Stoplight Routine Plan Pre-K SEL Curriculum • 30 Minutes
Fair Choice Stoplight Routine
Teacher Facilitation & Instructional Lesson Plan
Learning Objective
Students will identify and demonstrate the 3-step Stop-Think-Go stoplight routine to pause bodily impulses, evaluate fairness, and choose calm, cooperative solutions during everyday peer interactions.
Core Competencies
Self-Regulation
Fair Decision Making
Perspective Taking
Required Classroom Materials
Visual Slides Stop Think Go Slide Deck
Scenario Script Role-play teacher prompts
Student Sheets Coloring badges & crayons
Wearable Badges Lanyards / yarn & tape
30-Minute Lesson Arc & Pacing
0-7 min Teach Routine Stop-Think-Go model
8-15 min Role-Play Guided scenarios
16-23 min Color Cards Hands-on coloring
24-27 min Post on Lanyards Wearable cue badge
28-30 min Reflect & Chant Closing connection
1
Direct Instruction: The Stoplight Body Code (7 mins)
Hook & Whole Group
Gather students on the carpet. Display slide 1 and ask: "What do cars do when they see a red traffic light?" Introduce the three body signals:
🔴 RED = STOP Freeze feet, hands in lap, take 1 slow balloon breath.
🟡 YELLOW = THINK Touch temple: "How does my friend feel? What is fair?"
🟢 GREEN = GO Two thumbs up: "Make the fair choice!" (Take turns/trade).
2
Interactive Role-Play: Guided Scenarios (8 mins)
Active Practice
Use the Scenario Stoplight Script with classroom props (or two classroom puppets, "Sammy" and "Lola"). Prompt children to physically show the stoplight gestures when the problem arises:
Scenario A: Two friends grab the same giant wooden block at the block center.Choral Action: Teacher calls "Stoplight Alert!" Children raise hand (RED), touch brain (YELLOW), and announce a fair solution (GREEN: "Let's build together or use a 3-minute sand timer!" ).
Fair Choice Stoplight • Pre-K Instructional Plan Page 1 of 2
2
Application, Wearable Badges & Wrap-Up
Steps 3 to 5, Teacher Talk, and Developmental Supports
Part II: Guided Application
3
Coloring Stoplight Cards (8 mins)
Transition students to activity tables with Coloring Stoplight Sheets . Provide red, yellow, and green jumbo crayons.
Teacher Verbal Prompts:
"Top circle is Red for Stop... Middle is Yellow for Think... Bottom is Green for Fair Choice!"
Fine motor tip: Children trace the textured perimeter circle before coloring.
4
Post Cards on Lanyards (4 mins)
Assist students in slipping their trimmed stoplight cards into yarn lanyards, pocket clips, or pinning onto center aprons.
Purpose of the Lanyard Badge:
Serves as an immediate, tactile visual anchor during free-choice play when sharing conflicts naturally happen.
Classroom integration: Keep a master stoplight card in the Peace Corner.
5
Circle Reflection & Stoplight Rhyme (3 mins)
Closing Routine
Return to circle. Ask: "When today might you touch your Stoplight lanyard?" (e.g., waiting for the tricycle, wanting the glitter glue). Practice the closing chant:
"Red says STOP and take a breath! 🔴
Differentiation & Multi-Tier Supports
ELL / Dual Language
Pair words with exaggerated physical gestures: crossed arms (stop), finger to head (think), open palms forward (go).
Sensory / Motor Needs
Use pre-cut textured foam circles (velvet red, corrugated yellow, smooth green) to touch while verbalizing.
High-Impulse Learners
Provide an educator "co-stop" touch cue on the child's shoulder before free-play transitions.
Quick Observational Assessment Check
Can pause physical motion when given the "Red Stop" verbal or visual cue.
Can name at least one fair action (taking turns, asking, trading toys).
Fair Choice Stoplight • Pre-K Instructional Plan Page 2 of 2
Stop Think Go Slides Pre-K Social-Emotional Learning Circle Time Routine
Fair Choice
Stoplight!
