Clouds of Feeling Lesson Plan
Clouds of Feeling
Supporting Emotional Literacy in Pre-K
Time
30 Minutes
Audience
Pre-K (Ages 3-5)
Level
Classroom Tier 1
Why This Matters
Helping Pre-K children name and share feelings of sadness builds emotional awareness, validates their experiences, and fosters peer support in a safe classroom community.
Learning Objective
Students will recognize feelings of sadness and grief, express their emotions through discussion, and create a comforting cloud craft to learn simple coping strategies.
Preparation
Time: 5 Minutes
- Gather enough construction paper, cotton balls, glue sticks, and markers for each child.
- Print or have digital access to the Cloud Tears Story.
- Pre-cut cloud shapes from white construction paper (optional).
Materials Needed
- Construction Paper (Blue, Gray, White)
- Cotton Balls
- Glue Sticks
- Washable Markers
- Cloud Tears Story
Instructional Steps
1
Welcome & Emotional Check-In
5 Min
- Invite children to sit in a circle on the carpet.
- Ask each child to share one emotion word they know (e.g., happy, sad).
- Introduce today’s focus: feelings of sadness and grief as ‘clouds of feeling.’
2
Read-Aloud Story
10 Min
- Read the Cloud Tears Story with expressive voice and pauses.
- Show pictures clearly and ask children to point out how the cloud looks.
- Emphasize moments when the cloud feels sad or lonely.
3
Guided Discussion
5 Min
- Ask: “What happened to make the cloud feel sad?”
- Encourage children to share a time they felt sad.
- Validate: “It’s okay to feel that way.”
4
Cloud Craft Activity
8 Min
- Give each child a cloud shape, glue, and cotton balls.
- Instruct them to glue cotton balls onto their cloud.
- Have them draw ‘tears’ with markers.
- Walk around, ask how they feel making their cloud.
5
Closing & Comfort Strategies
2 Min
- Gather children back in the circle with their clouds.
- Reinforce: “It’s okay to feel sad; we can talk, draw, or hug a friend.”
- End with a group stretch or gentle group hug for comfort.
Clouds of Feeling Slides
Clouds of Feeling
Welcome to our lesson about feelings!
Teacher Note: Welcome everyone! Gather the children on the carpet. Say: “Today we will learn about feelings of sadness—our ‘clouds of feeling.’”
How Are You Feeling Today?
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😡
Angry
😲
Surprised
Teacher Note: Ask each child: “How do you feel today?” Point to simple face pictures. Encourage the class to name one feeling word.
Feelings Can Be Clouds
Sometimes our feelings are like clouds in the sky.
Teacher Note: Explain that feelings can be like weather. Some days are sunny (happy), some days are cloudy (sad).
Read-Aloud: Cloud Tears Story
"Listen to Cloudie’s story!"
Teacher Note: Show the cover (or image) of the Cloud Tears Story. Say: “We’ll read about Cloudie who feels sad sometimes.”
Why Did Cloudie Feel Sad?
Talk about why the cloud was sad.
Teacher Note: After reading, ask: “What happened to make Cloudie feel sad?” Let volunteers answer, validate each response.
Share Your Sad Clouds
Tell us about a time you felt sad.
Teacher Note: Invite children to share one time they felt sad. Repeat: “It’s okay to feel sad.”
Materials for Our Cloud Craft
- White paper cloud shapes
- Cotton balls
- Glue sticks
- Washable markers
Teacher Note: Show materials: paper, cotton balls, glue, markers. Describe each item.
Cloud Craft Steps
1
Glue cotton balls onto your cloud
2
Draw raindrop ‘tears’ with markers
Teacher Note: Guide the children step by step: glue the cotton, then draw tears. Walk among them, ask how they feel making the craft.
Comfort Strategies
Talk to a friend
Draw our feelings
Give a hug
Teacher Note: Gather the class. Introduce simple comfort ideas: talking, drawing, breathing. Show icons or motions.
Great Job!
Remember: It’s okay to feel sad.
Teacher Note: Praise the children: “You all did great!” Lead a gentle group stretch or hug. Remind them it’s okay to feel sad and to use these strategies.
Cloud Tears Story Reading
Cloud Tears
Cloudie was a little white cloud who loved to float high in the sky.
One morning, Cloudie woke up feeling heavy and gray instead of bright and fluffy.
"I feel so sad," Cloudie whispered as a single tear slipped down her soft curve.
Rain began to fall from Cloudie’s tears. The raindrops felt gentle and slow as they drifted toward the earth.
A friendly sunbeam peeked out from behind the clouds and said, “It’s okay to feel sad, Cloudie. Sometimes we all need a good cry.”
Cloudie let more tears fall. Each drop watered the flowers below and helped them grow bright and strong.
As Cloudie released her sadness, she felt lighter and softer again.
The next day, she drifted through a rainbow and smiled when she saw the colorful arch in the sky.
Cloudie learned that tears can help us feel better, and that sharing our sadness can bring new hope and light.
The End
