Lesson Plan
Anxiety: Taming Worry Monsters
Students will be able to identify what anxiety feels like in their bodies and learn simple, actionable strategies to cope with anxious feelings.
Learning to understand and manage anxiety helps students build emotional resilience, improve self-awareness, and develop healthy coping skills that they can use throughout their lives.
Audience
4th Grade Small Group
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, video, and a guided breathing activity.
Materials
Our Worry Monsters Slide Deck, Taming Worry Monsters Script, and Breathing Buddy Activity
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Review the Our Worry Monsters Slide Deck and Taming Worry Monsters Script.
- Print or prepare to display the Breathing Buddy Activity.
- Ensure technology for video playback is ready.
Step 1
Introduction: What is Anxiety?
3 minutes
- Begin with a brief, open discussion about feelings, introducing the concept of 'worry' or 'anxiety.'
- Use guiding questions to elicit student experiences (e.g., 'What does worry feel like in your body?').
Step 2
Watch and Discuss: Understanding Anxiety
5 minutes
- Show the 'How to Deal with Anxiety' video (placeholder for a kid-friendly video on anxiety).
- Facilitate a short discussion about the video, focusing on identifying anxiety and initial coping ideas.
- Refer to Our Worry Monsters Slide Deck for visual aids.
Step 3
Activity: Breathing Buddy
5 minutes
- Introduce the Breathing Buddy Activity as a practical coping strategy.
- Guide students through the activity, emphasizing calm breathing techniques.
- Discuss how this technique can help 'tame' their worry monsters.
Step 4
Wrap-up: Quick Check-in
2 minutes
- Ask students to share one thing they learned or one strategy they will try.
- Reinforce that it's okay to feel worried and to seek help.
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Slide Deck
Taming Worry Monsters
What are 'worry monsters'?
How do they make us feel?
Welcome students and introduce the idea of feelings, specifically focusing on worry. Ask open-ended questions to get them thinking.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is another word for worry.
It's a feeling our body gives us when we think something might be difficult or scary.
Where do you feel worry in your body?
- Tummy aches?
- Fast heartbeat?
- Jittery hands?
Explain that worry is a normal feeling, sometimes called anxiety. It's our body's way of telling us something might be tricky. Ask students where they feel worry in their bodies.
Learning About Anxiety
Let's watch a video to learn more about anxiety and some ways to deal with it!
Introduce the video as a way to learn more about anxiety and how other kids handle it. Remind them to pay attention to the strategies shown. Teacher: Insert a kid-friendly video on anxiety, 3-4 minutes in length.
Our Breathing Buddy
When worry monsters get big, our breath can help!
Let's try a 'Breathing Buddy' activity together.
- Find a small stuffed animal or toy.
- Lie down and place your buddy on your tummy.
- Watch your buddy rise and fall with each breath.
Transition to a practical strategy. Introduce the 'Breathing Buddy' activity, explaining how deep breaths can help calm the body and mind. Demonstrate the technique.
Taming Your Worry Monster
What's one thing you learned today?
What's one way you might try to 'tame' your worry monster?
Remember, it's okay to feel anxious, and it's brave to talk about it and try new ways to feel calm!
Conclude by asking students to share one thing they learned or one strategy they might try. Emphasize that it's okay to feel anxious and to talk about it.
Script
Taming Worry Monsters Script
Introduction: What is Anxiety? (3 minutes)
(Teacher faces students, warm and inviting tone)
"Good morning/afternoon everyone! Today, we're going to talk about a feeling that everyone experiences sometimes, even if we don't always know what to call it. It's a feeling a bit like a tiny little 'worry monster' starts to grow inside us.
(Pause, make eye contact)
Has anyone ever felt worried? Maybe about a test, or a new situation, or even just something that felt a little uncertain? What does worry feel like in your body? Does your tummy get butterflies? Does your heart beat a little faster? Maybe your hands get a bit shaky, or you just feel a little 'antsy' inside?"
(Listen to student responses, validate their feelings. You can refer to Our Worry Monsters Slide Deck Slide 2 here.)
"Those are all really common ways our bodies tell us we're feeling worried or anxious. Anxiety is just a big word for when those worry feelings get really strong. It's a natural signal, but sometimes, those worry monsters can feel a bit too big, right?"
Watch and Discuss: Understanding Anxiety (5 minutes)
(Teacher gestures towards the screen where the video will be shown, referring to Our Worry Monsters Slide Deck Slide 3.)
"Well, today, we're going to learn a bit more about these worry monsters and, more importantly, some superpowers we have to help 'tame' them! We're going to watch a short video that talks about what anxiety is and gives us some ideas on how to manage it. I want you to pay close attention to any ideas that pop up for you about how to make those worry monsters a little smaller."
(Play the video.)
(After the video, engage students in discussion.)
"Wow, that video had some great ideas! What was one thing you learned about anxiety from the video? Did you hear any strategies that sounded helpful or that you might want to try?"
(Encourage a few students to share.)
Activity: Breathing Buddy (5 minutes)
(Teacher moves to a space where students can lie down or get comfortable, referring to Our Worry Monsters Slide Deck Slide 4.)
"One of the most powerful tools we have to tame our worry monsters is our breath. When we breathe deeply and slowly, it sends a message to our body to calm down. We're going to try something called a 'Breathing Buddy' activity.
(If using physical buddies) "I have some special 'breathing buddies' here today. If you have a small stuffed animal or toy, you can grab it. If not, your hands can be your breathing buddy!"
"Everyone find a comfortable spot to lie down on your back. Place your breathing buddy, or your hands, right on your tummy. Now, close your eyes gently if you feel comfortable, or just look up at the ceiling.
"Take a deep breath in through your nose, feeling your tummy and your buddy rise up towards the ceiling. Hold it for a moment... and then slowly let the air out through your mouth, watching your tummy and your buddy fall back down. Let's do that a few more times. In through your nose... and out through your mouth. Really focus on your buddy moving up and down."
(Lead 3-5 deep breaths. Observe students and offer gentle reminders to breathe slowly.)
"How did that feel? Could you feel your body getting a little calmer? This is a wonderful way to help your body and mind relax when those worry monsters start to get too big. You can do this anytime, anywhere!"
Wrap-up: Quick Check-in (2 minutes)
(Teacher brings students back to a seated position, referring to Our Worry Monsters Slide Deck Slide 5.)
"Before we finish, I want everyone to think of just one thing they learned today, or one strategy they might try next time a worry monster pops up. Who would like to share?"
(Allow a few students to share.)
"Fantastic! Remember, everyone feels worried sometimes, and that's totally normal. What's important is knowing that you have tools, like our breathing buddy, and that it's always brave to talk to a trusted adult when you feel those worry monsters getting too big. You've all done a wonderful job today!"
Activity
Breathing Buddy Activity: Tame Your Worry Monster!
When your worry monster starts to grow, your breath can be your superpower!
Here's how to do the Breathing Buddy activity:
- Find a Buddy: Grab a small stuffed animal, a light toy, or even just use your hands as your buddy.
- Get Comfy: Lie down on your back in a comfortable spot.
- Place Your Buddy: Gently place your breathing buddy on your tummy.
- Breathe In: Close your eyes or look up at the ceiling. Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose. Feel your tummy rise and lift your buddy up!
- Breathe Out: Slowly let the air out through your mouth. Watch your tummy and your buddy gently fall back down.
- Repeat: Do this 3-5 times, focusing only on your breath and how your buddy moves up and down.
Why does this help?
Deep breathing sends a signal to your brain that everything is okay, helping your body to calm down and making those worry monsters feel a little smaller!