Stoplight Feelings Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Stoplight Feelings
Emotional Regulation for Early Learners (Grades K-2)
Duration
30-40 Minutes
Focus
Self-Regulation
Setting
Whole Group
Learning Objective
Students will be able to identify three levels of emotional energy (Red: High, Yellow: Medium, Green: Calm/Ready) using the Stoplight model, and name at least one self-soothing strategy for each state.
Materials Needed
Energy Meter Slides for visual instruction
Stoplight Sorting Mats & Cards (cut ahead)
Calming Corner Cards printed & displayed
Red, yellow, and green colored pencils or crayons
The Stoplight Concept
R
RED LIGHT: High Energy (Stop & Breathe)
Big, overwhelming feelings (anger, panic, extreme excitement, yelling). Needs an immediate pause. Goal: cool down.
Y
YELLOW LIGHT: Medium Energy (Slow Down & Check In)
Spun up, silly, worried, frustrated, or wiggly. Body is moving fast. Goal: ground and slow down.
G
GREEN LIGHT: Calm Energy (Ready to Learn)
Calm, focused, content, helpful, and listening. Body and mind are at ease. Goal: maintain state.
THE CALMING CORNER STOPLIGHT PAGE 1 OF 2
Lesson Facilitation
Implementation
1. Introduce the Energy Meter (10 Mins)
Display the Energy Meter Slides . Explain that our bodies have "feelings batteries" or energy levels. Walk through red, yellow, and green. Use interactive questions: "How does your body feel when you are in the Red light zone? Is your heart beating fast or slow?"
2. Collaborative Sorting (15 Mins)
Distribute the Stoplight Sorting Activity . Have students work in pairs to color and classify feelings cards (e.g., mad, wiggly, calm) and place them onto the appropriate Stoplight colors. Discuss tricky cards (like "excited" can be yellow or red depending on scale!).
3. Practice the Calming Cards (10 Mins)
Introduce the Calming Corner Cards . Practice each physical action together as a whole class: "Let's try star breathing together... In through your nose... hold it like a star... out like a falling star."
Pro-Tip: Calming Corner Integration
Laminate the Calming Corner Cards and secure them with a metal ring in a quiet, cozy classroom space. When a student is wiggly or frustrated, simply point to the Stoplight and say: "Which light color does your body feel right now? Let's choose a matching card from the corner."
Differentiation & Accommodations
Support (Struggling Learners)
Focus primarily on physical body sensations (e.g., tight fists, wiggles) rather than naming complex emotions. Use hand-over-hand sorting.
Extension (Advanced Learners)
Encourage students to design their own 4th color zone (like Blue/Low Energy for tired, sad, or lonely) and draw custom calming cards.
THE CALMING CORNER STOPLIGHT PAGE 2 OF 2
Energy Meter Slides ENERGY METER
How is Your Body
Feeling Today?
Let's explore the feelings stoplight and find out what our emotional energy is telling us!
INTRODUCING SELF-REGULATION SLIDE 1 OF 5
GREEN ZONE
FEELINGS ENERGY
Green Light
Calm & Focused
Your body and mind are feeling peaceful, relaxed, and ready to learn.
How it Feels:
Happy, safe, and ready to listen.
What We Can Do:
Read books, cooperate, and learn.
GREEN LIGHT MEANS GO & GROW SLIDE 2 OF 5
YELLOW ZONE
FEELINGS ENERGY
Yellow Light
Slow & Careful
Your body has some extra energy or speed. You are spinning up!
How it Feels:
Silly, excited, wiggly, or frustrated.
What We Can Do:
Slow down, stretch, and check in.
YELLOW LIGHT MEANS SLOW & NOTICE SLIDE 3 OF 5
RED ZONE
FEELINGS ENERGY
Red Light
Stop & Breathe
Your body has huge, fast energy. You feel super-charged!
How it Feels:
Mad, angry, scared, or crying.
What We Can Do:
Stop, take deep breaths, or get help.
RED LIGHT MEANS PAUSE FOR SAFETY SLIDE 4 OF 5
YOUR TURN
FEELINGS ENERGY
Which color is your body shining today?
Point to your matching zone on the meter!
R
RED LIGHT
Big feelings. Stop & breathe.
Y
YELLOW LIGHT
Wiggly feelings. Slow down.
G
GREEN LIGHT
Calm feelings. Ready to learn.
LET'S KEEP OUR MIND & BODY HAPPY SLIDE 5 OF 5
Stoplight Sorting Activity My Feelings Stoplight
Interactive Sorting Mat
Name:
Date:
How to Play: Cut out the Feelings Cards from Page 2. Color them, then paste or place them in the correct color box next to the stoplight!
RED: HIGH
YELLOW: MED
GREEN: CALM
Red Light Zone Paste RED energy feelings here:
Yellow Light Zone Paste YELLOW energy feelings here:
Green Light Zone Paste GREEN energy feelings here:
THE CALMING CORNER STOPLIGHT PAGE 1 OF 2
Feelings Cut-Out Cards
Color, cut, and sort onto Page 1!
CUT OUT ZONE
CARD 1
MAD / ANGRY
Color Me
CARD 2
CALM / HAPPY
Color Me
CARD 3
WIGGLY / SILLY
Color Me
CARD 4
EXCITED / FAST
Color Me
CARD 5
READY / LISTENING
Color Me
CARD 6
WORRIED / SHY
Color Me
CARD 7
LOUD / YELLING
Color Me
CARD 8
KIND / HELPFUL
Color Me
THE CALMING CORNER STOPLIGHT PAGE 2 OF 2
Calming Corner Cards Calming Corner Resource
My Calming Cards
Use these activities to help find your Green Light!
COZY SPACE
How to use: Point to your body's stoplight color. Choose a card with the matching color dot to help your body feel calm, safe, and ready to learn.
1. Star Breathing
Step 1: Breathe in deep and trace up one point of the star.
Step 2: Breathe out slowly as you trace down the next point.
Red & Yellow Level
2. Lemon Squeeze
Step 1: Squeeze your hands into tight fists like making lemon juice!
Step 2: Count to 3, then let go and feel your hands go soft.
Yellow Level
3. Butterfly Hug
Step 1: Cross your arms over your chest and hook your thumbs.
Step 2: Tap your hands slowly on your shoulders like wings.
Red & Yellow Level
4. Quiet Reading
Step 1: Pick a favorite book with colorful pictures.
Step 2: Look at the characters and breathe quietly for 1 minute.
Green Level (Keep Calm)
THE CALMING CORNER STOPLIGHT COZY CORNER POSTER