Traffic Light Lesson Plan Guidance Lesson Plan
Traffic Light Choices
Topic: Decision-Making & Self-Regulation | Grade: Kindergarten
30-45 Minutes
Learning Objectives
Identify the three steps of the Stop, Think, Choose model.
Recognize the physical sensation of needing to stop and calm down (red).
Distinguish between a "helpful/safe" choice (green) and an "unhelpful/unsafe" choice (red).
Materials Needed
Stop, Think, Choose Slides (for projection)Printable Storybook: Kip's Traffic Light Day
Student sorting worksheet & scissors/glue
Red, Yellow, and Green crayons or markers
The "Stop, Think, Choose" Framework
1
STOP (Red Light)
Freeze, take a deep belly breath, and calm our bodies first.
2
THINK (Yellow)
Ask: "Is this choice safe? Is it kind? What could happen?"
3
CHOOSE (Green)
Make a helpful, green choice that keeps everyone safe and happy.
Lesson Delivery: Part 1
0-5 mins
Introduction & Red Light/Green Light Game
Play a quick, modified version of Red Light, Green Light . Have students stand up. When you hold up a Red card or say "Red Light," students freeze instantly. When you say "Green Light," they gently wiggle in place. Explain: "Our brains are like traffic lights. Sometimes, we want to go-go-go, but we need to learn how to hit our own red lights so we can make safe choices!"
5-15 mins
Read-Aloud: "Kip's Traffic Light Day"
Read the printable storybook Kip's Traffic Light Day aloud. Pause at the red, yellow, and green icons to ask guiding questions:
Page 1 Pause: "How does Kip feel when Cody takes his blocks? Where does he feel it in his body?" Page 2 Pause: "What does Kip do to STOP? Let's all take Kip's deep balloon breath together." (Model breathing in for 3, holding, and blowing out like a balloon).Page 3 Pause: "What are Kip's choices? Let's yellow-light think! Is pushing kind? Is asking nicely helpful?"
Traffic Light Choices Lesson Plan Page 1 of 2
Guidance Lesson Plan
Active Learning & Group Practice
15-23 mins
Step 3: Slide-Based Modeling
Project the Stop, Think, Choose Slides on your board. Walk through the interactive scenarios (the spilled paint and the swing line).
Use physical gestures: Hold hand up for STOP (Red), tap temple for THINK (Yellow), and give a double thumbs up for CHOOSE (Green). Have the entire classroom do the gestures together to build muscle memory.
23-30 mins
Step 4: Counselor Task Card Roleplay
Divide students into small circles of 4-5. Pull out a card from the Choice Challenger Task Cards . Read the short kindergarten scenario.
Ask students to demonstrate the three steps. Call on volunteer pairs to act out the "Green Choice" solution. Keep scenarios light and relatable (e.g., wanting the last blue marker, someone bumping into your line space).
30-40 mins
Step 5: Sorting Worksheet & Reflection
Hand out the Traffic Light Choices Worksheet . Guide students to color the light circles (Red, Yellow, Green) on their sheets. Walk around and assist as they cut out the picture choice blocks and sort them into "Green Choices" (helpful/kind) and "Red Choices" (unhelpful/unsafe).
Counselor Pro-Tips for Kindergarten
Physicalizing the "Stop" Kindergarteners struggle with abstract pausing. Always pair "STOP" with a physical action: crossing arms, freezing like a statue, or blowing "hot cocoa belly breaths." This channels physical energy away from impulsive reactions.
Reinforcing Language During the week, if a student is about to make a poor choice, point to the anchor chart poster on the wall and say: "Stop, Kip! Let's take a yellow-light moment. What choice keeps us safe?"
Differentiation & Assessment
For Struggling Learners: Provide pre-cut worksheet options. Use a 1-on-1 cue card of the traffic light to prompt choices during peer conflicts.
Formative Assessment: Observe student sorting accuracy. Prompt individually: "Show me what your face looks like on yellow-light think."
Traffic Light Choices Lesson Plan Page 2 of 2
Stop Think Choose Slides Guidance Lesson
Stop, Think, Choose!
Let's learn how to make awesome, safe, and super kind choices every single day using our inner traffic light!
Kindergarten guidance lesson
Slide 1 of 6
Sometimes, we get super hyper or mad!
The Problem
When someone takes our toy, or we feel super excited, our body gets super fast!
We want to yell, run, or push. That's a Red Light Body!
Does your body feel like this?
Fast heart, tight hands, loud voice, or wanting to cry.
😤
My Body is Moving Fast!
What should we do right now?
Let's learn how our internal traffic light helps us.
Slide 2 of 6
1 RED LIGHT: STOP!
Step One
When we feel angry or hyper, our first step is to FREEZE!
Don't speak, don't move, and don't push! Keep your hands to your side and take a Balloon Breath .
Try Kip's Balloon Breath!
1. Breathe in through your nose and blow up your belly like a big yellow balloon..."whoosh..."
🛑
STOP & BREATHE
Everyone freeze, put your hands up, and take a deep breath!
Practice together: freeze and deep balloon breath!
Slide 3 of 6
2 YELLOW LIGHT: THINK!
Step Two
💡
THINK IT OVER
Tap your head gently and think: What are my choices?
Now that our body is calm, we can use our smart brain!
Ask yourself two magic traffic-light questions:
1. Is it KIND and SAFE?
Will this choice help others and keep me out of trouble?
2. What will happen next?
If I make this choice, will my teacher or friends be happy?
Practice together: gently tap your head and whisper "think..."
