Grade 2

The Zones of Regulation is a classroom tool that helps children understand and talk about their emotions and energy levels. It teaches students that all feelings are okay, and that we can learn strategies to help ourselves feel ready to learn and be part of our classroom community.

•  Blue Zone: Our body or emotions may be low. We might feel tired, sad, sick, bored, or lonely.

• Green Zone: We feel calm, focused, happy, and ready to learn. This is often the best zone for learning, but it is not the “good” zone—all zones are okay.

• Yellow Zone: We have stronger emotions or more energy. We might feel frustrated, worried, excited, silly, or overwhelmed. We may need to pause and use a strategy.

• Red Zone: Our emotions or energy are very high. We might feel furious, panicked, or out of control. We need support and strategies to become safe and regulated.

How it supports our classroom community

We use the Zones to help children:

• Recognize and name how they are feeling.

• Understand that everyone experiences different emotions.

• Learn calming and coping strategies.

• Communicate when they need help.

• Show empathy and understanding toward classmates.

The goal is not to stay in the Green Zone all the time. The goal is to recognize our feelings, understand what our bodies need, and choose strategies that help us participate safely and successfully in our classroom community.