Lesson Plan

Color Psychology Basics

Students will identify connections between colors and emotions, then apply this insight by selecting and using calming hues to shift from anxious or upset feelings to a calm, centered state through guided coloring.

Understanding color-emotion links equips students with a tangible, creative self-regulation tool. This lesson fosters emotional awareness and provides a grounding strategy they can use independently.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Connect and Introduce

5 minutes

Step 2

Explore Mood-Color Links

5 minutes

Step 3

Guided Coloring Practice

10 minutes

Step 4

Free-Flow Color Grounding

7 minutes

Step 5

Reflection and Closure

3 minutes

Slide Deck

Mood-to-Color Chart

Welcome! Introduce the purpose of this chart. Explain that colors can help us understand and share our feelings. Encourage the student to think of times they felt these emotions.

Why Colors & Emotions?

Discuss each point. Ask the student if they can think of a time yellow made them feel happy or calm.

Mood-to-Color Chart

Point to each swatch and name the mood. Invite the student to repeat back a pair to check understanding.

Examples in Action

Share examples of selecting calming colors when upset. Encourage student to visualize coloring in those hues.

Your Turn!

Ask the student to choose a color from the chart. Check for understanding by asking why they chose that color.

Lesson Plan

Color Psychology Basics

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

Step 1

Connect and Introduce

Step 2

Explore Mood-Color Links

Step 3

Guided Coloring Practice

Step 4

Free-Flow Color Grounding

Step 5

Reflection and Closure

Slide Deck

Mood-to-Color Chart

Why Colors & Emotions?

Mood-to-Color Chart

Examples in Action

Your Turn!

Worksheet

Activity

Script

Color Calm?

Gwen McIlhargy