Stoplight Guide Teacher Plan Teacher Resource Guide
Calming Corner Stoplight
A Visual Self-Regulation Framework for Early Learners
Grades: PreK - 2
Duration
30 - 40 Minutes
Focus
Self-Regulation
Subject
Social-Emotional
Learning Objectives
Identify Energy Levels: Students will recognize their physical and emotional states using the 3 colors of a traffic stoplight.
Select Regulatory Actions: Students will match at least two appropriate, constructive self-soothing behaviors to their current stoplight color.
Utilize the Calming Corner: Students will learn how and when to independently access the classroom Calming Corner using visual cue cards.
Required Materials
Stoplight Energy Slides
Stoplight Activity Cards (Cut & sorted)
My Calm Stoplight Tracker (1 per student)
Red, Yellow, Green colored folders/bins
The Stoplight Analogy Explained
RED
High Energy / Stop & Cool Down
Physical cues: Racing heart, heavy breathing, crying, or clenched hands. Emotional states: Mad, highly anxious, extremely frustrated, or hyper-active silly.
YEL
Medium Energy / Slow Down & Check In
Physical cues: Fidgety, minor pacing, talking quickly, or yawning. Emotional states: Distracted, excited but jittery, nervous, goofy, or frustrated but under control.
GRN
Calm & Focused / Ready to Go
Physical cues: Steady breathing, comfortable posture, alert and quiet. Emotional states: Happy, content, focused, relaxed, and fully receptive to learning instruction.
Calming Corner Stoplight • Teacher Lesson Plan Page 1 of 2
Instructional Sequence
Step-by-step teaching directions and activities
1
Engage: Traffic Cop Game (7 Mins)
Introduce stoplight colors dynamically: Call out "Green Light" and let students march in place; call "Yellow Light" to march slow like turtles; call "Red Light" to freeze. Repeat several times.
Teacher Connection: "Just like driving a car, our bodies have different speeds of energy! Today we are learning how to read our energy stoplight."
2
Direct Instruction: Energy Slides (10 Mins)
Project the Stoplight Energy Slides . Go through the physical feelings associated with each energy level. Have students practice mimic emotional faces: angry faces (Red), jittery/goofy faces (Yellow), and peaceful breathing faces (Green). Highlight that all colors are healthy, but we use special tools to keep our colors in control.
3
Guided Practice: Activity Card Sorting (13 Mins)
Distribute the Stoplight Regulation Activity Cards . Explain that different actions help with different energy colors. Show examples: "If my energy is RED (angry), should I do wall push-ups to release it or listen to gentle music?" Have students practice sorting choices into categories.
4
Reflect & Personalize (10 Mins)
Have students fill out the My Calm Stoplight Tracker . Help them identify their current color state, write/draw their favorite self-soothing action, and sign their "Calm Pledge."
Calming Corner Setup & Classroom Routines
1. The Physical Space
Set up a quiet, comfortable corner with a beanbag, cushions, soft rug, or privacy barrier. Mount a poster of the 3 Stoplight energy colors clearly at child eye-level.
2. Using Activity Cards
Store the sorted activity cards in three labeled baskets (Red, Yellow, Green). When students enter the corner, they check in, pick a matching color card, and follow its soothing prompt.
Calming Corner Stoplight • Teacher Lesson Plan Page 2 of 2
Stoplight Energy Slides Body Stoplight Guide
Stoplight Energy
Let's learn how to read our body's colors and find our calm!
Slide 1 of 5
RED LIGHT
Stop & Cool Down
What does RED feel like?
Your heart beats fast, your fists might feel tight, or you want to yell, cry, or run. You have super high energy!
Activities to try:
Take 5 deep breaths, blowing out slowly
Do 10 solid wall push-ups to release energy
Calming Corner Stoplight Slide 2 of 5
YELLOW LIGHT
Slow & Check In
What does YELLOW feel like?
You might feel wiggly, bouncy, silly, or slightly nervous. Your brain is moving fast, and it is hard to sit still.
