Anger: Your Inner Volcano

Sarah Stewart

Tier 2

Lesson Plan

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano

Students will be able to define anger as a normal emotion and identify different ways anger can manifest.

Understanding anger as a natural human emotion helps students normalize their feelings and begin to approach anger constructively rather than defensively. This foundational knowledge is crucial for developing healthy coping mechanisms.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Discussion, scenarios, and guided reflection.

Materials

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Slide Deck, Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Worksheet, and Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Cool Down

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Review the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
Print copies of the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Worksheet for each student.
Prepare any markers or pens needed for the worksheet activity.

Step 1

Introduction: The Volcano Inside

5 minutes

Begin by asking students what comes to mind when they hear the word 'anger'. Record a few responses on the board or a digital display.
Introduce the concept of anger as a 'volcano' – it can rumble, build pressure, and sometimes erupt. Emphasize that anger is a natural emotion, like sadness or happiness, and everyone experiences it.
Present Slide 1 and Slide 2 from the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Slide Deck.

Step 2

What Does Anger Look Like?

10 minutes

Show Slide 3 and Slide 4 from the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Slide Deck.
Discuss how anger can look different for different people and even for the same person at different times (e.g., quiet withdrawal, shouting, frustration, sadness).
Distribute the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Worksheet.
Have students complete the first section, identifying physical and emotional signs of anger in themselves and others.
Facilitate a brief discussion, allowing students to share (if comfortable) some of the less obvious ways anger can appear.

Step 3

The Good and Bad of Anger

10 minutes

Use Slide 5 and Slide 6 from the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Slide Deck.
Discuss how anger isn't always 'bad' – it can sometimes signal that something is unfair or needs to change (e.g., standing up to bullying).
Emphasize that how we express anger is what matters. Uncontrolled anger can be destructive.
Have students complete the second section of the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Worksheet, reflecting on situations where anger might be helpful or harmful.

Step 4

Cool Down: One Word Volcano

5 minutes

Distribute the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Cool Down.
Ask students to write down one word that describes how they feel about anger after today's discussion.
Collect the cool-downs as an exit ticket.

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Slide Deck

Anger: Your Inner Volcano!

Understanding a powerful emotion

What does 'anger' mean to you?

Welcome students and introduce the topic of anger. Emphasize that it's a normal emotion. Ask what comes to mind when they hear the word 'anger'.

Your Inner Volcano

Anger is like a volcano inside us.

It can:

Rumble quietly
Build up pressure
Sometimes... erupt!

Explain the metaphor of the volcano. Anger can build up and sometimes erupt. Reiterate that anger isn't 'bad' itself.

What Does Anger Look Like?

Anger isn't always shouting or stomping.

It can also look like:

Frustration
Silence
Frowning
Clenched fists
Tense shoulders
Feeling sad or overwhelmed

Discuss that anger looks different for everyone. Ask students for examples of how anger might show up in themselves or others (without naming names).

Signs of Anger

Your body might tell you you're angry:

Heart beats faster
Face gets hot
Muscles tighten
Stomach feels fluttery

Your mind might tell you:

Feeling irritated
Wanting to yell
Having negative thoughts

Continue the discussion on various manifestations of anger. Guide them to think about both visible and internal signs.

Is Anger Always Bad?

No! Anger can sometimes be helpful.

It can tell you:

Something is unfair
You or someone else is being treated badly
A boundary has been crossed

It can give you energy to:

Solve a problem
Stand up for what's right

Transition to the idea that anger can sometimes be helpful. Provide examples like standing up for yourself or others against injustice.

How We Show It Matters

The important part is how you express your anger.

Harmful Anger: Yelling, hitting, breaking things, saying mean words.
Helpful Anger: Talking calmly, finding a solution, getting help from an adult.

We're going to learn how to manage our volcanoes!

Emphasize that the key is how we express anger. Destructive anger is harmful. Introduce the idea of learning to manage it.

Worksheet

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano

Section 1: What Does My Volcano Look Like?

Think about times when you or someone you know felt angry. How did you know? What did you see or feel?

Physical Signs: What happens to your body when you start to feel angry?
- My face might get:
- My hands might:
- My stomach might feel:
- Other body signs:
Emotional Signs: What feelings come along with anger for you?
- Besides

Cool Down

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 1: Understanding Your Volcano Cool Down

One Word Volcano

After our discussion today, what is ONE word that describes how you feel about anger, or what you learned about anger?

My one word is:

Lesson Plan

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers

Students will be able to identify personal anger triggers and recognize early warning signs in themselves and others.

Recognizing triggers and warning signs early allows students to intervene before anger escalates, providing an opportunity to apply calm-down strategies effectively.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Brainstorming, personal reflection, and group sharing.

Materials

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Slide Deck, Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Worksheet, and Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Cool Down

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Review the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
Print copies of the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Worksheet for each student.
Prepare any markers or pens needed for the worksheet activity.

Step 1

Warm-up: Last Session Review

5 minutes

Briefly review the main points from Part 1, asking students what they remember about anger as a natural emotion and different ways it can appear.
Use Slide 1 from the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Slide Deck.

Step 2

Understanding Triggers

10 minutes

Introduce the concept of an 'anger trigger' using Slide 2 and Slide 3 from the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Slide Deck.
Explain that triggers are specific situations, words, or actions that can make our anger volcano start to rumble.
Brainstorm some common triggers for middle schoolers (e.g., being teased, unfairness, losing a game, siblings, schoolwork).
Distribute the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Worksheet and have students complete the 'My Triggers' section.

Step 3

Early Warning Signs

10 minutes

Discuss 'warning signs' using Slide 4 and Slide 5 from the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Slide Deck.
Connect this to the physical and emotional signs identified in Part 1.
Explain that noticing these early signs is like seeing smoke from the volcano – it means it's time to act.
Have students complete the 'My Warning Signs' section of the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Worksheet.
Briefly share (if comfortable) in small groups or as a class, emphasizing that everyone's signs can be different.

Step 4

Cool Down: Trigger or Sign?

5 minutes

Distribute the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Cool Down.
Ask students to write down one trigger and one warning sign they learned about today.
Collect as an exit ticket.

Slide Deck

Welcome Back: Your Inner Volcano!

Last time, we talked about anger as a natural emotion and what it feels like in our bodies and minds.

Today, we're diving deeper into why our volcano might start to rumble...

Briefly recap Part 1: Anger is normal, looks different for everyone, and how we express it matters. Ask students for one thing they remember.

What Makes It Rumble? Triggers!

A trigger is something that makes you feel angry, annoyed, or frustrated.

It's like pressing a button that starts your anger volcano rumbling!

What are some common triggers for middle schoolers?

Introduce the term 'triggers'. Explain that these are specific things that set off anger. Give a few simple examples (e.g., someone taking your toy when you were younger, unfairness).

Common Triggers Can Be...

Feeling unfairly treated
Being teased or bullied
Losing a game or competition
Being told 'no'
Schoolwork challenges
Disagreements with friends or family
Feeling ignored or misunderstood

Encourage students to brainstorm common triggers. Write them on the board. Then, introduce the 'My Triggers' section of the worksheet.

Seeing the Smoke: Warning Signs

Before a volcano erupts, you might see smoke or feel tremors.

Before your anger erupts, your body and mind give you warning signs.

These are clues that your anger is building.

Introduce 'warning signs'. Explain these are the internal and external cues that anger is starting to build before it gets out of control. Connect to the body signs from Part 1.

My Personal Warning Signs

Think about what we discussed last time:

Physical: Fast heart, hot face, tight muscles, clenching jaw.
Emotional: Feeling irritable, frustrated, wanting to shout, sad, overwhelmed.

What are your unique warning signs? What do you feel or do when anger starts?

Elaborate on warning signs, linking back to the previous session. Guide students to think about their personal warning signs and complete the 'My Warning Signs' section of the worksheet.

Knowing Your Signs = Power!

Identifying your triggers and warning signs is super important!

It gives you a chance to act before your anger volcano erupts.

Next time, we'll learn strategies to calm that volcano down!

Conclude by reiterating the importance of knowing their triggers and warning signs. This knowledge is the first step towards managing their anger effectively. Explain that next session will be about what to do when they see these signs.

Worksheet

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers

Section 1: My Triggers

Think about what makes your anger volcano start to rumble. What are the specific situations, words, or actions that often make you feel angry or frustrated? List at least 3.

Trigger 1:
Trigger 2:
Trigger 3:
Are there any other triggers you can think of?

Section 2: My Warning Signs

Before your anger volcano erupts, your body and mind give you clues. These are your early warning signs. What do you feel, think, or do when your anger is just starting to build?

