How's the Weather Inside and Outside?

TITLE: How’s the Weather Inside and Outside?

TOPIC: Weather/ Feelings

INTRO: This unit was created by Kelly Peck during movement exploration at the Middle Way School.

AGE: Can be adapted. This was taught to preschool-3rd grade

UNIT: Refuge (but works for Impermanence and others)

BIG IDEA: Our emotions and feelings are like the weather, ever changing and dependent on many causes and conditions. However, there is always a blue sky above the clouds. You can’t change the weather but you can use tools to protect yourself: if it’s raining you could wear a rain jacket. You can move into child’s pose for protection.

DURATION: Flexible; this can be a one-week theme or something that extends throughout the year.

TAGS: emotions, weather

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

How does observing the weather help us understand our emotions?

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

How do you feel?
What does the weather feel like inside of you?
What is the weather like outside?
How do you react if you don’t like the weather?
Do you wear protection?
Do you stay in it and know it will change soon?
Do you find shelter?
How do you react if you like the weather?
Do you enjoy it and stay in it?
Do you invite friends or family to come join you?
What are some words to describe the weather?
What are some words to describe your feelings?

AND THEN? Why is teaching this important? How is it relevant to their lives?

Self-regulation is essential, if we can help teach coping skills and strategies, these students will have more self-awareness, compassion, and improved focus. Forming a connection with themselves and their environment will help create a sense of inner security. Understanding that we all experience these feelings will build a connection to community.

Lesson Objectives:

Pre-Assessments:

What do you know about the weather?
What is your favorite season and why?
What do you do when you have a strong emotion? (sadness, anger, frustration, excitement)
How many emotions can you name?

Learning Activities

Cloud Experiment
Predict the weather for later in the day. Predict how you may feel later in the day.
During winter: Create different names for the snow/create different names for your feelings. Set up a chart in the classroom.
Set up a weather station for feelings in the classroom or home.
Create a space for movement and artwork. Gather books with cloud pictures (see book reference) and display them on the art table for inspiration. Have paper and drawing materials (crayons, colored pencils, pastels and markers) ready. Have the students come in and find a spot in the open space. Explain that you will take them on a cloud journey (Anytime Yoga). They can lay down and close their eyes if they feel comfortable. After the journey have everyone come together for a sun circle (The Kids Yoga Deck). Now play some of the songs from the playlist (suggested below) and the students can freely move. Guide the creative movement by describing clouds: floating, puffy, full, heavy, circling—and ask what happens to the clouds after a rainstorm? Show what that would look like in your body, how would that feel? Pause the music and ask the students to find a cloud shape. Keep the music playing and end this activity by drawing their experience.
Creative movement; play Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Can anyone guess what season the composer is representing? Why? How do you feel about that season? What music would you choose?