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A New Toolkit for Your Mind

Lesson Plan

A New Toolkit For Your Mind

Students will be able to define Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and identify its six core processes.

This lesson introduces students to practical psychological tools to handle difficult thoughts and feelings, fostering resilience and mental well-being in their daily lives.

Audience

9th-11th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, guided reflection, and group discussion.

Materials

Intro to ACT Slide Deck, Personal Goals Journal, and Think-Pair-Share Prompts

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Intro to ACT Slide Deck and associated notes.
    - Print copies of the Personal Goals Journal for each student.
    - Prepare the classroom for group discussion using the Think-Pair-Share Prompts.
    - Familiarize yourself with the six core processes of ACT to answer potential student questions.
    - Ensure projector and computer are working for the slide deck presentation.

Step 1

Connect & Reflect: Your Inner Compass (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Begin with a quick check-in: "Think about a time you felt stuck or overwhelmed. What did that feel like?" (No need to share aloud).
    - Introduce the idea that sometimes our minds can feel like a tangled map, and today we'll learn about a new 'toolkit' to navigate it.
    - Use Slide 1 and 2 from the Intro to ACT Slide Deck.

Step 2

Introduce New Concept: ACT - Your Mind's New Toolkit (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Present the core idea of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a way to build 'psychological flexibility'.
    - Explain that ACT isn't about getting rid of difficult feelings, but learning to live a rich and meaningful life with them.
    - Introduce the six core processes of ACT using the Intro to ACT Slide Deck (Slides 3-9). Briefly explain each process with a simple example.
    - Mindfulness: Being present.
    - Acceptance: Making room for difficult feelings.
    - Cognitive Defusion: Noticing thoughts without getting tangled.
    - Self-as-Context: Observing your thoughts and feelings.
    - Values: What truly matters to you.
    - Committed Action: Doing what matters, even when it's hard.
    - Emphasize that these processes work together.

Step 3

Guided Practice: Exploring Your Values (8 minutes)

8 minutes

  • Distribute the Personal Goals Journal.
    - Instruct students to complete the first section, focusing on identifying one or two core values that are important to them.
    - Guide them through the prompts, encouraging honest reflection.
    - Circulate the room to provide support and answer questions.
    - Use Slide 10 from the Intro to ACT Slide Deck as a visual aid.

Step 4

Group Discussion: Think-Pair-Share on Values & Action (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Facilitate a Think-Pair-Share activity using the Think-Pair-Share Prompts.
    - Pair students up and give them 2 minutes to discuss their chosen value and how they might take a small, committed action towards it.
    - Bring the class back together for a brief whole-group share-out (2-3 students).
    - Use Slide 11 from the Intro to ACT Slide Deck.

Step 5

Closing Summary: Reflecting on the Toolkit (2 minutes)

2 minutes

  • Briefly recap the main idea of ACT: building psychological flexibility to live a life aligned with values.
    - Remind students that this is a toolkit they can practice using.
    - Encourage them to continue reflecting on their values and committed actions using their Personal Goals Journal.
    - Use Slide 12 from the Intro to ACT Slide Deck.
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Slide Deck

A New Toolkit for Your Mind

Navigating your inner world with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Welcome students and introduce the idea of exploring how our minds work. Start with a brief, silent reflection prompt to get them thinking.

Your Inner Compass

Ever felt stuck or overwhelmed by your thoughts and feelings?
Our minds can sometimes feel like a tangled map. Today, we'll explore a new way to navigate.

Ask students to briefly reflect on a time they felt stuck or overwhelmed, without needing to share aloud. This helps connect to the 'Connect & Reflect' activity in the lesson plan.

What is ACT?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a unique approach to well-being.
It's not about 'fixing' yourself, but building psychological flexibility.

Psychological Flexibility: The ability to be present, open up, and do what matters to you.

Introduce ACT as a practical approach. Emphasize that it's about living a rich life, not getting rid of feelings. Introduce the concept of psychological flexibility.

ACT's Six Core Processes

Think of these as six interconnected skills in your new toolkit:

  1. Mindfulness
  2. Acceptance
  3. Cognitive Defusion
  4. Self-as-Context
  5. Values
  6. Committed Action

Present the overview of the six core processes. Explain that these are interconnected skills, not separate steps.

1. Mindfulness: Be Here Now

Mindfulness means being fully aware of the present moment.

  • Noticing your thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
  • Without judgment.
  • Living in the 'now'.

Explain mindfulness in simple terms – paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Give a quick, simple example if time allows (e.g., noticing your breath for 10 seconds).

2. Acceptance: Make Room

Acceptance is about making space for difficult thoughts and feelings.

  • Allowing them to be there, rather than fighting them.
  • It's not about liking them, but acknowledging their presence.

Clarify that acceptance isn't resignation or liking difficult feelings. It's about making space for them rather than fighting them, which often makes them stronger.

3. Cognitive Defusion: Unhook From Thoughts

Cognitive Defusion means stepping back from your thoughts.

  • Seeing thoughts as just words, not absolute truths.
  • Noticing them without getting tangled up or controlled by them.

Explain cognitive defusion as unhooking from thoughts. Use the example of thoughts being like leaves on a stream or words on a screen – you can observe them without letting them control you.

4. Self-as-Context: Your Observing Self

Self-as-Context refers to the part of you that observes your thoughts and feelings.

  • It's the 'you' that is constant, even when your inner experiences change.
  • Like the sky, which watches the clouds pass by.

Describe 'Self-as-Context' as the observing self, distinct from thoughts and feelings. It's like the sky watching the weather.

5. Values: What Matters to You?

Values are your heart's deepest desires for how you want to live and what you want to stand for.

  • They are chosen life directions, like a compass bearing.
  • Not something you achieve, but something you continually do.

Emphasize that values are chosen life directions, not feelings or goals. They are what truly matter deep down.

6. Committed Action: Walk Your Talk

Committed Action means taking effective action guided by your values.

  • Even when difficult thoughts or feelings show up.
  • It's about building a life that truly matters to you.

Explain committed action as taking steps, big or small, aligned with values, even when it's uncomfortable. Connect it to the guided practice.

Guided Practice: Exploring Your Values

What truly matters to you?

Let's take some time to reflect on your core values.

Transition to the individual reflection activity. Remind students that identifying values is a key part of ACT.

Your ACT Toolkit

You now have a new toolkit for your mind!

By practicing Mindfulness, Acceptance, Defusion, Self-as-Context, connecting with your Values, and taking Committed Action, you can build a life that truly matters to you.
Keep exploring your inner compass!

Conclude by reiterating the goal of ACT: building a flexible mind to live a meaningful life. Encourage continued practice.

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Journal

Personal Goals Journal: My Inner Compass

Part 1: Exploring What Truly Matters (Values)

Values are like your heart's deepest desires for how you want to live and what you want to stand for. They are not goals you achieve and then stop, but ongoing directions you choose to move in throughout your life.

Reflection Questions:

  1. If you could live your life exactly as you wanted, what qualities would you want to embody? (e.g., kind, curious, brave, helpful, creative, authentic)





















  2. Think about the areas of your life that are most important to you (e.g., family, friends, school, hobbies, personal growth). In one of these areas, what do you truly want to stand for?





















  3. Imagine you are 80 years old, looking back on your life. What would you want to be remembered for? What kind of person would you hope to have been?





















  4. Based on your reflections, identify 1-2 core values that resonate most with you right now. Write them down.






    My Core Values:


Part 2: Taking Small Steps (Committed Action)

Committed actions are the steps you take, big or small, that are guided by your values. They are about 'walking your talk,' even when it feels challenging.

Action Planning:

  1. Choose one of your core values from above. How can you take a small, concrete step today or this week that aligns with that value?
    (For example, if your value is
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Discussion

Think-Pair-Share: My Values, My Actions

Instructions:

  1. THINK (1 minute): Individually, review the core value(s) you identified in your Personal Goals Journal.

    • Consider why this value is important to you.
    • Think about the small committed action you identified, or brainstorm a new one.

  2. PAIR (2 minutes): Turn to a partner and share your reflections.

    • Prompt 1:
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