Mood Map Slides Mood Map Explorers
Adventure Starts Here!
Social-Emotional Learning Journey
Navigating Our Four Emotional Zones
Every feeling is friendly! Let's learn how to read our body maps, discover our zones, and find the perfect tools to help us explore.
Primary & Elementary Grades
Whole-Class Discussion
Slide 1 of 7
The Blue Zone
Slowing Down State
When your engine is running slowly.
The Blue Zone is when our body or mind is low on energy. It is completely okay to feel blue! It tells us we might need rest.
🥱
Tired
Low battery, heavy eyes
😢
Sad
Quiet, tears, wanting comfort
🤒
Sick
Hurting, weak, resting
😑
Bored
Nothing feels interesting
Blue Zone Tools
🥛 Take a sip of cool water to wake up.
🫂 Ask an adult for a gentle squeeze or hug.
🙋 Put your head down for a 2-minute rest.
🚶 Do a slow, quiet stretch by your desk.
Discussion Prompt: What makes you feel blue at school?
Slide 2 of 7
The Green Zone
Ready-to-Learn State
When your engine is just right.
The Green Zone is where we feel calm, focused, and ready to learn. This is our optimal zone for schoolwork, listing to others, and making friends.
😊
Happy
Smiling, warm, comfortable
🧘
Calm
Breathing easily, relaxed body
👀
Focused
Eyes on speaker, ready to think
🦁
Proud
Feeling great about your work
Keep the Green
👏 Celebrate your small successes!
🗣️ Share positive words with your classmates.
🎒 Keep your desk tidy so you stay organized.
🤝 Be a helping hand to a friend.
Discussion Prompt: What activities help you feel focused and in the Green Zone?
Slide 3 of 7
The Yellow Zone
Proceed with Caution
When your engine starts speeding up.
The Yellow Zone is when our energy level goes up. We are still in control, but we are feeling very big sensations inside! Time to slow down slightly.
🤪
Wiggly / Silly
Can't sit still, giggly
😤
Frustrated
Work is hard, jaw feels tight
😟
Anxious
Worried, butterflies in tummy
🤩
Overexcited
Shouting, rushing around
Yellow Zone Tools
🌬️ Try Balloon Breathing: blow up 3 big balloons!
🖐️ Do "5-Finger Starfish Stretch" slowly.
🧱 Use a squeezy fidget toy for 1 minute.
💬 Tell a teacher: "I need a helper break."
Discussion Prompt: What is the difference between feeling green and feeling yellow?
Slide 4 of 7
The Red Zone
Stop & Safety State
When your engine is overheating.
The Red Zone is when we feel extremely intense, boiling emotions. We might feel like yelling or stomping. It is our body screaming "Stop and keep me safe!"
😡
Angry / Mad
Clenched fists, red face
😱
Terrified
Panicking, wanting to run
🤯
Overwhelmed
Too much noise or pressure
💥
Out of Control
Yelling, crying, kicking
Emergency Safety Tools
🛑 Stop: Put hands on your stomach and freeze.
🖐️ Show the "Stop" signal and walk to the Calm Corner.
👃 Smell the flower, blow out the candle (x5).
🗣️ Ask for: "Quiet space right now, please."
Discussion Prompt: Remember, anger is a normal human signal. How can we express it safely?
Slide 5 of 7
Explorer Quest
Scenario Challenge
Which zone are we in? What tool should we use?
Scenario A 🧩
"You are trying to build a tall block tower, but it keeps falling down over and over again."
Discussion Questions
Which Zone is this? How does your chest feel? What tool helps?
Scenario B 🏫
"Your class is going outside for recess! Your chest is beating fast, you want to scream and run."
Discussion Questions
Is this happy-green or excited-yellow? How can we walk safely?
Scenario C ✂️
"Another student walks past and takes your scissors right out of your hand without asking."
Discussion Questions
What zone instantly flares up? What are three stop-safeguards?
Teachers: Encourage students to do a "thumbs up" or "stop hand" signal for each.
Slide 6 of 7
Final Pledge
We Are Mood Explorers
"I am the Captain of my own feelings."
Every single day, my feelings will change like the weather. I am allowed to feel blue, yellow, red, and green. I am learning the tools to safely pilot my ship!
🧑✈️
1. Spot the Feeling
🚦
2. Map the Zone
🎒
3. Grab Your Tool
Take a slow, deep breath together as a class. Exhale slowly! Slide 7 of 7
Mood Map Teacher Plan Teacher Resource • SEL Curriculum
Mood Map Explorers
Four-Zone Emotion Regulation Lesson Plan
45 Minutes
Target Grades
K - 4th Grade
Framework
Color-Coded Zones
Materials Needed
Slides, Worksheets, Markers
Learning Objectives
Identify and define the four color-coded zones of emotion regulation (Blue, Green, Yellow, Red).
