Emotional Engine Slides Emotional Engine
Monitor and Maintain Your Inner Machine
Social Emotional Learning
Your Engine?
Internal Systems
Thoughts (The GPS)
Feelings (The Gauges)
Actions (The Gears)
"When your engine is running smooth, you can reach any destination."
SEL is the skill of maintaining your engine so you don't stall or overheat.
The Dashboard
Emotions are data. They tell us how our engine is performing.
Optimal
Green Zone
Happy, Focused, Calm. Ready to learn.
Warning
Yellow Zone
Frustrated, Silly, Anxious. Revving high.
Critical
Red Zone
Angry, Overwhelmed. Out of control.
Cooling System
Tools for High Revving:
Deep Breaths
The radiator that slows your heart.
Positive Self-Talk
The lubricant for your thoughts.
Regulation
It's not about never getting hot; it's about knowing how to cool down.
The Fleet
Many engines, one road.
Empathy is checking the dashboard of others to see how they are doing.
Traffic Check:
How do their eyes look?
What is their body saying?
How can I help them?
Maintenance Log #1
Math Mechanic
"Leo is working on a tough math problem. He has erased his work three times. His face is turning pink, and he just snapped his pencil."
Dashboard Check
What zone is Leo in?
Repair Kit
Which tool helps here?
Maintenance Log #2
Recess Relay
"Sam accidentally trips Maya. Sam starts laughing because he's embarrassed, but Maya is on the ground with tears in her eyes."
Fleet Check
Did Sam read the dashboard?
Repair Kit
How can Sam use empathy?
The Workshop
Final Maintenance Check:
"What is the very first thing you will do to stay in the Green Zone today?"
Open Discussion
Engine Maintenance Discussion Guide Maintenance Guide
Teacher Discussion Resource
Lesson Time
30 Minutes
Objectives
• Define SEL using the engine metaphor.
• Identify 3 emotional regulation zones.
• Select appropriate cooling strategies.
• Practice empathetic perspective-taking.
Pacing
• 00-15: Slideshow & Interaction
• 15-22: Case Study Deep Dives
• 22-25: Group Discussion
• 25-30: Quiz & Wrap-Up
Facilitation Notes
Slides 1-2: The Hook (5 Mins)
Prompt: "Imagine you are a race car driver. What happens if you ignore your warning lights?"
Key Point: SEL isn't about being 'good' or 'bad'; it's about maintenance. We all have internal systems that need attention.
Slide 3: The Dashboard (5 Mins)
Ask students to physically model the zones: • Green: Deep breath, steady hands. • Yellow: Bouncing knee, fast talking. • Red: Tense jaw, clenched fists.
Note: Emphasize that Yellow isn't 'bad'—it's just a signal to check the cooling system.
Slide 4: Cooling System (5 Mins)
Do a quick practice of "Square Breathing" (In 4, Hold 4, Out 4, Hold 4). Ask: "Which of these tools feels easiest for you to use in class?"
Slide 5: The Fleet (3 Mins)
Discuss 'Social Awareness'. How do we know if a friend's engine is smoking? (Tears, shouting, hiding). How can we be a 'tow truck' for them?
Case Study Deep Dive (7 Mins)
Scenario 1: Leo
Answers to elicit:
"Leo is in the Red Zone. He needs a Pit Stop (break) or to use the Lubricant (Self-talk: 'I can do this, it's just one problem')."
Scenario 2: Maya & Sam
Answers to elicit:
"Sam was in the Yellow Zone (Silly) but misread Maya's Dashboard. Maya is in the Red/Blue Zone (Hurt). Sam needs to pause his engine and check on hers."
Facilitation Pro-Tips
Normalize: Share a time your engine was in the Red Zone today.Wait Time: Give 5-10 seconds of silence after asking about cooling tools.Validation: If a student suggests a tool not listed (e.g., drawing), add it to the 'Workshop' list. Engine Tune Up Quiz Engine Tune-Up
SEL Quick Check
Driver Name
Date
DIRECTIONS: Circle the best answer for each question to show how well you understand your Emotional Engine.
1 What does the "Green Zone" on your dashboard represent?
A. Feeling angry and out of control
B. Feeling calm, focused, and ready to learn
C. Feeling silly and distracted
D. Feeling sad or tired
2 If your engine is "revving too high" (Yellow Zone), what should you do?
A. Keep going faster until you finish your work
B. Ignore the feeling and wait for it to go away
C. Use a cooling tool like deep breathing
D. Shout so everyone knows you are frustrated
3 What is "Positive Self-Talk" in the engine metaphor?
A. The lubricant that reduces friction in your thoughts
B. The fuel that makes the car go faster
C. The smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe
D. The radio playing loud music
4 Empathy is like checking the dashboard of:
A. Your own car only
B. The teachers car only
C. A video game car
D. The other "engines" (people) around you
5 What is the main goal of Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?
A. To never feel any negative emotions
B. To learn how to maintain your engine so you can succeed
C. To learn how to fix actual car engines
D. To make everyone have the same dashboard
Engine Tune Up Answer Key Tune-Up Key
Teacher Answer Resource
Topic
SEL Basics
1 What does the "Green Zone" on your dashboard represent?
A. Feeling angry and out of control
B. Feeling calm, focused, and ready to learn
C. Feeling silly and distracted
D. Feeling sad or tired
2 If your engine is "revving too high" (Yellow Zone), what should you do?
A. Keep going faster until you finish your work
B. Ignore the feeling and wait for it to go away
C. Use a cooling tool like deep breathing
D. Shout so everyone knows you are frustrated
3 What is "Positive Self-Talk" in the engine metaphor?
A. The lubricant that reduces friction in your thoughts
B. The fuel that makes the car go faster
C. The smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe
D. The radio playing loud music
4 Empathy is like checking the dashboard of:
A. Your own car only
B. The teachers car only
C. A video game car
D. The other "engines" (people) around you
5 What is the main goal of Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?
A. To never feel any negative emotions
B. To learn how to maintain your engine so you can succeed
C. To learn how to fix actual car engines
D. To make everyone have the same dashboard
