Stoplight Strategy Slides Kindergarten Superpower Guide
STOP,
THINK,
How Kindergarten Superheroes use traffic light magic to make safe choices every day!
1. Red: Freeze
•
2. Yellow: Think
•
3. Green: Safe Choice
Step 1 of 3
RED MEANS STOP!
Hit The Brakes!
STOP
Freeze Your Body!
When you feel upset, excited, or rushed: Put your feet flat on the floor.
Freeze Like a Statue
Keep hands and feet still. No pushing, no shouting.
Take One Deep Breath
Smell the flower, blow out the birthday candle!
Class Chime: When the teacher says "RED LIGHT!" everyone FREEZES and breathes!
Step 2 of 3
YELLOW MEANS THINK!
Slow Down Your Engine!
Ask Your Brain 2 Questions!
Put your finger on your chin: "Hmm..."
Question 1: "Is it Safe?"
Will this hurt my body? Will this hurt anyone else?
Question 2: "Is it Kind?"
How will my friend feel? How will our classroom feel?
Finger on Chin Practice: Whisper softly: "Slow down engine... let me think!"
Step 3 of 3
GREEN MEANS CHOOSE!
Green Light, Safe to Go!
GO!
Pick the Safe Choice!
Give two thumbs up and do the helpful, safe action.
Use Your Words
Say: "May I have a turn please?" or "I need space."
Ask a Teacher for Help
Safe heroes ask grown-ups when things feel hard.
Hero Action: Two thumbs up! Say: "I am ready to make a green choice!"
Classroom Routine
Our Stoplight Superhero Chant!
Stand tall, do the hand motions with your teacher!
RED!
FREEZE!
Feet still, hands still, take one deep breath.
YELLOW!
THINK!
Finger on chin, ask: "Is it safe and kind?"
GREEN!
CHOOSE!
Pick a safe choice and go with a smile!
Next Up: Stoplight Simon Says Practice Game!
Are you ready to play?
Stoplight Teaching Script Guide Teacher Instructional Guide
Stop, Think, Choose: 30-Minute Lesson Script
Grade: Kindergarten
Duration: 30 Minutes
Learning Objective
Students will demonstrate the 3-step process to pause impulses and choose safe behaviors.
Key Concepts
Decision stoplight, body self-control, safe choices vs. impulsive actions.
Materials Needed
Stoplight Slides, Simon Says Cards, Partner Scenarios, Red/Yellow/Green Crayons.
1
Teach Stoplight Steps (0:00 – 7:00)
Whole Group • Rug Area
Hook (1 min): "Class, pretend your body is a race car! Vroom vroom! What happens if a car never stops at a red light? Crashes! Our bodies have secret brakes inside us called the Traffic Light Superpower."
RED = STOP (2 min)
Teacher says: "Hit the brakes! Freeze your body like an ice statue. Take 1 deep belly breath." Practice 2 times.
YELLOW = THINK (2 min)
Put finger on chin: "Hmm..." Ask: Is it safe? Is it kind? Teach the whisper cue: "Slow engine down."
GREEN = CHOOSE (2 min)
Give 2 thumbs up: "Pick a safe choice and go!" E.g., asking nicely, keeping hands safe, getting help.
Call-and-Response Chant: Teacher: "Red Light!" → Students freeze: "STOP!" | Teacher: "Yellow Light!" → Students touch chin: "THINK!" | Teacher: "Green Light!" → Students thumbs up: "CHOOSE!"
2
Stoplight Simon Says Practice (7:00 – 15:00)
Kinesthetic Game • Active Movement
Instruction: Students stand with safe space around them. Teacher holds up physical color cards or gives Simon Says cues to build physical muscle memory.
Round 1
"Simon Says: March like a race car!" (Students march fast). "Simon Says: RED LIGHT!" → Instant statue freeze + deep breath. Praise students whose bodies completely stopped.
Round 2
"Simon Says: Tiptoe quietly!" → "Simon Says: YELLOW LIGHT!" → Finger to chin, eyes up, whisper: "Is it safe? Is it kind?"
Round 3
"Simon says: Show me GREEN LIGHT!" → Students do 2 thumbs up and whisper a green choice: "Say please!", "Use gentle hands!"
Teacher Tip: If a student moves on Red, don't eliminate them! Say: "Oops! Hit the emergency brake! Take a breath and freeze." This keeps it positive and skill-focused.
Stop, Think, Choose • Kindergarten SEL Lesson Page 1 of 2
Instructional Pacing (Continued)
Partner Practice, Debrief & Anchor Chart
Minutes 15:00 – 30:00
3
Scenario Quiz in Pairs (15:00 – 22:00)
Partner Activity • Table Work
Pair Setup: Students sit with their rug buddy and receive the Traffic Light Scenarios Cards.
Teacher Read-Aloud: Read each scenario aloud slowly. Have partners look at the picture together.
Turn & Talk Routine:
Stop: "What must your body freeze from doing?" (e.g. don't snatch, don't run).Think: "Is that safe? How does my friend feel?"Choose: "What is the GREEN choice?" Partners point to the Green Light together.
Circulate & Prompt: Listen for students using vocabulary words: "Freeze" , "Breath" , "Wait for my turn" , "Safe hands" .
4
Discuss Results & Reflect (22:00 – 27:00)
Whole Class Discussion
Guiding Debrief Questions:
"Why is RED the hardest light?"
Validate that when we are mad or excited, our body wants to zoom fast. Freezing takes real superhero strength!
"What happens if we forget YELLOW?"
If we skip yellow, we make accident choices. Yellow gives our smart brains time to think.
