Lesson Plan
Behavior Boss Blueprint
Students will be able to identify personal behavioral triggers and develop strategies for self-monitoring to promote positive behavior in the classroom.
Understanding and managing one's own behavior is a crucial life skill that empowers students to make positive choices, improve their learning environment, and build healthy relationships with peers and teachers.
Audience
Elementary School Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Through interactive slides, activities, and discussions, students will learn to identify triggers, track behavior, and share strategies.
Materials
My Inner Compass (Slide Deck)](#my-inner-compass-slide-deck), Behavior Detective Checklist (Activity)](#behavior-detective-checklist-activity), Trigger Tracker (Worksheet)](#trigger-tracker-worksheet), Whiteboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, and Pencils
Prep
Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Behavior Boss Blueprint lesson plan and all associated materials: My Inner Compass (Slide Deck), Behavior Detective Checklist (Activity), and Trigger Tracker (Worksheet).
- Prepare the whiteboard or projector for displaying the slide deck.
- Print enough copies of the Behavior Detective Checklist (Activity) and Trigger Tracker (Worksheet) for all students.
- Gather markers/pens and pencils.
Step 1
Introduction: What's a Behavior Boss?
5 minutes
- Begin by displaying the first slide of My Inner Compass (Slide Deck).
- Engage students with the question: "What does it mean to be a 'boss' of something?" (Guide discussion towards having control, making decisions).
- Introduce the concept of being a "Behavior Boss" – someone who takes charge of their own actions and choices.
- Explain that today, they will learn how to become their own Behavior Boss.
Step 2
Understanding Our Inner Compass (Slide Deck & Discussion)
10 minutes
- Continue through My Inner Compass (Slide Deck), focusing on identifying feelings and actions.
- Facilitate a brief discussion on how different feelings can lead to different actions, both positive and challenging.
- Emphasize that everyone has an "Inner Compass" that helps them choose their actions.
- Ask students to share examples of times their Inner Compass helped them make a good choice.
Step 3
Becoming a Behavior Detective (Activity)
15 minutes
- Distribute the Behavior Detective Checklist (Activity).
- Explain that good Behavior Bosses are like detectives, observing their own actions and understanding why they do what they do.
- Guide students through the checklist, encouraging them to think about different situations and their typical responses.
- Allow time for students to complete the activity individually or in small groups, providing support as needed.
Step 4
Tracking Our Triggers (Worksheet)
10 minutes
- Distribute the Trigger Tracker (Worksheet).
- Introduce the idea of a "trigger" as something that makes us feel a certain way or act in a certain way.
- Model how to fill out the worksheet with a common classroom scenario (e.g., getting frustrated when a puzzle is hard).
- Have students identify a personal trigger and a positive strategy they could use instead.
- Circulate and provide individual assistance.
Step 5
Sharing Success Stories (Discussion & Wrap-up)
5 minutes
- Lead a brief Sharing Success Stories (discussion) where students can share one positive strategy they identified on their Trigger Tracker (Worksheet).
- Reiterate the main points of the lesson: everyone can be a Behavior Boss by understanding their feelings, identifying triggers, and choosing positive actions.
- Congratulate students on taking the first steps to becoming their own Behavior Boss!
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Slide Deck
Welcome, Behavior Bosses!
What does it mean to be a boss of something?
Today, we'll learn to be the boss of our own actions!
Welcome students and introduce the idea of being a "boss" of something. Guide them to connect this to controlling their own actions. Explain that today, they will learn to be their own "Behavior Boss."
My Inner Compass
Just like a compass helps you find your way, your inner compass helps you choose your actions!
It helps you decide:
- How to act when you're happy
- How to act when you're frustrated
- How to act when you're excited
Ask students to think about how they feel throughout the day. Connect these feelings to different actions. Emphasize that feelings are normal, but we can choose how we react.
Be a Behavior Detective!
Good Behavior Bosses are also Behavior Detectives!
They observe:
- What they do
- How they react
- Why they act that way
Introduce the idea of a 'Behavior Detective'. Explain that they will observe their own behavior to understand it better. This sets up the 'Behavior Detective Checklist' activity.
What's a Trigger?
A trigger is something that makes us feel or act a certain way.
It could be:
- A sound
- A situation
- A feeling
Learning our triggers helps us stay in charge!
Explain what a trigger is using simple language. Provide a very basic example (e.g., loud noises making someone jumpy). Tell students they will learn to identify their own triggers.
Our Superpower: Choice!
When you know your triggers, you have a superpower!
You can choose a different, positive action.
Instead of reacting, you can respond!
Reinforce that identifying triggers is the first step to choosing a different, positive response. Introduce the idea of having a 'game plan' for when triggers happen.
You are the Boss!
Remember, you are the boss of your own behavior!
- Understand your feelings
- Identify your triggers
- Choose positive actions
Keep practicing, Behavior Bosses!
Summarize the key takeaways and encourage students to practice being their Behavior Boss every day. Encourage them to use the tools learned.
Activity
Behavior Detective Checklist
Become a Behavior Detective! Think about different situations and how you usually respond. Put a check next to the actions you sometimes do, and a star next to actions you want to try more often!
In the Classroom:
-
When the teacher gives instructions:
- Listen carefully.
- Ask questions if I don't understand.
- Start working right away.
- Talk to a friend instead.
- Daydream.
- Listen carefully.
-
When a friend is talking to me:
- Look at them and listen.
- Interrupt them.
- Wait for my turn to speak.
- Play with something else.
- Look at them and listen.
During Group Work:
-
When working with my team:
- Share my ideas.
- Listen to other ideas.
- Argue about what to do.
- Do all the work myself.
- Encourage my teammates.
- Share my ideas.
-
If someone in my group has a different idea:
- Try to understand their idea.
- Say my idea is better.
- Compromise and find a new solution.
- Get frustrated.
- Try to understand their idea.
When I Feel Big Emotions:
-
If I feel angry or frustrated:
- Take a deep breath.
- Count to ten.
- Yell or stomp my feet.
- Ask for help from an adult.
- Walk away for a moment.
- Take a deep breath.
-
If I feel sad or disappointed:
- Talk to someone I trust.
- Cry quietly.
- Keep it to myself.
- Find something fun to do.
- Talk to someone I trust.
My Detective Notes:
What is one thing you noticed about your own behavior today?
What is one positive action you want to try this week?
Worksheet
Trigger Tracker
Every Behavior Boss knows their triggers! A trigger is something that makes you feel a big emotion or want to act a certain way. By knowing your triggers, you can choose a different, positive action!
Instructions: Think about things that sometimes make you feel a big emotion (like mad, sad, frustrated, or super excited in a way that makes it hard to focus). Write them down below. Then, think of a positive choice you can make instead!
| My Trigger (What happened? What did I see/hear/feel?) | My Big Feeling | My Go-To Action (What do I usually do?) | My Behavior Boss Choice (What can I do instead?) |
|---|---|---|---|
My Top 3 Behavior Boss Strategies:
- When I feel ____________________, I can ____________________.
- When I feel ____________________, I can ____________________.
- When I feel ____________________, I can ____________________.
Discussion
Sharing Success Stories
Instructions: Now that you've thought about your triggers and how you can be a Behavior Boss, let's share our ideas!
Discussion Prompts:
- Who can share one positive strategy they identified on their Trigger Tracker (Worksheet)? What situation would you use it in?
- Has anyone ever used an "Inner Compass" to help them make a good choice when they were feeling a big emotion? Tell us about it!
- What is one new thing you learned today about becoming your own Behavior Boss?
- Why is it important to be the boss of your own behavior?
- What challenges might you face when trying to use your new Behavior Boss strategies, and how can you overcome them?