Feeling Forecast Kit
Bulletin Board Kit: Page 1
Print on heavy cardstock for best results
CUT ALONG DASHED LINE
Our Inner WEATHER FORECAST
"Feelings, like the weather, are natural, temporary, and subject to change!"
TEACHER ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
- Step 1: Cut out the main Weather Forecast centerpiece above and place it in the middle of your board.
- Step 2: Print and cut the borders on Page 2 to line the edge of your board.
- Step 3: Mount the four Weather Metaphor Cards (Pages 3-4) around your board.
- Step 4: Assemble the "How is your weather today?" dial (Page 5) at student eye level.
- Step 5: Have students fill out, cut, and staple their own "Reflection Clouds" (Page 5) to the board.
Decorative Board Borders: Page 2
Print multiple copies as needed
Cut along the outer dashed lines. Chain them end-to-end to wrap perfectly around your bulletin board!
STRIP A: SUNNY SKIES
STRIP B: RAINBOW DRIZZLE
🌈
🌈
🌈
🌈
STRIP C: GENTLE BREEZE
🍃
🍃
🍃
🍃
STRIP D: CALMING NIGHTS
FILLER ACCENTS (CUT OUT SEPARATELY)
Sunny
Rainy
Stormy
Windy
Emotion Metaphor Cards: Page 3
Visual displays for board display
CUT OUT SUNNY METAPHOR CARD
SUNNY DAYS
Feels Like: Joy, Pride, Happiness & Playfulness
Sunny days bring warmth, brightness, and high energy. Just like a sunny morning makes us want to go out and play, feeling happy and excited gives us the power to learn and create. Remember, sun is amazing, but we don't need to force sunny weather every single day!
How to Ride a Sunny Wave:
💖
Spread Warmth
Pass on a compliment to a classmate
📝
Gratitude Journal
Remember what made today so sweet
💫
Soak It In
Pause and enjoy the good feeling fully
CUT OUT RAINY METAPHOR CARD
RAINY DAYS
Feels Like: Sadness, Loneliness, Grief & Disappointment
Rainy feelings make us feel quiet, sleepy, or heavy. In nature, rain is incredibly important because it washes things clean and feeds the soil. In the same way, feeling sad helps us rest, process changes, and let go of hurts. It is normal and very okay to let the rain fall sometimes.
Nurturing Yourself Through Rain:
☔
Ask for Shelter
Talk to a friend, teacher, or counselor
🔋
Quiet Rest
Read a book, draw, or listen to soft music
💧
Let It Flow
Crying is a healthy way to release pressure
Emotion Metaphor Cards: Page 4
Visual displays for board display
CUT OUT STORMY METAPHOR CARD
STORMY DAYS
Feels Like: Anger, Frustration, Jealousy & Urgency
Stormy feelings feel loud, hot, and electric inside our chest or tummy. Nature's thunderstorms have thunder, wind, and lightning, which can be scary, but they release built-up heat in the atmosphere. Knowing how to express anger safely helps our personal thunderstorm roll away without hurting anyone.
Safe Storm Control Techniques:
🌬️
Wind Down Breaths
Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale slowly
🧱
Cooling Zone
Take a 5-minute quiet space break
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Draw the Storm
Scribble or draw your frustration on paper
CUT OUT WINDY METAPHOR CARD
WINDY DAYS
Feels Like: Worry, Anxiety, Jitters & Overwhelm
Windy thoughts blow through our minds at super-high speeds, spinning around and around. We might feel restless, dizzy, or like we can't focus. Just as a heavy anchor keeps a boat safe and steady during a gale, finding grounding skills can stop the windy feelings from carrying us away.
Dropping Your Inner Anchor:
🪵
5-4-3-2-1 Ground
Name 5 things you can see around you
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Focus Control
Think of one tiny task you can do right now
💬
Safe Self-Talk
Say out loud: 'I am safe and supported here'
Interactive elements: Page 5
Print several for student activity
CUT AND PIN THE DIAL
Daily Weather Dial
Attach pointer arrow to center with a brass brad pin!
SUNNY
RAINY
STORMY
WINDY
Cut & Attach Pointer:
POINTER
STUDENT CLOUTOUT 1
MY CURRENT EMOTION
Name: _____________________
Today, my inner weather is...
To take care of myself today, I will...
