Zone Strategy Superheroes Lesson Plan Zone Strategy Superheroes
LESSON PLAN
Empowering students to build their self-regulation toolkit.
Overview
Audience
2nd-5th Grade Students with ASD (minimally verbal to non-verbal with AAC)
Duration
30 Minutes
Approach
Interactive presentation, guided practice, and gamified reinforcement.
Objective
Students will identify and select at least 3 strategies for each Zone (Blue, Green, Yellow, Red) to effectively manage their emotions.
Preparation
Review the Slide Deck
Print and cut Zone Strategy Cards
Copies of My Zone Strategies Worksheet
Set up Zone Challenge Game cards
Ensure AAC devices are charged/programmed
Arrange classroom for small group work
Why it matters
Understanding and applying strategies for each Zone is vital for developing self-awareness and self-regulation. This empowers students to manage emotions and behaviors, leading to greater independence and successful participation in various environments.
Instructional Flow
3m Warm-up
Checking In
Students use AAC or point to their current Zone. Discuss one potential strategy for non-Green zones.
7m Intro
Zones & Strategies Intro
Present Slides 1-3. Review Zone feelings. Introduce "Strategy Superheroes" as tools to return to/stay in Green.
10m Activity
Strategy Selection
Guide students through each Zone using slides/cards. Students pick 3 strategies per Zone and record them on their worksheet.
7m Game
Zone Challenge Game
Students draw Zone cards and select matching Strategy cards. Reinforce connections between feelings and tools.
3m Cool-down
Strategy Pledge
Share one exciting new strategy. Review worksheet. Celebrate being a Zone Strategy Superhero!
Zone Strategy Superheroes Slides Welcome, Zone Strategy Superheroes!
How are you feeling today?
We all have different feelings.
Our feelings can change.
Zones help us understand our feelings!
Zone Superheroes Teacher: Check in with AAC or pointing.
The Zones of Regulation
Blue Zone
Sad • Tired • Sick • Bored
Green Zone
Happy • Calm • Focused
Yellow Zone
Frustrated • Worried • Silly
Red Zone
Angry • Terrified • Out of Control
Remember: No zone is a "bad" zone!
Our Strategy Superpowers!
Tools
Strategies are tools that help us.
Recharge
They help us feel calm and ready.
Choice
We can choose 3 for EACH Zone!
Blue Zone Strategies
Feeling sad, tired, or bored?
Pick 3
🌬️
Deep Breaths
🎵
Calm Music
🫂
Ask for a Hug
💧
Drink of Water
🧩
Quiet Activity
😴
Rest My Head
Green Zone Strategies
Feeling happy, calm, or focused?
Pick 3
👂
Listen to Teacher
🤫
Work Quietly
🧠
Brain Break
🤝
Help a Friend
🙆
Stretch Body
📚
Read a Book
Yellow Zone Strategies
Feeling frustrated, worried, or silly?
Pick 3
🛋️
Sensory Break
🔢
Count to Ten
🍋
Stress Ball
🗣️
Talk to Adult
🚶
Go for a Walk
🌀
Fidget Toy
Red Zone Strategies
Feeling angry or out of control?
Pick 3
🛡️
Safe Space
🆘
Ask for Help
🧱
Deep Pressure
⏲️
Visual Timer
👣
Stomp Feet
📢
Yell (In Pillow)
GAME TIME!
The Zone Challenge
1 Pick a Zone Card
2 Pick a Strategy to help you
3 Practice being a Superhero!
You are Strategy Superheroes!
Great job today!
You learned about your Zones and chose your own tools. You are ready to handle big feelings!
Which strategy will you try first?
Zone Strategy Superheroes Script Zone Strategy Script
Teacher Script
Follow this guide to facilitate the lesson smoothly.
1
Warm-Up: Checking In 3 Minutes
Teacher: "Hello everyone! Welcome to our Zones lesson today. Let's start by checking in. What Zone are you in right now? You can point to the color on the board, use your AAC device, or tell me."
Pause for student responses. Provide support for AAC users or visual cues. Acknowledge each student's Zone without judgment.
Teacher: "Great job checking in! If you're not in the Green Zone right now, can you think of one thing that might help you get to Green, or stay there?"
Allow for responses. Guide students to think about simple strategies like a deep breath or a quiet moment.
2
Introduction to Zones 7 Minutes
Teacher: (Display Slide 1) "Today, we are going to become Zone Strategy Superheroes! We all have feelings, right? Sometimes we feel happy, sometimes we feel tired, sometimes we feel super excited! Our feelings change, and that's okay. The Zones of Regulation help us understand our feelings."
Teacher: (Display Slide 2) "Let's remember our Zones. Who can remind us what the Blue Zone feels like?"
Guide students to recall feelings (sad, tired, sick). Repeat for Green, Yellow, and Red. Encourage student input via AAC.
Teacher: (Display Slide 3) "You've got it! Now, what are strategies? Strategies are like tools that superheroes use. They help us when our feelings are big or when we need to calm down or get focused. We are going to choose 3 strategies for each Zone today that you can use!"
3
Strategy Selection 10 Minutes
Teacher: (Hold up Blue Zone visual & Slide 4) "Let's start with the Blue Zone . When you're in the Blue Zone, you might feel sad, tired, or bored. What are some things that can help you feel better or more awake?"
Show physical Strategy Cards. Model picking options.
Teacher: "Look at these superhero tools! Which 3 strategies do you think would help you ? Point, use your AAC, or tell me. Let's circle them on our worksheet."
Repeat for Green, Yellow, and Red Zones. Support students in circling or using stickers/daubers to mark their choices on the My Zone Strategies Worksheet.
4
Game & Cool-Down 10 Minutes
Teacher: (Display Slide 8) "Now it's time to play the Zone Challenge Game! You will pick a Zone card, and then pick a Strategy card that helps you in that Zone. Practice makes us Superheroes!"
My Zone Strategies Worksheet My Zone Strategies
I am a Zone Strategy Superhero!
NAME:
DATE:
Blue Zone Strategies
Circle 3
🌬️
Deep Breaths
🎵
Calm Music
🫂
Ask for a Hug
💧
Drink Water
🧩
Quiet Activity
😴
Rest My Head
Green Zone Strategies
Circle 3
👂
Listen to Teacher
🤫
Work Quietly
🧠
Brain Break
🤝
Help a Friend
🙆
Stretch Body
📚
Read a Book
Yellow Zone Strategies
Circle 3
🛋️
Sensory Break
🔢
Count to Ten
🍋
Stress Ball
🗣️
Talk to Adult
🚶
Go for a Walk
🌀
Fidget Toy
Red Zone Strategies
Circle 3
🛡️
Safe Space
🆘
Ask for Help
🧱
Deep Pressure
⏲️
Visual Timer
👣
Stomp Feet
📢
Yell in Pillow
My Favorite Today
One strategy I want to try is...
Draw your favorite strategy here!
Zone Strategy Cards Zone Strategy Cards
Print, Cut, and Laminate!
Blue Zone
🌬️
Deep Breaths
🎵
Listen to Music
🫂
Ask for a Hug
💧
Drink Water
🧩
Quiet Activity
😴
Rest My Head
Green Zone
👂
Listen to Teacher
🤫
Work Quietly
🧠
Brain Break
🤝
Help a Friend
🙆
Stretch Body
📚
Read a Book
Yellow Zone
🛋️
Sensory Break
🔢
Count to Ten
🍋
Stress Ball
🗣️
Talk to Adult
🚶
Go for a Walk
🌀
Fidget Toy
Red Zone
🛡️
Safe Space
🆘
Ask for Help
🧱
Deep Pressure
⏲️
Visual Timer
👣
Stomp Feet
📢
Yell in Pillow
Zone Challenge Game The Zone Challenge Game
A Matching Game for Strategy Superheroes
How to Play
1 Prep: Print, cut, and laminate the Zone Cards and Strategy Cards.
2 Set Up: Put Zone Cards in one pile (face down) and Strategy Cards in another.
3 Draw: Pick a Zone Card first. Talk about how that Zone feels.
4 Match: Find a Strategy Card that helps you in that Zone.
Teacher Goals
Reinforce the connection between feelings and tools.
Practice turn-taking and social sharing in a small group.
Encourage AAC users to navigate to emotion/action categories.
Zone Cards are on the next page!
🌧️
Blue Zone
Sad • Tired • Bored
😊
Green Zone
Happy • Calm • Ready
😬
Yellow Zone
Wiggly • Worried • Silly
😡
Red Zone
Angry • Out of Control
💤
Blue Zone
🔥
Red Zone
Game Strategy Cards
EXTRA CARDS FOR MATCHING
🌬️
Deep Breaths
🎵
Calm Music
🚶
Go for Walk
🍋
Stress Ball
🛡️
Safe Space
👂
Listen to Teacher
🧩
Quiet Activity
👣
Stomp Feet
🌀
Fidget Toy
🆘
Ask for Help
🫂
Ask for Hug
🧠
Brain Break