Physical Warning Signs (What do you feel in your body?)
- My heart might:
- My face might:
- My muscles might:
- Other physical signs:
Emotional/Mental Warning Signs (What do you feel or think in your mind?)
- I might feel:
- I might think:
- I might want to:
- Other emotional/mental signs:

Cool Down

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 2: Warning Signs & Triggers Cool Down

My Takeaway

Name one specific trigger that you identified today:
Name one warning sign that tells you your anger is building:

Lesson Plan

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies

Students will learn and practice at least three calm-down strategies to use when they recognize their anger warning signs.

Equipping students with practical calm-down strategies provides them with immediate tools to prevent anger from escalating into harmful behaviors.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Demonstration, practice, and guided selection of strategies.

Materials

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies Slide Deck, Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies Worksheet, and Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies Cool Down

Prep

Review Materials and Prepare

10 minutes

Review the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
Print copies of the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies Worksheet for each student.
Consider having a small, soft object (e.g., a stress ball) to demonstrate a physical calm-down technique, if appropriate for your classroom.

Step 1

Warm-up: Recognizing the Rumblings

5 minutes

Begin by asking students to recall some of the warning signs they identified last session. What are those 'smoke signals' from their inner volcano?
Use Slide 1 from the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies Slide Deck.

Step 2

Introducing Calm Down Tools

10 minutes

Introduce the idea of having a 'tool kit' of calm-down strategies.
Present Slide 2 through Slide 4 from the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies Slide Deck.
Demonstrate and practice:
- Deep Breathing: Lead students in 3-5 rounds of slow, deep breaths (e.g., 'square breathing').
- Counting: Practice counting slowly to 10 or 20, focusing on each number.
- Physical Movement: Suggest a quick stretch or tensing/relaxing muscles.
- Sensory Focus: Guide them to identify 3 things they see, 2 things they hear, 1 thing they feel. (If using a stress ball, demonstrate squeezing it).
Emphasize that different strategies work for different people and in different situations.

Step 3

My Calm Down Toolkit

10 minutes

Distribute the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies Worksheet.
Have students complete the worksheet, selecting and writing down 2-3 strategies they think would work best for them.
Facilitate a brief discussion, allowing students to share which strategies they found most helpful during practice and why.

Step 4

Cool Down: My Go-To Strategy

5 minutes

Distribute the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies Cool Down.
Ask students to write down one calm-down strategy they are committed to trying the next time their anger volcano starts to rumble.
Collect as an exit ticket.

Slide Deck

Welcome Back: Your Inner Volcano!

Last time, we talked about recognizing the 'smoke signals' – your warning signs – when your anger starts to build.

Today, we're going to learn what to DO when you see those signs!

Welcome students. Briefly review warning signs from last session. Ask: 'What are those smoke signals from your inner volcano?'

Calm Down Toolbox: What to Do?

When your anger volcano starts to rumble, you need tools to help calm it down.

These are strategies you can use to cool off and think clearly.

Introduce the idea of a 'tool kit' of strategies. Emphasize that different tools work for different people. Transition to deep breathing.

Tool 1: Deep Breathing

Taking slow, deep breaths helps your body relax.

Breathe in slowly through your nose.
Hold for a few counts.
Breathe out slowly through your mouth.

Try it with me!

Explain deep breathing. Lead the class in 3-5 rounds of 'square breathing' (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4). Emphasize breathing from the belly.

More Calm Down Tools

Count Slowly: Count to 10 or 20 in your head.
Move Your Body: Take a walk, stretch, or tense/relax muscles.
Sensory Focus: Notice 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can feel.
Distraction: Listen to music, read, draw.
Talk to Someone: A trusted adult or friend (more on this next time!).

Discuss other strategies. For counting, have them practice counting slowly to 10 or 20. For movement, suggest a quick stretch or tensing/relaxing muscles. For sensory focus, ask them to identify 3 things they see, 2 things they hear, 1 thing they feel. If you have a stress ball, demonstrate squeezing it.

Building Your Personal Toolkit

Not every tool works for everyone, and that's okay!

Think about the strategies we just practiced. Which ones felt like they might help you?

It's important to find what works best for your inner volcano.

Transition to the worksheet. Have students choose strategies that resonate with them.

Practice Makes Perfect!

The more you practice these calm-down strategies, the easier they will be to use when you need them most.

Next time, we'll talk about how to use your words to handle anger in a helpful way: Effective Communication!

Reiterate the importance of practice. Introduce the next session's topic: effective communication.