Recognize specific physical cues (e.g., breathing rate, heavy eyes, clenched fists) associated with each zone.
Select and match 2-3 personalized coping strategies (calming tools) appropriate for changing emotional zones.
Essential Questions
"How do my body and brain let me know what zone I am in?"
Key Vocabulary
Zone: A colored category for feelings based on energy level and control.
Regulate: Steering our body and engine to the speed needed for the moment.
Trigger: A situation or event that pushes us from one zone into another.
Coping Tool: An action we can perform to change or calm our physical energy.
Step 1 Warm-Up: The Feeling Weather Check-In (10 Mins)
Action: Have students sit in a circle. Introduce feelings as "weather inside our body" that shifts, but always changes. Ask students: "If your feeling today was weather, is it sunny, cloudy, rainy, or a storm?"
Facilitation Tip: For younger grades (K-1), model with simple hand signals (make rain with fingers, sun with arms in a circle). Clarify that all weather is natural—rain is needed, but we look for a shelter during storms.
Mood Map Explorers Lesson Plan Page 1 of 2
Teacher Resource • SEL Curriculum
Mood Map Explorers
Four-Zone Emotion Regulation Lesson Plan
Instruction Plan
Step 2 Direct Instruction: Exploring the Zones (15 Mins)
Action: Present slides 2 through 5. Introduce each colored zone clearly:
Blue (Slow): Tummy feels soft, heavy limbs. Tools: sip water, simple stretch.
Green (Good-to-Go): Calm heartbeat, clear mind, relaxed muscles. Focus state.
Yellow (Proceed with Caution): Fast wiggle energy, butterflies. Tools: balloon breath, squeeze toys.
Red (Stop/Safety): Burning face, tight jaw, crying or shouting. Tools: deep square breaths, Calm Corner.
Step 3 Guided Practice: Scenario Exploration (10 Mins)
Mood Map Worksheet Student Activity Sheet
My Mood Map
Name
Date
🧭
Explorer Mission #1: Spot Your Physical Clues
Our bodies tell us what zone we are in before our brains even realize it! Color in each zone below and write or draw how your body feels inside that state.
My Mind
Heartbeat
Tummy
🥱
The Blue Zone (Slow State)
How do your eyes/muscles feel?
How does your head or brain feel?
😊
The Green Zone (Ready State)
How does your heartbeat feel?
How do you treat friends in this state?
😤
The Yellow Zone (Fast State)
How does your body wiggle or move?
What makes you slide into Yellow?
😡
The Red Zone (Stop State)
How does your chest or breathing feel?
Where can you safely go to cool down?
Mood Map Explorers • Workbook Page 1 of 2
Student Activity Sheet
My Calm-Down Toolkit
Name
Date
🎒
Explorer Mission #2: Pack Your Calming Tools
What tools can you pack in your emotional backpack? Fill out your coping plan for each zone below. Write or draw your go-to strategies inside the white boxes.
📘 Blue Zone Tools 🥱
My 2 Calming Actions:
Draw yourself using one tool here:
💚 Green Zone Tools 😊
How I keep the Green going:
Draw yourself using one tool here:
💛 Yellow Zone Tools 😤
My 2 Calming Actions:
Draw yourself using one tool here:
❤️ Red Zone Tools 😡
My Emergency Calm Tools:
Draw yourself using one tool here:
Mood Map Explorers • Workbook Page 2 of 2
Mood Map Poster Classroom Coping Reference
Mood Map Anchor Chart
Navigate your emotions! All feelings are welcome, and tools help us sail safely.
Blue Zone
🥱
My Engine is Running Slow
Common Feelings
Sad • Tired • Sick • Bored • Lonely
Classroom Coping Tools
💧 Take a cold water break
🙆 Do a slow, tall desk stretch
🙋 Ask for a quiet 2-min rest
Green Zone
😊
My Engine is Ready to Go
Common Feelings
Calm • Focused • Happy • Proud • Ready
Classroom Coping Tools
🤝 Help a friend or teacher
🎒 Keep your workspace tidy
🗣️ Share some kind words
Yellow Zone
😤
My Engine is Speeding Up
Common Feelings
Frustrated • Silly • Worried • Excited
Classroom Coping Tools
🌬️ Blow up 3 mental balloons
🖐️ Do a 5-finger starfish trace
🧱 Squeeze a desk fidget toy
Red Zone
😡
My Engine Needs a Stop
Common Feelings
Angry • Terrified • Overwhelmed • Mad
Classroom Coping Tools
🛑 STOP: Put hands on belly and freeze
🧘 Walk slowly to the Calm Corner
👃 Smell a flower, blow out candle (x5)
"I can steer my own feelings explorer ship!"
All emotional weather passes. We use our tools to discover, learn, and grow safely.
