Emotional Thermometer Lesson Plan Emotional Thermometer Lesson Plan
Foundational Tier 1 Emotional Literacy
45-60 Minutes
Elementary Students
Identify 3+ emotions & intensity
Coping strategy identification
The "Why"
Understanding and expressing feelings helps students develop self-awareness and healthy emotional regulation skills, which are crucial for their well-being and social interactions.
Prep & Materials
Teacher Prep (15 mins):
Review the Feeling Forecast Slides
Print My Emotions Worksheet & Heart Space Journal
Cut out Scenario Cards Activity
Gather markers/crayons
Whiteboard/Projector Markers/Crayons Activity Cards
Instructional Flow
1
Warm-Up (10m)
Ask: "How are you feeling today?" Introduce the Emotional Thermometer concept (Slides 1-2).
2
Exploring Emotions (15m)
Discuss intensity zones (Slides 3-6). Students color faces on their Worksheet .
3
Card Activity (15m)
Use Scenario Cards to practice identifying zones and building empathy.
4
Coping & Wrap-Up (10m)
Discuss "cooling down" strategies (Slide 7). Complete first Journal entry.
Tip: Refer to the Facilitator Script for specific phrasing to use during each phase.
Feeling Forecast Slides How Are You Feeling Today?
Let's explore our amazing feelings together!
Emotional Thermometer Lesson
What's an Emotional Thermometer?
Imagine a thermometer, but instead of showing temperature, it shows how strong our feelings are!
Cool colors for calm feelings.
Warm colors for strong feelings.
Green Zone: Calm & Happy
These are feelings like:
Happy
Calm
Peaceful
Relaxed
How does your body feel when you're in the Green Zone?
Is your heart beating slowly?
Yellow Zone: A Little Wobbly
Sometimes we feel:
Worried
Frustrated
Confused
Anxious
What makes you feel a bit wobbly, like in the Yellow Zone?
Does your tummy feel butterflies?
Red Zone: Big Feelings Alert!
These feelings can be really strong:
Angry
Sad
Scared
Overwhelmed
It's okay to feel these, but they can be tricky!
Red Zone means STOP .
Where Do Other Feelings Go?
Excited Surprised Proud Shy
Think about these feelings...
Where would you put them on our Emotional Thermometer?
Cooling Down Our Red Zone
When feelings get too big, we can try to cool down :
3 Deep Breaths
Count to 10
Ask for Help
Happy Thoughts
Stress Ball
What helps you calm down?
My Emotions Worksheet My Emotions Worksheet
Color, draw, and write about your zones!
Name:
Date:
Instructions: Color each section of the thermometer below. Then, draw a face that matches the feeling and write one word that describes it.
RED
YELLOW
GREEN
Red Zone: Very Strong Feelings! (Color this section RED)
Draw a face:
Feeling word:
Yellow Zone: Medium Feelings! (Color this section YELLOW)
Draw a face:
Feeling word:
Green Zone: Calm Feelings! (Color this section GREEN)
Draw a face:
Feeling word:
When do you feel these emotions?
1. Happy/Calm: I feel happy when...
2. Worried/Frustrated: I feel worried when...
3. Angry/Sad: I feel angry when...
Scenario Cards Activity Scenario Cards Activity
Cut out these cards. Read each scenario and think: "How would I feel?" Then, share if that feeling is in the Green, Yellow, or Red Zone and why.
CARD 1
Your friend shares their favorite snack with you at lunchtime.
How do you feel?
CARD 2
You are trying to build a tall tower, and it keeps falling down.
How do you feel?
CARD 3
You accidentally spill your drink all over your drawing.
How do you feel?
CARD 4
It's your birthday, and you get to open presents!
How do you feel?
CARD 5
You are sitting in class, and you can't understand what the teacher is saying.
How do you feel?
CARD 6
You are playing outside, and someone takes your ball without asking.
How do you feel?
CARD 7
It's time for bed, and you hear a strange noise outside your window.
How do you feel?
CARD 8
You've finished all your homework and can play your favorite game.
How do you feel?
Cut along the lines
Heart Space Journal Heart Space Journal
My thoughts, my feelings, my way.
Name:
Date:
1
Think about this week. What is one feeling you have felt strongly? What happened to make you feel that way? Where would it go on the thermometer?
2
When you feel a strong, uncomfortable feeling (like in the Yellow or Red Zone), what is one thing you can do to help yourself feel calmer? Draw or write about it.
3
Draw or write about a time you felt really happy or peaceful (Green Zone). What did it feel like in your body? Facilitator Script Teacher Guide Facilitator Script Teacher Guide
Lesson: Emotional Thermometer • Audience: Elementary
Part 1
Warm-Up & Introduction
10 Minutes
"Good morning, everyone! Let's start our day by checking in with ourselves. How is everyone feeling today? You can just share one word, or a short sentence if you like. (Pause for responses). That's great! It's so interesting how we can all feel so many different things, sometimes even on the same day!"
Visuals: Display Feeling Forecast Slides (Slide 1: How Are You Feeling Today?)
"Today, we're going to talk about our feelings, and we're going to use a special tool called an 'Emotional Thermometer' to help us understand them better. Has anyone ever used a thermometer before? What does it do? (Allow responses - measures temperature). That's right! Our emotional thermometer won't measure how hot or cold we are, but how strong our feelings are."
Part 2
Exploring Emotions
15 Minutes
Instruction: Walk through Slides 3-5 (Green, Yellow, Red Zones). For each zone, ask students to describe how their body feels (physical cues).
"The Green Zone is for feelings like happy, calm, and relaxed. When you feel this way, your body usually feels light. Can anyone share a time they felt in the Green Zone? (Allow responses). Now, Yellow is when feelings get a bit wobbly... it's like a yellow traffic light – it tells us to slow down and pay attention."
"And Red? That's our biggest feelings. Angry, sad, or overwhelmed. It's like a red light – it means STOP and figure out what to do. It's completely normal to feel these, but they can be tricky."
Action: Distribute My Emotions Worksheet . Have students color and draw their zone faces.
Part 3
Scenario Card Activity
15 Minutes
"I have a bunch of cards here. Your job is to listen to the scenario and tell us how you might feel, and which zone that feeling would fit into. Let's try: 'Your friend shares their favorite snack with you.' How does that feel? What zone?"
Pro-Tip: Use this time to prompt empathy. Ask, "Has anyone else ever felt that way?" and "Why might different people feel different zones for the same card?"
Part 4
Coping & Wrap-Up
10 Minutes
"It's helpful to have ways to 'cool down' when our feelings get too big. Let's look at Slide 7. Deep breaths, counting to 10, or asking for help. What are some other things YOU do to feel calmer?"
"Remember, it's okay to feel whatever you feel. Our emotional thermometer helps us understand ourselves better. You are all doing a great job!"
