Lesson Plan
Anger Antidotes Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify common anger triggers, recall healthy coping mechanisms, and practice effective communication strategies for managing anger.
This lesson helps students develop essential social-emotional skills, enabling them to understand and manage their anger in constructive ways, which can improve their relationships and overall well-being.
Audience
7th Grade Small Group
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Game-based learning
Materials
Prep
Game Setup
5 minutes
- Review the Anger Antidotes Jeopardy Game to familiarize yourself with the questions and answers.
- Ensure you have a way to display the game (e.g., projector, large screen, or printouts for small groups).
- Prepare a scoreboard or simply keep track of points mentally/on a whiteboard.
- Gather any small tokens or rewards if desired (optional).
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Greet students and briefly introduce the topic of anger management.
- Ask students to share (if comfortable) one emotion they felt recently that was challenging to manage. (e.g., "Has anyone felt really frustrated or annoyed recently? What happened?")
- Explain that today's activity will help them learn strategies for managing big emotions, especially anger.
Step 2
Jeopardy Game Play
20 minutes
- Introduce the Anger Antidotes Jeopardy Game. Explain the rules: students will choose a category and point value, answer the question, and earn points.
- Divide the small group into two or three teams.
- Facilitate the game, ensuring each team gets a turn and encouraging discussion around the answers.
- For each question, prompt students to elaborate on their answers or provide real-life examples. Use the questions as discussion starters.
- Ensure all students have a chance to participate and contribute to their team's answers.
- Keep track of scores.
Step 3
Wrap-Up & Reflection
5 minutes
- Conclude the game after the allotted time or when all questions are answered.
- Briefly review some key takeaways from the game (e.g., "What's one new coping strategy you learned today?").
- Encourage students to try using one of the strategies discussed the next time they feel angry.
- Thank students for their participation.
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Slide Deck
Anger Antidotes Jeopardy!
Ready to master your emotions?
Welcome students to the game! Explain that this game will help them learn about and practice managing anger in healthy ways.
Categories
- Trigger Talk
- Coping Corner
- Communication Crew
- Problem Solvers
- Anger IQ
Introduce the categories and explain how the game will work. Remind them to think carefully about their answers.
Trigger Talk for 100
What is something specific that can make you feel angry?
(Think about situations, words, or actions)
Trigger Talk for 100 points. Allow students to discuss and provide an answer. Provide the correct answer on the next slide.
Answer: Trigger Talk 100
An external event or internal thought/feeling that causes a strong emotional response, like frustration, disrespect, unfairness, or disappointment.
Examples: Being blamed unfairly, someone breaking a promise, losing a game, being interrupted.
Reveal the correct answer and facilitate a brief discussion. Ask for examples.
Coping Corner for 100
Name one healthy way to calm down when you feel anger starting to build.
Coping Corner for 100 points. Allow students to discuss and provide an answer. Provide the correct answer on the next slide.
Answer: Coping Corner 100
Deep breathing, counting to ten, going for a walk, listening to music, talking to a trusted adult, journaling, drawing, or taking a break.
Focus on strategies that don't harm self or others.
Reveal the correct answer and facilitate a brief discussion. Ask for examples of how they've used this or could use it.
Communication Crew for 100
What does it mean to use 'I' statements when you're angry?
Communication Crew for 100 points. Allow students to discuss and provide an answer. Provide the correct answer on the next slide.
Answer: Communication Crew 100
Starting sentences with 'I feel...' or 'I need...' instead of 'You always...' or 'You never...'. This helps you express your feelings without blaming others.
Example: "I feel frustrated when my ideas are ignored" instead of "You never listen to me."
Reveal the correct answer and discuss its importance. Role-play a quick example if time allows.
Problem Solvers for 100
When you have a conflict with someone, what is the first step you should take to solve the problem?
Problem Solvers for 100 points. Allow students to discuss and provide an answer. Provide the correct answer on the next slide.
Answer: Problem Solvers 100
Calm down first. It's hard to solve a problem productively when emotions are running high.
Also acceptable: Identify the problem, listen to the other person's perspective.
Reveal the correct answer and discuss why this step is crucial.
Anger IQ for 100
True or False: Anger is always a bad emotion.
Anger IQ for 100 points. Allow students to discuss and provide an answer. Provide the correct answer on the next slide.
Answer: Anger IQ 100
False. Anger is a natural human emotion. It's how we express or manage our anger that can be good or bad. Anger can even tell us when something isn't right or fair.
Reveal the correct answer and discuss the nuances of anger, emphasizing that it's natural but how we handle it matters.
Trigger Talk for 200
Why is it important to know your anger triggers?
Trigger Talk for 200 points. Allow students to discuss and provide an answer. Provide the correct answer on the next slide.
Answer: Trigger Talk 200
Knowing your triggers helps you prepare for and prevent anger, or at least be ready with a coping strategy when you encounter them. It gives you a sense of control.