Stop, Think, and Go to make friendly, fair choices every day!
STOP
THINK
GO!
Look at the traffic light: What do safe drivers do when it turns red?
1
Step 1: RED MEANS STOP!
Calm Body
Freeze Your Body
Hands in lap or flat on table. No grabbing!
Take 1 Balloon Breath
Breathe in big... and blow out gentle air!
Keep Everyone Safe
Pausing helps us protect our friends.
Hands Up, Freeze!
"When feelings get big or two hands want one toy, we hit the RED light!"
Whole Class Practice: Show me your frozen calm hands!
2
Step 2: YELLOW MEANS THINK!
Clever Brain
How Does My Friend Feel?
Are they sad? Surprised? Waiting for a turn?
What is Fair?
Fair means everyone gets joy and respect.
Think of 2 Ideas
Can we build together? Can we set a timer?
Finger to Temple!
"Tap your clever brain gently. We think before we act so our choices are fair!"
Touch your head: What clever thought can you share?
3
Step 3: GREEN MEANS GO!
Fair Action
Take Turns
"You have 3 minutes, then it is my turn!"
Fair Choice 1
Play Together
"Let's combine our blocks to make a castle!"
Fair Choice 2
Polite Words
"May I have that when you finish?"
Fair Choice 3
Green means thumbs up and smiling faces for everyone!
Practice Scenario 1
The Big Blue Block Challenge!
What Happened?
Block Play Area
Sammy and Lola both reach for the very last giant blue block at the same second! Sammy's hand pulls, Lola's hand pulls!
R
STOP: Hands off the block! Take a breath.
Y
THINK: Both friends want to build a high tower.
G
GO: Put the block in the middle together!
Did Sammy and Lola make a fair choice? YES!
Practice Scenario 2
The Only Red Crayon Dilemma!
What Happened?
Art Center Table
Maya is coloring an apple with the one red crayon . Leo wants to draw a red fire truck right this minute!
R
STOP: No snatching! Keep gentle hands.
Y
THINK: "Leo can draw the yellow wheels first!"
G
GO: Maya says: "I pass it to you in 1 minute!"
Who is ready to color their own stoplight badge?
Wear It & Share It!
Wear Your Stoplight Badge!
When you wear your lanyard, you are a Fair Choice Champion.
Our Daily Stoplight Rhyme
🔴 Red says STOP and take a breath!
🟡 Yellow says THINK what fair looks like!
🟢 Green says GO and share the fun!
Clip to your lanyard
Help a friend choose fair
Scenario Stoplight Script Teacher Facilitation Script • Active Role-Play
Scenario Stoplight Script
Guided Puppet Dialogue & Carpet Turn-Taking Prompts
Duration 8 Minutes
Puppet / Prop Setup & Choral Signal
Characters Use 2 puppets (Sammy & Lola) or volunteer child actors.
Props Needed 1 large wooden block, 1 red crayon, 1 three-minute sand timer.
Class Call-Back Teacher: "Stoplight Alert!" Students: "Freeze and think!"
1
Scenario 1: The Last Giant Blue Block (Block Area)
Conflict: Grabbing
Teacher (Narrating): "Look at our friends Sammy and Lola at the block corner. Both want to put the big blue block on top of their towers. Watch what happens..."
Sammy (Puppet): (Grabs one side) "Mine! I saw it first!"
Lola (Puppet): (Yanks the other side) "No, I need it for my castle! Let go!"
Teacher Cue (Hold up RED Stoplight Card):
"Class, CALL IT OUT! What does RED say?"
→ Whole Class: "STOP! Freeze bodies, hands in lap, take a deep breath!" (Teacher guides 1 slow inhale/exhale)
Teacher Cue (Turn to YELLOW): "Yellow light! Touch your thinking brains. What is the fair question to ask?"
Expected Student Answer: "How does Lola feel? Both friends want to build!"
