Lesson Plan

Emotion Spectrum Blueprint

Students will identify and label a range of emotions using a visual spectrum and articulate their feelings through discussion and journaling.

This lesson builds self-awareness and emotional vocabulary, empowering students to recognize their own feelings and communicate empathy with peers.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Emoji Check-In

5 minutes

Step 2

Introduce Emotion Spectrum

10 minutes

Step 3

Color-Your-Emotion Canvas

15 minutes

Step 4

Pair Share

5 minutes

Step 5

Emotion Reflection Journal

10 minutes

Slide Deck

Feelings Unlocked

Welcome everyone! Today we’re unlocking our feelings using a colorful spectrum. Introduce yourself and let students know we’ll explore how emotions can range in intensity and color.

What Is an Emotion Spectrum?

Explain that an emotion spectrum places feelings along a line from mild to intense. Highlight that every emotion has a place, and it’s okay to feel any of them.

Emotion Spectrum Graphic

Display the actual spectrum graphic here—use color gradients from light (calm) to dark (intensely emotional). Point out a few emotions on the continuum.

Common Emotions & Definitions

Read each emotion and its definition aloud. Invite students to give their own examples of times they felt each emotion.

Reflect on Emotion Intensity

Discuss how the same emotion can be mild or strong. Use 'nervous' vs. 'terrified' as an example. Ask students to name mild vs. intense versions of an emotion.

Guided Questions

Show these questions on screen and pause after each to let students share quick answers. Keep responses brief to stay on time.

Modeling an Emotion

Model by drawing or coloring on a projected spectrum: choose “happy” and talk through why you picked that shade. Emphasize thinking out loud.

Next Up: Color-Your-Emotion Canvas

Transition students to the hands-on activity. Remind them to refer back to the spectrum as they work on their own canvases.