Zone Sorting Cards Zone Sorting Cards
Green and Red Worlds
LEVEL: PRE-K
Instructions
Cut out these cards. Have students sort them into a GREEN basket (Ready to Learn) and a RED basket (Unsafe/Not Ready).
Happy Face
Mean Words
Listening
Pushing
Gentle Hands
Screaming
Ready Body
Kicking Green and Red Slides Green & Red
Worlds
Feeling Zone Detectives: Lesson 1
The Green Zone
My body is CALM.
Happy
Listening
Playing
Safe
The Red Zone
Mad
Hitting
Screaming
Unsafe
My body is
Detective Game!
Let's sort our cards.
Green Bin
Red Bin Zone Navigator Guide 1 Teacher Navigator
Lesson 1: Green & Red Worlds
Duration 20-25 MIN
Learning Objective
Students will distinguish between "Green" (Calm/Ready) and "Red" (Unsafe/Not Ready) behaviors by sorting visual scenario cards.
Supplies Needed
Green & Red Slides
Zone Sorting Cards
Two Baskets (Green/Red)
The Scripted Path
1
The Big Intro (5 min)
"Detectives, today we have a mission! We are going to explore two different worlds. One is cool and calm like a forest—that's the Green World. The other is hot and out of control like a volcano—that's the Red World."
Use Slides 1-3 to show the visual differences between the zones. Emphasize "Ready to Learn" vs "Need Help to Stop".
2
The Sorting Mission (10 min)
Gather students in a circle. Hold up the Zone Sorting Cards one by one.
Ask These Questions:
"Look at this face. Is it calm or is it a volcano?"
"Are their hands being gentle or unsafe?"
"Which basket does this card belong in?"
3
The Wrap Up (5 min)
"You are amazing detectives! You found all the green and red behaviors. Remember: when we are in the Green World, we are ready to play and learn!"
Coach's Tip
Avoid using "good" or "bad" for these zones. Frame it as "Safe/Ready" and "Unsafe/Need Help." This builds awareness without shame.
The Warning Light Slides The Warning
Light
Feeling Zone Detectives: Lesson 2
What is Yellow?
It's a WARNING!
Yellow tells the car:
How do I feel in Yellow?
Wiggly
Confused
Silly
"I am not mad yet... but my body is changing!"
The Big Secret
If we catch the Yellow Zone,
Yellow Zone Anchor Chart Yellow Zone
"The Warning Zone"
I feel...
Wiggly
Annoyed
Too Silly
Stop & Think!
When I am in Yellow, I need to take a Deep Breath so I don't move to Red.
Zone Navigator Guide 2 Teacher Navigator
Lesson 2: The Warning Light
Duration 20 MIN
Learning Objective
Students will define the "Yellow Zone" as a warning area where bodies feel wiggly or frustrated, identifying it as a time to slow down.
Supplies Needed
Yellow Light Slides
Anchor Chart Poster
Yellow Tape or Marker
The Scripted Path
1
The Traffic Light Mystery (5 min)
"Detectives, yesterday we saw the Green World and the Red World. But did you know there is a secret world in the middle? It's the Yellow Zone. Think about a traffic light... what does the yellow light mean?"
Use Slides 1-2 to connect the traffic light to feelings. Slow down the car = slow down the body.
2
The Wiggle Check (10 min)
"When we are in Yellow, our bodies start to change. Let's practice being in the Yellow Zone. Everybody wiggle your fingers! Now wiggle your toes! This is what Yellow feels like—wiggly and not quite calm."
Discussion Prompts:
"Have you ever felt so silly you couldn't sit still? That's Yellow!"
"Have you ever felt a little grumbly but didn't scream? That's Yellow too!"
3
The Catch (5 min)
"Our goal is to CATCH the Yellow! If we notice we are wiggly, we can take a big breath and go back to Green before we ever hit Red. Red is unsafe, but Yellow is just a warning!"
Observation Focus
Watch for students who struggle with the "too silly" state. This is often the hardest part of the Yellow Zone for Pre-K to recognize as escalation.
Warning Sign Cards Warning Sign Cards
Spotting the Yellow Zone
LESSON 3
Use these cards to practice "spotting the signs." Each card shows a behavior that means a student is starting to move from Green to Yellow.
Whining
Crossed Arms
Silly Noises
Not Listening
Mean Face
Stomping Feet
Ignoring
Grumbling Spot the Yellow Worksheet Spot the Yellow!
Circle the pictures that show a WARNING face.
Name:
Date:
Detectives! Look at these friends. Some are Cool Green. Some are Warning Yellow. Can you find all the Yellow faces?
Detectives found all the Yellow faces!
Zone Navigator Guide 3 Teacher Navigator
Lesson 3: Spotting the Signs
Duration 25 MIN
Learning Objective
Students will recognize specific bodily and verbal signs of escalation (e.g., whining, stomping, silly noises) as "Yellow Zone" signals.