Teacher Cue (Turn to GREEN):
"GREEN MEANS GO! What fair choice can Sammy and Lola make right now?"
Allow 2 children to answer: (1) Build a tower together in the center. (2) Flip a coin or use the sand timer for turns.
2
Scenario 2: The Only Red Crayon (Art Center)
Conflict: Waiting & Impatience
Teacher (Narrating): "Maya is happily drawing an apple with the only red crayon at the table. Leo sits down and wants to draw a red fire engine right NOW."
Leo (Puppet): (Reaches over Maya's paper to snatch the crayon) "I need it now!"
Teacher Prompt (Choral Action):
"Freeze! Everyone show your RED hands! Can Leo snatch from a friend?"
→ Students: "No! RED means STOP hands!"
Teacher: "Yellow light: Think! What gentle words can Leo say to Maya?"
Target Script for Students: "May I use the red crayon when you finish your apple?"
Green Fair Choice:
Maya says: "Yes, I will finish coloring this leaf, then I slide it to you!" Leo draws the yellow wheels while he waits.
Fair Choice Stoplight • Facilitation Script Page 1 of 2
Part 2 • Playground & Line Scenarios
Outdoor Play & Everyday Coaching
Scenarios 3 & 4
3
Scenario 3: The Yellow Tricycle (Playground Recess)
Outdoor Conflict
Situation: Clara has been riding the popular yellow tricycle for 10 minutes. Ben stands in front of the bike with crossed arms, looking angry.
🔴 STOP Ben steps back to a safe spot. Clara stops pedaling. Both take a breath.
🟡 THINK Clara realizes Ben has been waiting. Ben realizes Clara is having fun too.
🟢 GO "Fair Choice: Clara does 2 more laps around the track, then passes the handlebars to Ben!"
4
Scenario 4: Who Gets to Be Door Helper? (Line-Up)
Transition Conflict
Situation: Two children race to the classroom door, shoving elbows to hold the handle first.
Teacher Intervention: "Friends, touch your stoplight badges! What does yellow ask us about fairness?"
Fair Solution: "One friend holds the door for recess, and the other friend holds the door when we return from lunch! Both get a turn today."
**
Free-Play Coaching: 10-Second De-escalation Protocol
Signal
What Teacher Says
What Child Does
🔴 Red
"Look at my stop sign. Hands quiet, let's take our balloon breath together."
Releases toy, places palms on tummy.
🟡 Yellow
"What is the fair question? Tell me what your friend is feeling."
Names feeling ("Sad/Mad") and listens.
🟢 Green
"Give me two fair ideas: timer, trade, or share?"
Selects a solution and gives high-five.
Positive Reinforcement Cue: Whenever you spot a child naturally using the stoplight without adult prompting, whisper: "You made a green fair choice all on your own! That keeps our classroom peaceful."
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Fair Choice Stoplight • Facilitation Script Page 2 of 2
**
Coloring Stoplight Sheet My Fair Choice Stoplight
Name:
Date:
Color with crayons: Red for Stop, Yellow for Think, Green for Go!
Pre-K Hands-On
Classroom Stoplight
COLOR RED STOP
COLOR YELLOW THINK
COLOR GREEN FAIR CHOICE
Cut along dotted line:
Punch for Yarn
Fair Choice Kid
STOP
THINK
GO!
This badge belongs to:
Teacher or aide will help hole-punch and tie yarn for free-choice center play!
"Red says STOP! Yellow says THINK! Green says GO and share with a friend!"
Chant & Remember
Fair Choice Stoplight • Student Coloring Card Page 1 of 2
Draw My Fair Choice!
Show how you share or take turns with a classroom friend.
Name:
Idea 1: Blocks Building a tall tower together
Idea 2: Art Tools Passing the red crayon to a friend
Idea 3: Playground Taking turns on the yellow tricycle
Drawing Canvas Use your favorite crayons!
Teacher Dictation / Child's Words: "Tell me about your fair choice!"
Fair Choice Stoplight • Drawing & Reflection Page 2 of 2