STUDENT CLOUTOUT 2
MY CURRENT EMOTION
Name: _____________________
Today, my inner weather is...
To take care of myself today, I will...
⚡
REMEMBER!
No matter how stormy or dark the weather gets, it always changes. The sun always returns!
Weathering Emotions Teacher Guide
Lesson Plan & Facilitation Guide
Weathering Our Feelings
GRADE LEVEL
3rd - 5th Grade
LESSON DESCRIPTION
This school counseling lesson uses the metaphor of weather to normalize the wide range of emotions elementary students experience. By understanding that feelings, like weather, are natural, temporary, and subject to change, students build emotional resilience, self-regulation, and positive coping skills.
PACING
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Intro: 5 mins
Concept: 10 mins
Activity: 10 mins
Closing: 5 mins
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Identify feelings using meteorological metaphors (Sunny, Rainy, Stormy, Windy).
- Articulate that all emotions are natural and temporary.
- Apply at least one self-selected coping skill to regulate heavy or high-energy emotional states.
ASCA MINDSETS & BEHAVIORS
- M 1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy use of coping skills.
- B-SMS 2. Demonstrate self-discipline and self-control over emotional impulses.
- B-SMS 7. Demonstrate coping skills when faced with problematic situations.
PREPARATION CHECKLIST
Print the Feeling Forecast Kit (centerpiece, borders, and metaphor cards).
Assemble the background and borders on your physical bulletin board beforehand.
Photocopy the Student Reflection Clouds (Page 5 of the kit) for each student.
Prepare scissors, crayons, and a brass brad pin for the interactive Forecast Dial.
Weathering Our Feelings — School Counseling Resource Page 1 of 3
Step-by-Step Lesson Script
Core Lesson Script & Metaphors
SESSION SEGMENT
Part 1: The Hook (5 Minutes)
Say: "Have you ever walked out the door expecting a bright, warm day, only for it to suddenly cloud over and start pouring rain? Nature's weather can be unpredictable. But guess what? We have another kind of weather going on right now... inside our own minds and hearts!"
Ask: "If you had to pick one weather word to describe your morning so far, would you say you feel sunny, breezy, cloudy, stormy, or something else?" (Allow 3-4 students to share their answers briefly.)
Part 2: The Weather Metaphors (10 Minutes)
Weather Emotions Slides
Counseling Connections
3rd-5th Grade Social-Emotional Learning
THE FEELING
FORECAST
Understanding our emotions through nature's weather!
Let's discover our inner climate...
Slide 1 of 6
Two Kinds of Weather
Emotional Meteorology
🌍
Outer Weather
Happens outside in the atmosphere. Includes rain, sunshine, blizzards, wind, and lightning storms.
It always changes!
💖
Inner Weather
Happens inside your mind, body, and heart. Includes happiness, anger, calm, worry, and sadness.
All feelings are natural!
Just like you can't stop a cloud, we don't have to stop our feelings!
Slide 2 of 6
Sunny vs. Rainy Days
Metaphors Part 1
Sunny Days
Joy • Pride • Excitement
High energy and lots of light. Sunny days feel amazing! We can share our sunshine by being kind to classmates who might be experiencing different weather.
Coping Strategy:
Soak up the moment and practice daily gratitude!
Rainy Days
Sadness • Disappointment
Low energy and quiet moments. Rain is healthy—it feeds the earth and washes things clean. It's okay to let the rain fall and rest when you feel heavy.
Coping Strategy:
Talk to a safe helper, read a favorite book, or rest.
Both sunshine and rain are beautiful and necessary.
Slide 3 of 6
Stormy vs. Windy Days
Metaphors Part 2
Stormy Days
Anger • Jealousy • Frustration
Loud, explosive, hot energy inside. Storms let off massive built-up pressure. We must manage our storms safely so we do not damage other trees or houses.
Coping Strategy:
Take 5 deep star breaths or take a cool-down break.
Windy Days
Worry • Anxiety • Racing thoughts
Spinning, swirling, unstable energy. Windy thoughts make it hard to focus. We can drop an "inner anchor" to keep ourselves steady and safe during strong gales.
Coping Strategy:
Use the 5-4-3-2-1 sensory grounding exercise.
You are not the weather... you are the sky that supports the weather!
Slide 4 of 6
Weather Always Changes
Resilience Concept
"No matter how dark or stormy the clouds get, the sun always returns."
