Lesson Plan
Anger Art Adventure Plan
Help a 9-year-old reluctant boy understand and manage his anger by identifying triggers, expressing feelings through art, and practicing calming strategies in a fun, interactive 30-minute session.
Art-based activities engage reluctant learners, making it easier to externalize strong emotions. By linking feelings to creative expression and practicing coping skills, the student gains self-awareness and healthier ways to handle anger.
Audience
3rd Grade Individual Student
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive art and games to explore anger and calm.
Materials
- Drawing Paper, - Colored Pencils, - Timer, - Emotion Cards Deck, - Feelings Trigger Worksheet, and - Calming Strategy Cards
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Gather drawing paper and a set of colored pencils.
- Shuffle the Emotion Cards Deck and place face down.
- Print and review the Feelings Trigger Worksheet.
- Print and review the Calming Strategy Cards.
- Set timer and clear a workspace free of distractions.
Step 1
Warm-Up Feelings Game
5 minutes
- Invite the student to pick an Emotion Card and name a time they felt that way.
- On each turn, discuss one example and validate his experience.
- Use positive reinforcement to encourage sharing.
Step 2
Identify Triggers Through Drawing
15 minutes
- Introduce the Feelings Trigger Worksheet.
- Ask the student to draw a situation that makes him angry in the first box.
- In the second box, have him draw how his body feels (e.g., tight fists, fast heart).
- Prompt discussion: “What happened? How did you feel?”
- Acknowledge his drawing and guide him to see patterns.
Step 3
Practice Calming Strategies
5 minutes
- Spread out the Calming Strategy Cards.
- Let the student choose one strategy card (e.g., deep breathing, squeeze ball).
- Model the chosen strategy together and set the timer for one minute.
- Reflect: “How did that feel?” Reinforce its effectiveness.
Step 4
Reflection and Closing
5 minutes
- Review the drawings and strategies used.
- Ask the student to rate his anger before and after (1–5 scale).
- Praise effort and discuss when he might use the strategy next.
- End with a positive affirmation: “You did great managing your anger!”.
Slide Deck
Anger Art Adventure
30-Minute One-on-One Session
3rd Grade Student
Let’s explore feelings and stay calm!
Welcome! Today we’ll explore anger through fun games and art. Keep it light and encouraging; build rapport by validating his feelings and praising effort.
Session Objectives
• Identify anger triggers
• Express feelings through drawing
• Practice calming strategies
• Reflect on progress
Introduce the goals clearly so he knows what to expect. Emphasize that this is a creative, judgment-free space.
Warm-Up: Feelings Game
- Pick an Emotion Card randomly
- Name a time you felt that way
- Share one example each turn
- I’ll listen and validate
Guide him to pick an emotion card and share an example. Use positive reinforcement (“Great sharing!”) and keep it under 5 minutes.
Identify Triggers Through Drawing
- Draw a situation that makes you angry (Box 1)
- Draw how your body feels (Box 2)
- Talk about what happened and how you felt
- Look for patterns together
Show the Feelings Trigger Worksheet. Encourage him to draw freely; avoid correcting the art. Ask open questions about what’s happening in each drawing.
Practice Calming Strategies
- Spread out Calming Strategy Cards
- Choose one strategy (e.g., deep breaths)
- Try it together for 1 minute (use timer)
- Reflect: “How did that feel?”
Lay out the Calming Strategy Cards. Let him choose and model the technique with him. Use the timer to keep it concrete.
Reflection & Closing
• Review drawings & strategy used
• Rate anger before/after (1–5)
• Talk about when to use this next
• End with a positive affirmation
Review his drawings and strategies. Ask him to self-rate his anger before and after. Praise his work and plan future use.
Great Job!
You did awesome today!
Remember: Art + Calm = Power
End on a high note. Reinforce his success and the idea that he’s building skills.
Worksheet
Feelings Trigger Worksheet
Use this worksheet to explore what makes you angry and how your body reacts. Draw your answers in the boxes and write your thoughts below.