Supplies Needed
Warning Sign Cards
Spot the Yellow Worksheet
Crayons
The Scripted Path
1
The Secret Signals (5 min)
"Detectives, when we move into the Yellow Zone, our bodies send out secret signals. It's like a code! Today, we are going to learn how to break the code and find the warning signs."
2
Card Investigation (10 min)
Show the Warning Sign Cards . For each card, model the behavior dramatically and ask students to identify why it's a warning.
Example Scenarios:
Whining: "Am I yelling? No. Am I talking nicely? No. I'm in the middle—I'm whining! That's a Yellow signal!"Crossed Arms: "Look at my body. Am I ready to play? No. My body is tight. That's a warning!"
3
Independent Detective Work (10 min)
Give each student the Spot the Yellow Worksheet . Walk around and help them identify the "Warning" symbols vs the "Calm" ones.
Success Criteria
Students should be able to point to at least two different Yellow signs on the worksheet. If they struggle, focus on the "Too Silly" vs "Happy" distinction.
Feeling Meter Template Feeling Meter Template
Building My Warning Tool
Craft Activity
Assembly Guide
Cut out the meter strip below.
Color the zones: Top = RED, Middle = YELLOW, Bottom = GREEN.
Attach a clothespin (clip) to show where you are!
Red
Yellow
Green
?
"Where is your body right now?"
!
"I'm in the Yellow Zone. I need a breath."
Zone Navigator Guide 4 Teacher Navigator
Lesson 4: My Feeling Meter
Duration 30 MIN
Learning Objective
Students will construct a personal visual tool (Feeling Meter) and use it to self-assess their current emotional zone during practice scenarios.
Supplies Needed
Feeling Meter Template
Clothespins / Clips
Crayons & Scissors
The Scripted Path
1
The Tool of Power (5 min)
"Detectives, every investigator needs a special tool. Today, we are building our own Feeling Meters! This tool helps you tell people exactly what world you are in without even using words."
2
Construction Time (15 min)
Hand out the Feeling Meter Template . Guide students through coloring: Bottom = Green (Calm), Middle = Yellow (Warning), Top = Red (Out of Control). Assist with cutting if needed.
3
The Meter Practice (10 min)
Read simple scenarios. Have students move their clips to the correct zone.
"You just got a brand new sticker!" (Green)
"Someone is taking a very long turn with the toy you want." (Yellow)
"The teacher says it's time to clean up and you're not done." (Yellow)
"You tripped and fell and your knee hurts a lot." (Red/Yellow depending on intensity)
Teacher Tip
Encourage students to keep these at their desks or in their cubbies. Refer to them throughout the day: "Hey, check your meter! You're looking a little Yellow. What do we need to do?"
Catch the Yellow Slides Catch the
Yellow!
The Ultimate Detective Challenge
Your Mission
Watch the teacher.
Eyes on the target!
Listen for the code!
Catch it fast!
If you wait too long...
Green
Yellow
Red
Catching the Yellow
🎉
⭐
🕵️
✨
Mission
Complete!
You are Official Zone Detectives!
Zone Navigator Guide 5 Teacher Navigator
Lesson 5: Catch the Yellow
Duration 20 MIN
Learning Objective
Students will demonstrate mastery by identifying the transition from Green to Yellow in real-time through teacher-led role-play.
Supplies Needed
Catch the Yellow Slides
Feeling Meters (from L4)
Detective Certificates
The Scripted Path
1
The Ultimate Challenge (5 min)
"Detectives, you have learned everything. You know Green, you know Red, and you know the Warning Yellow. Today is your final test. I am going to act out a story. Your job is to catch me the SECOND I go into Yellow!"
2
The Graduation Role-Play (10 min)
Perform these graduations. Students should raise their hands as soon as you transition.
Scenario A: You are building blocks happily (Green). Suddenly, you can't find the block you want. You start sighing and huffing, and your face gets tight (Yellow).
Scenario B: You are drawing a picture (Green). You make a mistake and start crumpling the paper slightly and making grumbly noises (Yellow).
Challenge: Stay in Green for a long time, then move into "Too Silly" Yellow. See if they catch it!
3
The Ceremony (5 min)
"You caught every single one! You are officially Zone Detectives. Now, your job is to use your Feeling Meters every day to stay safe and calm."
Distribute certificates and celebrate!
Teacher's Role Post-Lesson
The learning doesn't end here. Narrate your own zones to the class: "I'm feeling a little frustrated that the glue is stuck. I'm in the Yellow Zone. I'm going to take a breath."
Detective Graduation Certificate Official Certification
Zone Detective
Mission Accomplished
This certifies that
Master Detective Name
Has successfully learned to Spot the Signs and use their Feeling Meter to stay safe, calm, and ready to learn.
Teacher Signature
DETECTIVE
Date of Mission
