helps you move to a different zone?”
- Invite one or two groups to share highlights.
Step 5
Today’s Mood Journal Cool-Down
2 minutes
- Hand out the Today’s Mood Journal.
- Ask students to select the zone matching their current mood and write one sentence about why.
- Collect journals or allow students to keep for personal reflection.
Slide Deck
Welcome to Our Mood Meter
Today we’ll learn how to notice and name our emotions using a color-coded Mood Meter.
Welcome students and introduce the purpose of today’s lesson. Emphasize that naming our feelings helps us understand and manage them.
Meet the Mood Meter
The Mood Meter has four zones that describe how we feel:
• Red Zone
• Yellow Zone
• Green Zone
• Blue Zone
Draw or display a large Mood Meter graphic divided into four colored quadrants (red, yellow, green, blue). Explain that each zone represents a group of feelings.
Red Zone
High energy, unpleasant feelings.
Examples: anger, frustration, feeling stressed.
Explain that the Red Zone is linked to strong, intense emotions. Ask for examples from students.
Yellow Zone
High energy, pleasant feelings.
Examples: excitement, happiness, curiosity.
Describe the Yellow Zone as high-energy but more positive than the Red Zone. Invite students to share moments they felt excited.
Green Zone
Low energy, pleasant feelings.
Examples: calm, content, focused.
Explain that the Green Zone is calm and positive. Ask students when they feel calm or focused.
Blue Zone
Low energy, unpleasant feelings.
Examples: sadness, boredom, tiredness.
Describe the Blue Zone as low energy and more negative. Students can share times they felt sad or tired.
Where Are You Now?
Think about how you feel right now and point to the zone that matches your mood.
Pause and let students reflect on their current state. Encourage a few volunteers to share.
Let’s Explore Together
Turn to a neighbor and share:
• Which zone you were in
• What happened to put you there
Pair students up or form small groups. Circulate to listen and guide discussion.
Introduce the next hands-on activities and distribute materials.
Activity
Build Your Meter Activity
Objective: Create a personal Mood Meter with four colored zones and list emotions you often experience in each.
Materials:
- Blank four-quadrant meter handout or plain paper
- Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
Student Directions:
- Draw a large square and divide it into four equal quadrants.
- Color each quadrant to match a Mood Zone:
• Top left: Red Zone (intense, unpleasant)
• Top right: Yellow Zone (intense, pleasant)
• Bottom right: Green Zone (calm, pleasant)
• Bottom left: Blue Zone (calm, unpleasant)
- Label each quadrant with its zone name and color.
- Write the zone name (e.g., “Red Zone”) in each section.
- Decorate with small icons or drawings that show how that zone feels (e.g., a lightning bolt for Red).
- List 2–3 emotions you often feel in each zone.
- Think of times at home, school, or with friends when you felt each way.
- Write the emotions clearly in the matching quadrant.
- Add personal touches!
- Use patterns, stickers, or doodles to make your meter yours.
- Be ready to share one zone and its emotions with a partner.
When everyone finishes, we’ll move on to small-group discussions using the Zone Talks Discussion Guide.
Discussion
Zone Talks Discussion Guide
Time: 5 minutes
Purpose: Share experiences in each Mood Meter zone and explore strategies to move between zones.
Discussion Setup
- Arrange students in pairs or small groups of 3–4.
- Remind everyone to listen respectfully and let each peer share.
Conversation Prompts
- Your Most-Visited Zone
Which zone do you visit most often? Why do you think you land there?
- Red Zone Reflection
Share a moment you were in the Red Zone. What happened to make you feel that way?
- Moving to a Healthier Zone
What helps you move from the Red or Blue Zone into the Yellow or Green Zone?- Examples: deep breaths, talking to a friend, stretching
- Blue Zone Strategies
When you’re feeling low-energy or sad (Blue Zone), what can you do to feel better?
- Support From Others
How can classmates or teachers help you when you’re in a tough zone?
Follow-Up Questions
- Can anyone relate to your experience?
- What new strategy might you try next time?
- How do you know when you’ve successfully shifted zones?
Teacher Notes
- Circulate and listen for thoughtful responses.
- Prompt quieter students: “Would you like to add something?”
- Reinforce positive strategies and validate all feelings.
- Invite one or two groups to share highlights with the class.
Cool Down
Today’s Mood Journal
Name: ____________________ Date: ___________
- Circle the zone that matches how you feel right now:
- Red Zone (intense, unpleasant)
- Yellow Zone (intense, pleasant)
- Green Zone (calm, pleasant)
- Blue Zone (low energy, unpleasant)
- Write one sentence about why you feel this way:
- Draw a small face or icon showing your mood here:
- List one strategy you can try if you want to move to a different zone:
- (Optional) One thing a friend or teacher could do to help you right now: