Zones of Regulation
Someone is smiling, sitting calmly, and focused on their work.
HOW MANY ZONES AND WHICH ONES?
ONE ZONE
GREEN ZONE
A student is happy and comfortable with their team.
WHAT MIGHT THEIR BODY LANGUAGE LOOK LIKE?
Clues:
You just won a game after trying really hard.
Excited / Happy / Proud
Someone looks nervous before presenting.
A leader would reassure them and offer support like “You’ve got this.”
A child is excited but slightly overwhelmed in a busy room.
HOW MANY ZONES AND WHICH ONES?
TWO!
YELLOW ZONE and GREEN ZONE
A student is slightly frustrated but still in control.
WHAT MIGHT THEIR BODY LANGUAGE LOOK LIKE?
Clues:
You are waiting your turn and it is taking a long time.
Impatient / Restless / Annoyed
A teammate is frustrated during group work.
A leader would stay calm, listen to their concern, and help solve the problem together.
Someone is crying after losing a game and refuses to talk to anyone.
HOW MANY ZONES AND WHICH ONES?
EITHER OR
RED ZONE AND / OR BLUE ZONE
Someone is very excited and struggling to contain it.
WHAT MIGHT THEIR BODY LANGUAGE LOOK LIKE?
Clues:
You laugh after messing up, but you feel your face getting hot.
Embarrassed / Nervous / Self-conscious
Your group cannot agree on what to do.
A leader would help organize ideas, listen to everyone, and help the group compromise.
Someone says ‘I don’t care’ after being left out, but keeps looking at the group.
HOW MANY ZONES AND WHICH ONES?
TWO ZONES
YELLOW ZONE
BLUE ZONE
A student feels embarrassed after something happens in front of others.
WHAT MIGHT THEIR BODY LANGUAGE LOOK LIKE?
Clues:
You want to help, but you are afraid of making things worse.
Hesitant / Anxious / Unsure
Two teammates are arguing and one feels blamed unfairly.
A leader would stay neutral, let both sides speak calmly, and help them understand each other’s perspective.
A student suddenly shuts down during group work after being ignored. The group is still working, but they are no longer participating. What zone shift might be happening?
HOW MANY ZONES AND WHICH ONES? DESCRIBE THE SHIFT
TWO ZONES
GREEN ZONE TO BLUE ZONE PROGRESSION
A teammate looks angry but also hurt after feedback.
WHAT MIGHT THEIR BODY LANGUAGE LOOK LIKE?
Clues:
You are trying to stay calm while two people are arguing, but you feel responsible to fix it.
Stressed / Pressured / Overwhelmed
A student feels excluded but denies it when asked.
A leader would not force them to talk. They would continue including them and check in privately later.