Slide 4 of 6
3 GREEN LIGHT: CHOOSE!
Step Three
Now we pick our absolute best GREEN CHOICE!
Green choices make everyone feel happy, friendly, and safe. They are the helper choices!
Super Green Choices:
✔ Asking for a turn with kind words.
✔ Saying "I feel sad" instead of hitting.
✔ Taking turns and sharing our markers.
Kips Traffic Light Storybook A Read-Aloud Story
Kip's Traffic Light Day
Written for Kindergarten Guidance
🛑
Story Page 1: The Tall Block Tower
🐨
Kip the Koala was building the tallest block tower in the classroom. It was high, high, high! He was about to put the final yellow block on top when Cody the Cat ran by and grabbed it.
Kip's heart started going thump-thump-thump! His face felt hot, and his hands squeezed into tight fists. He wanted to yell, knock over Cody's tower, and stamp his feet.
Counselor Prompt: "How is Kip feeling? Where do you feel mad in your body?"
💡
Story Page 2: The Balloon Breath
💨
Kip remembered the class traffic light! He squeezed his eyes shut and held up his hand like a stop sign. "STOP, Kip!" he whispered to himself.
He took a big, deep balloon breath, pulling air in through his nose... 1, 2, 3... and blowing it out like a soft wind. He felt his hands relax and his warm face cool down. His body was ready to think.
Counselor Prompt: "Let's help Kip breathe! Everyone breathe in... and blow it out."
Kip's Traffic Light Day Page 1 of 2
🧠
Story Page 3: What can I do?
🤔
Kip tapped his temple. He had two choices in his brain:
Red Choice: Snatch the block back or push Cody. (Is that safe? No! Is that kind? No!)Green Choice: Tell Cody, "I was using that block. Can I please have a turn when you are done?" (Is that safe? Yes! Is that kind? Yes!)
Counselor Prompt: "Which choice do you think is helpful for Kip to pick?"
💚
Story Page 4: The Shared Castle
🏰
Kip chose the Green Choice! He used his polite, friendly voice: "Cody, I need that block to finish my tower. Can we build together?"
Cody smiled. "Okay! Let's build a giant block castle together!" Kip was so happy he made a green choice. It kept his friend safe and his heart feeling happy.
Counselor Prompt: "Give Kip a double thumbs-up for making a great green choice!"
Color Kip's Happy Face
Use your green crayon to draw a green heart around Kip's face!
🐨
Kip's Traffic Light Day Page 2 of 2
Traffic Light Worksheet Stop, Think, Choose!
Guidance Activity Worksheet
Name
Date
🖍
How to do it: Color the traffic light circles on the left! Then, cut out the 4 choice cards at the bottom of the page and glue them into the right boxes.
My Internal Light
RED
1. STOP
YEL
2. THINK
GRN
3. CHOOSE
Color: 1 = Red, 2 = Yellow, 3 = Green
💚
Green choices (Kind & Safe)
Glue Green cards here
🛑
Red choices (Unhelpful)
Glue Red cards here
Cut along this line
🧸
Share blocks with a friend
😡
Push someone out of line
🗣
Use nice, kind words
🤬
Scream when we are mad
Stop Think Choose Poster Our Classroom Guide
Stop, Think, Choose!
When you feel a BIG emotion, use your traffic light!
🛑
1. STOP (Red Light)
Freeze and calm your body!
Keep your hands and feet to yourself.
Take 3 slow, deep balloon breaths .
Use quiet, gentle voice levels.
💡
2. THINK (Yellow Light)
Ask yourself these magic questions:
Is it KIND? Will it help my friends?Is it SAFE? Will anyone get hurt?What are my other choices?
💚
3. CHOOSE (Green Light)
Pick the helper action!
Use kind words to solve the problem.
Share and take turns with your friends.
Ask an adult if you need help.
Be a Helpful Decision Maker! Post in the classroom or counselor center
Choice Challenger Task Cards Choice Challenger Cards
Counselor & Small-Group Roleplay Prompts
4 Cards to Cut Out
✂
Counselor Guide: Cut out these cards along the dotted lines. Use them in circle time to practice roleplaying helpful Green Light Choices with students!
🎈
Scenario 1
The Shared Swing
You run to the playground to get your favorite swing. Just as you arrive, Leo jumps on it! You feel angry and want to push him off.
Stop: Take a deep breath to freeze your body.
Think: Ask, "Is pushing kind? What can I do?"
Choose: "Leo, can I have a turn after you?"
🎨
Scenario 2
The Last Blue Marker
You need the blue marker to color your sky. Mia is using it, and she's been coloring for a long time. You feel like snatching it!
Stop: Keep hands to your side. Close eyes and count to 3.
Think: Is snatching safe? Will she be upset?
Choose: Color something else first or ask to share.
🎒
Scenario 3
The Line Bump
While standing in line for lunch, Cody accidentally bumps into you and knocks your backpack loose. You feel ready to yell.
Stop: Turn around and do a balloon belly breath.
Think: Was it an accident? Is yelling helpful?
Choose: "That's okay, Cody!" or tell the teacher.
🎲
Scenario 4
The Game Loss
You lose a board game at recess. Your face gets hot and you want to throw the game pieces or cry because you didn't win.
Stop: Stand up slowly, take a big breath, and shake your hands.
Think: Ask, "Is it okay to lose? Yes, it's just a game!"
Choose: High five! "Good game, let's play again!"
Choice Challenger Roleplay Cards Guidance Department Printout
