Feeling Zones Sort

This worksheet supports students in Grades K-2 as they build emotional awareness and self-monitoring skills by sorting feelings into two clear categories: Calm Zone and Needs Help Zone. Using familiar emotion words, students practice identifying which feelings help them think clearly and which signal the need for coping strategies, support, or help from others.

Learning Goals

• Emotional Categorization (Grades K-2) – Classify feelings based on intensity and regulation needs.
• Self-Monitoring Skills – Recognize internal emotional states and notice when support may be needed.
• Vocabulary by Meaning – Sort feeling words accurately using understanding of emotional context.
• Coping Awareness – Begin discussing healthy strategies for managing big or overwhelming emotions.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed for early elementary SEL and ELA integration.
• Simple Sorting Format – Clear columns support accessibility and independent success.
• Discussion-Friendly – Encourages classroom conversations about emotions and asking for help.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for morning meetings, counseling lessons, small groups, or homeschool learning.

This printable worksheet helps young learners build foundational emotional regulation skills by identifying which feelings feel calm and which may require support. By sorting emotion words and discussing their choices, students strengthen vocabulary, self-awareness, and proactive coping habits. Perfect for classroom and homeschool settings, this activity supports emotional literacy, healthy help-seeking, and positive self-regulation from an early age.

This worksheet is part of our self-regulation in social settings worksheets collection.