Reveal the correct answer and elaborate on proactive strategies.
Coping Corner for 200
Describe progressive muscle relaxation and how it helps with anger.
Coping Corner for 200 points. Allow students to discuss and provide an answer. Provide the correct answer on the next slide.
Answer: Coping Corner 200
Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and then relaxing different muscle groups in your body. It helps you notice the difference between tension and relaxation, which can physically calm your body when angry.
Reveal the correct answer and demonstrate briefly if appropriate.
Communication Crew for 200
What is active listening, and why is it important when you're discussing something that makes you angry?
Communication Crew for 200 points. Allow students to discuss and provide an answer. Provide the correct answer on the next slide.
Answer: Communication Crew 200
Active listening means fully focusing on what the other person is saying, both verbally and non-verbally, and showing them you understand (e.g., by nodding, making eye contact, or summarizing what they said). It helps prevent misunderstandings and makes the other person feel heard, which can de-escalate anger.
Reveal the correct answer and practice an example if possible.
Problem Solvers for 200
You and a friend both want to use the same basketball at recess. How can you find a fair solution?
Problem Solvers for 200 points. Allow students to discuss and provide an answer. Provide the correct answer on the next slide.
Answer: Problem Solvers 200
Negotiate and compromise! You could take turns, play a different game together, or find another basketball. The key is to find a solution that works for everyone, even if it means giving a little.
Also acceptable: Talk it out, brainstorm solutions.
Reveal the correct answer and discuss different negotiation tactics.
Anger IQ for 200
What is the difference between assertive and aggressive communication?
Anger IQ for 200 points. Allow students to discuss and provide an answer. Provide the correct answer on the next slide.
Answer: Anger IQ 200
Assertive communication means expressing your needs and feelings respectfully, without violating the rights of others. Aggressive communication involves expressing your needs in a way that is hostile, demanding, or disrespectful, often at the expense of others.
Reveal the correct answer and discuss examples of each.
Answer Key
Jeopardy Answer Key
Trigger Talk
Trigger Talk for 100
Question: What is something specific that can make you feel angry?
Answer: An external event or internal thought/feeling that causes a strong emotional response, like frustration, disrespect, unfairness, or disappointment.
Examples: Being blamed unfairly, someone breaking a promise, losing a game, being interrupted.
Trigger Talk for 200
Question: Why is it important to know your anger triggers?
Answer: Knowing your triggers helps you prepare for and prevent anger, or at least be ready with a coping strategy when you encounter them. It gives you a sense of control.
Coping Corner
Coping Corner for 100
Question: Name one healthy way to calm down when you feel anger starting to build.
Answer: Deep breathing, counting to ten, going for a walk, listening to music, talking to a trusted adult, journaling, drawing, or taking a break.
Focus on strategies that don't harm self or others.
Coping Corner for 200
Question: Describe progressive muscle relaxation and how it helps with anger.
Answer: Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and then relaxing different muscle groups in your body. It helps you notice the difference between tension and relaxation, which can physically calm your body when angry.
Communication Crew
Communication Crew for 100
Question: What does it mean to use 'I' statements when you're angry?
Answer: Starting sentences with 'I feel...' or 'I need...' instead of 'You always...' or 'You never...'. This helps you express your feelings without blaming others.
Example: "I feel frustrated when my ideas are ignored" instead of "You never listen to me."
Communication Crew for 200
Question: What is active listening, and why is it important when you're discussing something that makes you angry?
Answer: Active listening means fully focusing on what the other person is saying, both verbally and non-verbally, and showing them you understand (e.g., by nodding, making eye contact, or summarizing what they said). It helps prevent misunderstandings and makes the other person feel heard, which can de-escalate anger.
Problem Solvers
Problem Solvers for 100
Question: When you have a conflict with someone, what is the first step you should take to solve the problem?
Answer: Calm down first. It's hard to solve a problem productively when emotions are running high.
Also acceptable: Identify the problem, listen to the other person's perspective.
Problem Solvers for 200
Question: You and a friend both want to use the same basketball at recess. How can you find a fair solution?
Answer: Negotiate and compromise! You could take turns, play a different game together, or find another basketball. The key is to find a solution that works for everyone, even if it means giving a little.
Also acceptable: Talk it out, brainstorm solutions.
Anger IQ
Anger IQ for 100
Question: True or False: Anger is always a bad emotion.
Answer: False. Anger is a natural human emotion. It's how we express or manage our anger that can be good or bad. Anger can even tell us when something isn't right or fair.
Anger IQ for 200
Question: What is the difference between assertive and aggressive communication?
Answer: Assertive communication means expressing your needs and feelings respectfully, without violating the rights of others. Aggressive communication involves expressing your needs in a way that is hostile, demanding, or disrespectful, often at the expense of others.