Activities to try:
Squeeze a soft stress ball 5 times tight
Do the "Butterfly Hug" (cross arms and tap shoulders)
Calming Corner Stoplight Slide 3 of 5
GREEN LIGHT
Ready to Learn
What does GREEN feel like?
Your body feels calm and quiet. You feel happy, focused, and ready to listen and learn. Your color is just right for instruction!
Activities to try:
Smile and share a kind word with a friend
Focus on the teacher and get working
Calming Corner Stoplight Slide 4 of 5
How to Use the Calming Corner
Four simple steps to find your green zone!
1
Check In
Walk quietly to the corner. Look at the stoplight chart. Ask: "What color am I right now?"
2
Pick a Card
Find the card basket that matches your color. Choose an activity card that sounds helpful!
3
Do the Action
Follow the prompt on your card. Practice your calming breath or sensory action.
4
Ready to Go
When you feel calm, quiet, and green, clean up and walk back to your desk.
Calming Corner Stoplight Slide 5 of 5
Stoplight Regulation Activity Cards Stoplight Regulation Cards
Cut along the dotted lines. Laminate for durability in your Calming Corner!
Page 1: Red & Yellow
Red Energy
Wall Push-Ups
Find a flat wall. Place your hands flat against it. Push yourself back and forth slowly 10 times to push out the big energy!
Heavy Work Activity
Red Energy
Balloon Breaths
Put your hands on your head. Breathe in deep as your "balloon" gets big. Blow out slowly and let your hands float back down!
Breathing Action
Red Energy
The Great Bear Hug
Wrap your arms around your tummy or shoulders. Give yourself a super tight squeeze for 5 seconds. Release and repeat.
Sensory Calm
Yellow Energy
Stress Squeeze
Pick up a stress ball, a soft toy, or playdough. Squeeze it as hard as you can with both hands, then let go. Do this 5 times!
Tactile Focus
Yellow Energy
Butterfly Tap
Cross your hands over your chest, hooking your thumbs together. Tap your hands back and forth slowly like butterfly wings.
Bilateral Tap
Yellow Energy
Slow Turtle Stretch
Pull your shoulders up to your ears and hide your head like a turtle in its shell. Hold it for 3 seconds, then relax slowly.
Slowing Motion
Calming Corner Stoplight • Regulation Activity Cards Page 1 of 2
Stoplight Regulation Cards
Cut along the dotted lines. Laminate for durability in your Calming Corner!
Page 2: Green & Focus
Green Energy
Story Time
Pick up one picture book from the Calming Corner shelf. Flip through the pages slowly, looking at the pictures, until you feel fully settled.
Quiet Focus
Green Energy
Feeling Sketch
Take a blank sheet or notepad. Use crayons or colored pencils to scribble, draw lines, or draw a picture showing how you feel.
Creative Release
Green Energy
Heartbeat Check
Put your hand gently over your chest. Close your eyes and feel your heartbeat. Can you count 10 slow heartbeats in your head?
Mindfulness
Daily Tool
Star Breathing
Trace the star card! Breathe in as you trace up to a point, hold your breath at the tip, and breathe out as you trace down. Repeat all 5 points!
Tactile Breath
Daily Tool
Flower & Candle
My Calm Stoplight Tracker My Calm Stoplight
A personal reflection tool for early learners
Name:
Date:
1 How does your body feel right now?
Color in or circle your energy color and the facial expression that matches you!
Red
Yellow
Green
Color My Bulb
😡
Red Energy State
I feel angry, wild, super fast, or upset.
🤪
Yellow Energy State
I feel bouncy, wiggle-worm silly, or worried.
😊
Green Energy State
I feel focused, quiet, happy, and ready.
2 My Cool-Down Choice
Draw yourself doing your favorite calming activity (e.g., balloon breathing, deep squeeze, reading).
My Classroom Calm Pledge
"I know that all energy feelings are okay. When I need some help, I can choose a safe activity to help my body return to the Green Zone!"
My Signature:
Buddy Witness:
Calming Corner Stoplight • Student Reflection Tracker My Stoplight Sheet