5
Anchor Chart Posting & Pledge (27:00 – 30:00)
Closure & Commitment
Gather students around the classroom Stoplight Anchor Chart. Have students place their hand on their heart and repeat the Superpower Pledge:
"When I feel my engine race, I will STOP and take a breath in place.
Differentiation Strategies
Sensory Seekers: Give a textured sensory squeeze ball to use on "RED" instead of still hands.ELL / Visual Learners: Use exaggerated physical hand gestures (palm up for stop, chin tap for think, 2 thumbs up for choose).
Formative Quick-Check
Observe during Simon Says and Partner Scenarios: Can students independently pause when prompted with "Red Light" and state at least one green choice?
Stop, Think, Choose • Kindergarten SEL Lesson Page 2 of 2
Red Yellow Green Choices Worksheet Red, Yellow, Green Choices!
Stoplight Superpower Practice Worksheet
Name:
Date:
Directions:
Look at each picture story. Color in the circle that matches the choice!
Red: Stop!
Yellow: Think
Green: Safe Go
Story 1
Using walking feet in the hallway
Color one:
R
Y
G
Story 2
Pushing a friend in line to get first
Color one:
R
Y
G
Story 3
Taking turns sharing the art crayons
Color one:
R
Y
G
Story 4
Running across the room holding scissors
Color one:
R
Y
G
Story 5
Taking a big belly breath when upset
Color one:
R
Y
G
Story 6
Snatching a toy out of a friend's hand
Color one:
R
Y
G
My Green Superpower Choice Today
Draw yourself making a safe, kind choice!
My green choice is:
Stop, Think, Choose • Kindergarten Decision Making Safe Choices Worksheet
Stoplight Simon Says Game Stoplight Simon Says!
Kinesthetic Self-Control & Movement Practice Cards
8-Minute Movement Game
Objective: Train Kindergarten bodies to instantly halt impulsive physical movement and practice the 3-step brain sequence using active motor skills.
Cue 1
RED LIGHT
Freeze & Breathe!
Feet locked like cement
Hands flat on tummy
One big belly breath
Cue 2
YELLOW LIGHT
Slow & Think!
Tiptoe in slow motion
Index finger to chin
Whisper: "Is it safe?"
Cue 3
GREEN LIGHT
Choose & Smile!
Two big thumbs up
Gentle walking feet
Say: "I choose safe!"
6 Simon Says Teacher Call-Out Rounds Teacher Prompt List
1
"Simon says: Rev your car engine and march fast!" → "Simon says: RED LIGHT!"
Students slam on brakes, plant feet flat, and inhale deeply through the nose.
2
"Simon says: Wiggle your silly fingers!" → "Simon says: YELLOW LIGHT!"
Students immediately tap chin with finger, tilt head, and whisper: "Hmm... let me think!"
3
"Simon says: Flap your bird wings!" → "RED LIGHT!" (Trick: Simon didn't say!)
Students who keep flapping or pause get coached: "Did Simon say? Good job checking your ears!"
4
"Simon says: Show me your GREEN LIGHT superpower!"
All students flash two thumbs up, smile wide, and chant together: "Choose safe, choose kind!"
5
"Simon says: Pretend you want a toy someone else has. Simon says: 1-2-3 SEQUENCE!"
Students do all 3: (1) Freeze hands, (2) finger on chin, (3) gentle hand out saying: "Can I please play?"
Kindergarten Coaching Reminder
Never eliminate players. If a body keeps moving, call a "Pit Stop" for a 5-second breath reset!
All Kids Play Whole Game
Stop, Think, Choose • Kindergarten SEL Lesson Simon Says Kinesthetic Guide
Traffic Light Scenarios Cards Traffic Light Scenario Cards
Kindergarten Partner Quiz & Talk Cards
Buddy 1:
Buddy 2:
Partner Mission: Listen to the story. Put your heads together: What is the GREEN choice?
Part 1
#1
Center Time Dilemma
The Shiny Blue Crayon
Leo really wants the bright blue crayon to color the sky. Maya is using it right now. Leo feels like grabbing it from her hand quickly!
Step 1: Freeze hands!Step 2: Think: "Will grabbing make Maya sad?"
Circle The Green Choice:
A: Grab it fast B: Ask nicely for a turn
#2
Recess Bell
The Hallway Stampede
The bell rings for recess! Everyone is excited to get to the playground swings. Oliver feels like sprinting at full speed down the tiled hallway!
Step 1: Hit body brakes!Step 2: Think: "Is running on tiles safe?"
Circle The Green Choice:
A: Run and push past B: Use calm walking feet
#3
Big Feelings
The Tumbled Block Castle
Noah spent 10 minutes building a tall castle tower. An accidental elbow knocks it down! Noah feels hot, angry tears and wants to kick the blocks.
Step 1: Freeze feet & hands!Step 2: Take 2 big belly breaths.
Circle The Green Choice:
A: Kick and yell B: Breathe & rebuild
Stop, Think, Choose • Kindergarten SEL Lesson Scenarios Page 1 of 2
Partner Mission Continued
Traffic Light Scenario Cards (Part 2)
Cards 4 – 6
#4
Cafeteria Safety
The Slippery Puddle
Emma sees milk spilled on the floor by the lunch table. Two friends are walking fast right toward the puddle. Emma feels like ignoring it.
Step 1: Stop and look!Step 2: Think: "Someone could slip and hurt their head!"
Circle The Green Choice:
A: Walk away B: Tell an adult to help
#5
Playground Tag
The Accidental Bump
During freeze tag, Lucas runs by and accidentally bumps into Mia's shoulder. Mia feels startled and wants to push Lucas back hard.
Step 1: Red light hands! Don't push.Step 2: Think: "Was it an accident?"