1. My Angry Situation
Draw a time or place that really made you feel angry. Show what was happening around you.
2. My Body’s Reaction
Draw how your body felt when you were angry (e.g., tight fists, fast heart, tense shoulders).
Reflection Questions
-
What happened in the situation above?
-
How did you feel inside (emotions) when that happened?
-
What clues (body signals) can help you notice when you’re getting angry in the future?
Activity
Calming Strategy Cards
Use these cards to practice calming techniques. Color or decorate each card, then cut them out to create your own personalized deck.
1. Deep Breathing
How to Use:
• Breathe in slowly for 4 seconds (count “1-2-3-4”).
• Hold for 2 seconds.
• Exhale slowly for 6 seconds (count “1-2-3-4-5-6”).
Activity: Draw waves or circles on this card and color them as you breathe.
2. Squeeze & Release
How to Use:
• Squeeze a stress ball or make a tight fist for 5 seconds.
• Release slowly while you say “Ahhh.”
Activity: Sketch or color a ball or fist. Add patterns for extra fun!
3. Count to Ten
How to Use:
• Slowly count from 1 to 10 in your head.
• Focus on each number and how your body feels.
Activity: Write the numbers 1–10 on this card and decorate them.
4. Grounding 5-4-3-2-1
How to Use:
- Name 5 things you see.
- Name 4 things you feel (touch).
- Name 3 things you hear.
- Name 2 things you smell.
- Name 1 thing you taste.
Activity: Fill in the blanks on this card and draw tiny pictures next to each clue.
5. Positive Affirmation
How to Use:
• Choose a calming phrase like “I am calm,” “I am strong,” or “I can handle this.”
• Repeat it in your mind or out loud.
Activity: Write your favorite affirmation here and decorate with stars, hearts, or any design you like.
Rubric
Session Success Rubric
Use this rubric to evaluate the student’s engagement, expression, strategy use, and reflection during the Anger Art Adventure one-on-one session.
| Criteria | 4 – Exemplary | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Participation & Engagement | Actively chooses cards, contributes throughout, shows enthusiasm. | Joins in willingly, answers most prompts, appears interested. | Participates when prompted, occasional reluctance. | Rarely participates or needs repeated prompts to engage. |
| 2. Expression of Anger (Drawing Clarity) | Drawings vividly depict trigger and body sensations with detail. | Drawings clearly show a trigger and basic body response. | Drawings are vague; some elements of trigger or body cues shown. | Drawing is minimal or unrelated to anger triggers and sensations. |
| 3. Identification of Triggers | Accurately names multiple triggers; discusses patterns insightfully. | Identifies at least one clear trigger and describes it. | Names a trigger with limited detail; needs help to explain. | Cannot identify a trigger or gives unrelated responses. |
| 4. Use of Calming Strategies | Chooses and practices a strategy independently; uses it correctly. | Selects a strategy and follows steps with minimal guidance. | Needs reminders to follow most steps; strategy use is partial. | Cannot follow steps or refuses to practice a calming strategy. |
| 5. Reflection & Self-Awareness | Rates before/after accurately; articulates feelings and next steps. | Rates feelings and suggests when to use strategy in future. | Gives simple “good/bad” reflection; limited future planning. | Unable to reflect on feelings or plan future use. |
Scoring Guide:
• Total possible points = 20
• 17–20 = Exceeds expectations
• 13–16 = Meets expectations
• 9–12 = Approaching expectations
• 5–8 = Needs additional support
Alignment with Objectives:
This rubric targets the lesson goals of identifying anger triggers, expressing feelings through art, practicing calming strategies, and reflecting on progress.
Cool Down
Reflection Exit Ticket
- How angry do you feel right now? (Circle a number)
1 2 3 4 5
- Which calming strategy did you like the most? Write its name:
- When and where will you use this strategy again? Describe:
- One thing I learned about my anger today: