Lesson Plan
Zone In: Expectation Exploration!
Students will be able to identify key classroom expectations (hands off, quiet voice, calm body) and understand how these expectations relate to the Zones of Regulation, recognizing strategies to help them stay in the Green Zone.
Understanding and practicing classroom expectations helps create a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment for everyone. Connecting these to the Zones of Regulation empowers students to self-regulate and manage their emotions and behaviors effectively.
Audience
Kindergarten Students
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, visual aids, and a sorting activity.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Expectation Exploration Slide Deck, Expectation Exploration Script, and Zone Strategies Worksheet
Prep
Preparation
5 minutes
- Review the Expectation Exploration Lesson Plan and gather all materials.
- Ensure the Expectation Exploration Slide Deck is ready to display.
- Print copies of the Zone Strategies Worksheet.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What Do We Expect?
2 minutes
Begin by asking students what they think 'expectations' mean in our classroom. Introduce the concept of classroom expectations like 'hands off others,' 'quiet voice,' and 'calm bodies.' Use the first slide of the Expectation Exploration Slide Deck.
Step 2
Introducing the Zones
4 minutes
Introduce or review the Zones of Regulation (Green, Yellow, Red, Blue). Explain what each zone feels like and looks like. Connect these feelings to how our bodies and voices act. Use the relevant slides from the Expectation Exploration Slide Deck and the Expectation Exploration Script for guidance.
Step 3
Expectations & Zones Connection
5 minutes
Discuss how 'hands off others,' 'quiet voice,' and 'calm bodies' align with the Green Zone. Ask students: 'What zone are you in if your hands are busy hitting someone?' or 'What zone are you in if your voice is very loud and disruptive?' Guide them to understand that these expectations help us stay in or return to the Green Zone. Use the Expectation Exploration Slide Deck to show examples. Distribute the Zone Strategies Worksheet and have students briefly draw one way they can stay in the Green Zone.
Step 4
Strategies to Get to Green
3 minutes
Introduce simple strategies for getting back to the Green Zone, such as taking a deep breath, counting to three, or asking for a break. Emphasize that these strategies help us meet our classroom expectations. Use the remaining slides of the Expectation Exploration Slide Deck.
Step 5
Cool-Down: Quick Check-In
1 minute
Ask students to show with their fingers (1-5) how well they understand how expectations help them stay in the Green Zone. Reiterate the importance of our classroom expectations for a happy and safe learning space.
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Slide Deck
What Do We Expect?
Our Classroom Expectations:
- Hands off others
- Quiet voice
- Calm bodies
Why are these important?
Greeting students and asking them about what expectations mean in their own words. Introduce the three specific expectations for today.
Hello, Zones of Regulation!
What are the Zones?
- Blue Zone: Sad, tired, sick, bored
- Green Zone: Happy, focused, calm, ready to learn
- Yellow Zone: Frustrated, worried, silly, excited
- Red Zone: Angry, terrified, out of control
How do these feelings connect to our bodies and voices?
Introduce or review the concept of the Zones of Regulation. Explain each zone briefly, focusing on feelings and how our bodies might look in each zone. Use simple language and relatable examples.
Expectations & The Green Zone
Our Expectations help us stay in the Green Zone!
- Hands off others: Helps everyone feel safe and happy (Green Zone).
- Quiet voice: Helps us listen and learn (Green Zone).
- Calm bodies: Helps us focus and be ready (Green Zone).
What happens if our hands are not off others? What zone might we be in?
Connect the classroom expectations directly to the Green Zone. Ask guiding questions to help students understand why these expectations help them stay regulated. Show examples of each expectation.
Tools for the Green Zone!
Strategies to get back to Green:
- Take a deep breath (Smell the flower, blow out the candle)
- Count to 5
- Ask for a break
- Think happy thoughts
Which tool can you use today?
Introduce a few simple, actionable strategies that students can use to return to the Green Zone. Encourage them to choose one that works for them.
Staying Green Together!
Remember:
- Our expectations keep our classroom safe and happy.
- The Green Zone is where we are ready to learn!
- We have tools to help us get back to Green.
Thumbs up if you understand!
Summarize the lesson, reiterating the importance of expectations and using zones for self-regulation. Do a quick check-in.
Script
Expectation Exploration Script
Warm-Up: What Do We Expect? (2 minutes)
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important that helps our classroom be a happy and safe place. It's called expectations."
"Can anyone tell me what they think an 'expectation' is? What do we expect from each other in our classroom?"
"Great ideas! In our classroom, we have three very important expectations that help everyone learn and feel good. They are:
- Hands off others (show with hands gently held apart)
- Quiet voice (show finger over lips)
- Calm bodies (show hands resting calmly)"
"Look at our first slide in the Expectation Exploration Slide Deck. These are our special rules to help us be great learners and friends. Why do you think these rules are so important?"
Introducing the Zones (4 minutes)
"Now, sometimes our bodies and feelings tell us what zone we're in. Has anyone heard of the Zones of Regulation before?" (Pause for responses).
"Let's look at our next slide. We have four special zones, and each zone helps us understand how our bodies and minds are feeling."
"Blue Zone (point to blue): This is when you might feel sad, tired, sick, or bored. Your body might feel slow."
"Green Zone (point to green): This is our 'ready to learn' zone! You feel happy, focused, calm, and ready to play or work. Your body feels just right."
"Yellow Zone (point to yellow): This is when you might feel a little bit wiggly, frustrated, worried, or even super excited! Your body might feel a little bit out of control."
"Red Zone (point to red): Uh oh! This is when you feel angry, terrified, or totally out of control. Your body might feel like it wants to explode!"
"Can you show me with your face how you might look in the Green Zone? How about the Red Zone?"
Expectations & Zones Connection (5 minutes)
"Now, let's see how our classroom expectations help us stay in our wonderful Green Zone! Look at the Expectation Exploration Slide Deck again."
"When we keep our hands off others, everyone feels safe and happy. What zone do you think we are in when we keep our hands to ourselves?"
"That's right, the Green Zone! Everyone feels calm and ready to learn."
"What if someone is using a loud voice and interrupting? What zone might their voice be pushing them into?"
"Yes, maybe Yellow or even Red! So, having a quiet voice helps us stay in the Green Zone, where we can all hear and learn."
"And what about calm bodies? If your body is wiggling all over, jumping up and down, what zone might you be entering?"
"Exactly! Calm bodies help us stay focused and ready in the Green Zone."
"Now, I have a special Zone Strategies Worksheet for you. On this worksheet, I want you to draw one way you can show a calm body, quiet voice, or hands off others. This is a strategy to help you stay in the Green Zone!"
(Distribute worksheet and provide a few minutes for drawing.)
Strategies to Get to Green (3 minutes)
"Sometimes, even when we try our best, we might start to feel ourselves moving out of the Green Zone. That's okay! We all have tools to help us get back."
"Let's look at our slide again for some 'Tools for the Green Zone'!"
"One tool is to take a deep breath. Let's try it together! (Demonstrate: 'Smell the flower, blow out the candle.')"
"Another tool is to count to five slowly in your head."
"You can also ask your teacher for a break if you need a moment to calm down."
"Or, you can think happy thoughts about something you love."
"Which one of these tools do you think you could use the next time you feel your body or voice getting out of the Green Zone?"
Cool-Down: Quick Check-In (1 minute)
"You all did such a great job today thinking about our expectations and the Zones!"
"Give me a thumbs up if you understand how keeping our hands off others, using a quiet voice, and having a calm body helps us stay in the Green Zone."
"Remember, our classroom expectations help keep everyone happy, safe, and ready to learn in the Green Zone. We'll keep practicing these every day!"
Worksheet
Zone Strategies Worksheet: Get to Green!
Name:
We learned about our classroom expectations: Hands off others, Quiet voice, and Calm bodies! These help us stay in the Green Zone, where we are happy and ready to learn.
Draw one way YOU can stay in the Green Zone.
What does it look like to have hands off others, a quiet voice, or calm body? You can draw yourself doing it, or draw a picture that reminds you!
I can stay in the Green Zone by: