Lesson Plan
Action for Joy Lesson Plan
Students will learn how engaging in positive activities can improve mood and will create a personalized action plan to boost well-being.
This lesson gives students a practical strategy—behavioral activation—to manage emotions, build self-awareness, and foster resilience by planning and tracking enjoyable activities.
Audience
8th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and hands-on planning
Materials
Behavioral Activation Worksheet, Mood Tracker Template, Action for Joy Slides, and Chart paper and markers
Prep
Prepare Materials and Environment
10 minutes
- Print one copy per student of Behavioral Activation Worksheet and Mood Tracker Template.
- Load the Action for Joy Slides onto the classroom display.
- Post chart paper and gather markers for group brainstorming.
- Review lesson flow and example activities.
Step 1
Introduction to Behavioral Activation
5 minutes
- Present definition and science behind behavioral activation using Action for Joy Slides.
- Ask: “How do you think actions can influence feelings?” and solicit brief responses.
- Note student ideas visibly on slide or board.
- Differentiation: Provide sentence starters (e.g., “When I ___, I feel ___”) for students needing support.
Step 2
Brainstorm Mood-Boosting Activities
7 minutes
- Divide class into small groups; give each group chart paper and markers.
- Prompt groups to list as many activities as they can that might boost mood (physical, creative, social).
- Circulate to encourage ideas and record standout examples on the board.
- Differentiation: Offer an example list for students who need inspiration; allow drawing or bullet lists.
Step 3
Personal Action Planning
10 minutes
- Distribute Behavioral Activation Worksheet and Mood Tracker Template.
- Instruct students to choose three activities from the brainstorm or their own ideas.
- On the worksheet, students schedule when, where, and with whom they will do each activity and predict how it might make them feel.
- They then set up a simple tracking plan for a week on the mood tracker.
- Differentiation: Confer individually with students who need extra support; allow them to plan two activities instead of three.
Step 4
Share and Reflect
5 minutes
- Have students pair up and share one planned activity and their predicted mood effect.
- Partners provide positive feedback and suggestions.
- Invite 2–3 volunteers to share with the whole class.
- Assessment: Collect worksheets to check for understanding and completeness.
Step 5
Closure
3 minutes
- Summarize the link between action and emotion: “Doing something can help change how you feel.”
- Remind students to use the Mood Tracker Template daily and review their progress next week.
- Encourage them to reflect on changes in mood and adjust plans as needed.
Slide Deck
Action for Joy
Behavioral Activation for Mood Boosting
8th Grade | 30 min | Tier 1 Classroom
Welcome students to the lesson. Introduce the title and explain that today they will learn a simple, research-backed way to boost mood through action.
What is Behavioral Activation?
- A strategy to improve mood by engaging in positive activities
- Based on research showing that action affects emotions
- Helps break cycles of inactivity and negative thinking
Explain the term “behavioral activation.” Emphasize that it’s more than just “cheering up”—it’s a proven approach backed by psychology research.
How Actions Influence Feelings
- Physical and social activities release feel-good chemicals
- Small actions can interrupt a bad mood loop
- Consistent activity builds emotional resilience
Describe how doing activities changes brain chemistry (endorphins, dopamine). Use simple language and ask for examples of mood-boosting actions.
Brainstorm Mood-Boosting Activities
• In small groups, list as many activities as you can that might boost mood
• Think physical (e.g., walk, sports), creative (e.g., drawing, music), social (e.g., call a friend)
• Record ideas on your chart paper
Divide students into groups, hand out chart paper and markers. Encourage varied ideas—creative, physical, social. Circulate to support each team.
Create Your Action Plan
- Use Behavioral Activation Worksheet
- Choose three activities from the brainstorm or your own ideas
- Schedule when, where, and with whom you’ll do each one
- Predict how each activity will make you feel
Distribute the Behavioral Activation Worksheet. Model filling out one activity together: pick an activity, set time/place, predict feeling.
Track Your Mood
- Use Mood Tracker Template
- Record your mood before and after each activity daily
- Note patterns or improvements over time
Show the Mood Tracker Template and explain each column. Stress the importance of daily tracking for one week.
Share & Reflect
- Pair up and share one planned activity and your prediction
- Give each other positive feedback and suggestions
- Volunteers share highlights with the whole group
Ask students to pair up. Give 2–3 minutes to share one planned activity and predicted effect. Solicit two or three volunteers to share out.
Key Takeaways & Next Steps
- Doing something can help change how you feel
- Use your action plan and mood tracker each day
- We’ll review progress next week and adjust as needed
Summarize the lesson: action changes emotion. Remind students to use their plans and trackers. Preview next week’s check-in.
Worksheet
Behavioral Activation Worksheet
Complete the table below for three activities you plan to do to boost your mood. For each activity, decide when and where you will do it, who you will do it with, and predict how you think it will make you feel.
| Activity | When? | Where? | With Whom? | Predicted Feeling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. ___________________________________ | ___________________ | ____________________ | ___________________ | _________________________ |
| 2. ___________________________________ | ___________________ | ____________________ | ___________________ | _________________________ |
| 3. ___________________________________ | ___________________ | ____________________ | ___________________ | _________________________ |
Reflect on which activity you’re most excited about and why:
Worksheet
Mood Tracker Template
Use this tracker to record your mood before and after each planned activity for one week.
| Date | Activity | Mood Before (1-5) | Mood After (1-5) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ______________ | ____________________________________ | ______ | ______ | ______________________________ |
| ______________ | ____________________________________ | ______ | ______ | ______________________________ |
| ______________ | ____________________________________ | ______ | ______ | ______________________________ |
| ______________ | ____________________________________ | ______ | ______ | ______________________________ |
| ______________ | ____________________________________ | ______ | ______ | ______________________________ |
| ______________ | ____________________________________ | ______ | ______ | ______________________________ |
| ______________ | ____________________________________ | ______ | ______ | ______________________________ |
Remember to update this each day and reflect on how your activities affect your mood!
Warm Up
Intro Discussion
Time: 5 minutes
1. Think (1 minute):
Recall a time when you did something—big or small—that made you feel better. Write down:
- What you did
- How you felt afterward
2. Pair Share (2 minutes):
Turn to a partner and take 30 seconds each to share your example. Use this sentence starter if it helps:
- “When I ____, I felt ____.”
3. Whole-Class Share (2 minutes):
Volunteers share one story with the class. Notice the connection between action and feeling.
Teacher Tip: Circulate as students talk. Encourage quieter students with prompts like, “Can you tell me more about how that activity lifted your mood?”
Cool Down
Exit Ticket
Time: 2 minutes
-
What is one key idea you learned today about behavioral activation?
-
Which one activity will you commit to trying this week to boost your mood? Why?
Discussion
Group Reflection Discussion
Time: 5 minutes
-
Individual Review (1 minute):
- Grab your Mood Tracker Template and look over your entries for the week.
- Identify one activity that showed the biggest change in your mood (before vs. after).
-
Small-Group Share (2 minutes):
- In groups of 3–4, take turns sharing:
• The activity you chose and your mood scores before and after
• One insight or surprise you noticed in your tracking data - As you listen, note any similar activities or mood patterns in your group.
- In groups of 3–4, take turns sharing:
-
Whole-Class Debrief (2 minutes):
- Volunteers share highlights: which activities tended to boost mood most, and why?
- Discuss:
• What new ideas did you hear from classmates?
• If an activity didn’t shift your mood as expected, how might you adjust it next week?
Teacher Tip: Capture common themes or standout ideas on chart paper. Encourage students to revisit their Behavioral Activation Worksheet and tweak their action plans based on this reflection.