Worksheet

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies

My Calm Down Toolkit

We just practiced several calm-down strategies. Think about which ones felt helpful for you. Choose 2-3 strategies that you would like to try the next time your anger volcano starts to rumble.

Strategy 1:

Name of Strategy:

How I will do it:

Strategy 2:

Name of Strategy:

How I will do it:

Strategy 3:

Name of Strategy:

How I will do it:

Reflect and Prepare

Which strategy do you think will be the easiest to remember when you're feeling angry? Why?
Where is a good place you could practice these strategies when you're not angry, so they become easier to use when you are?

Cool Down

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 3: Calm Down Strategies Cool Down

My Commitment

Write down one calm-down strategy you are committed to trying the next time your anger volcano starts to rumble.

I will try to use:

What is one situation where you think you could use this strategy?

Lesson Plan

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 4: Effective Communication

Students will learn and practice 'I' statements to communicate their anger and needs effectively without blame.

Learning effective communication skills empowers students to express their feelings respectfully, leading to better conflict resolution and stronger relationships.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Role-playing, scenario analysis, and 'I' statement practice.

Materials

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 4: Effective Communication Slide Deck, Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 4: Effective Communication Worksheet, and Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 4: Effective Communication Cool Down

Prep

Review Materials and Prepare

10 minutes

Review the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 4: Effective Communication Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
Print copies of the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 4: Effective Communication Worksheet for each student.
Prepare some simple role-play scenarios that are relevant to middle schoolers (e.g., someone cuts in line, a friend borrows something and doesn't return it).

Step 1

Warm-up: Calm Before Communication

5 minutes

Briefly review the importance of calm-down strategies from the previous session. Ask: 'Why is it important to calm down before we try to talk about our anger?'
Use Slide 1 from the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 4: Effective Communication Slide Deck.

Step 2

'I' Statements: Speaking Your Truth

10 minutes

Introduce the concept of 'I' statements using Slide 2 and Slide 3 from the Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 4: Effective Communication Slide Deck.
Explain the formula: 'I feel [emotion] when [situation] because [why] and I need/want [solution/request].'
Provide examples:
*

Slide Deck

Welcome Back: Your Inner Volcano!

Last time, we built our calm-down toolkit. We learned how to manage those rumblings.

But what happens after we calm down? How do we talk about what made us angry?

Welcome students. Briefly review the calm-down strategies from last session. Ask: 'Why is it important to calm down before we try to talk about our anger?'

Speaking Your Mind: 'I' Statements

When you're calm, it's time to communicate.

'I' statements help you express:

How you feel
What you need
Without blaming others!

Introduce 'I' statements. Explain they are a way to express feelings and needs without blaming others. Emphasize that it helps the other person listen.

The 'I' Statement Formula

It's a simple recipe:

I feel [emotion] when [situation] because [why] and I need/want [solution/request].

Example: "I feel frustrated when my friend interrupts me because it makes me feel like my ideas aren't important, and I need to finish explaining my thought."

Explain the 'I' statement formula. Provide a simple example, like 'I feel frustrated when my brother changes the TV channel because I was watching something, and I want to watch the end of my show.'

Let's Practice!

Try to change these 'You' statements into 'I' statements:

You always ignore me!
- (I feel ignored when...)
You never listen to my ideas!
- (I feel unheard when...)
You broke my pencil!
- (I feel upset when...)

Practice changing 'You' statements into 'I' statements. Encourage student participation. Guide them through transforming accusatory statements into self-focused ones.

Communication is a Two-Way Street

After you share your 'I' statement, remember:

Listen to the other person: What are they feeling or needing?
Be open to solutions: Can you find a compromise?
Respect their feelings: Even if you don't agree.

Explain the importance of active listening and finding common ground. Highlight that the goal is understanding, not 'winning'.

Your Powerful Inner Volcano!

You now have a toolkit to manage your anger:

Understand your anger.
Recognize your triggers and warning signs.
Use calm-down strategies.
Communicate effectively with 'I' statements.

Keep practicing these skills, and you'll be a master of your inner volcano!

Summarize the key takeaways from the entire series: anger is normal, identify signs, calm down, and communicate effectively. Encourage students to continue practicing these skills.

Worksheet

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 4: Effective Communication

Section 1: Turning 'You' into 'I'

Rewrite the following

Cool Down

Anger: Your Inner Volcano - Part 4: Effective Communication Cool Down

My Communication Commitment

What is one situation you can imagine using an "I" statement in the near future?
Write down one "I" statement you might use in that situation: