Lesson Plan
Investigation Blueprint
Guide a 4th grade student through a structured 30-minute Behavior Detective session to collect behavior data, analyze patterns, and co-create targeted intervention steps.
This lesson empowers students to understand and manage their own behaviors by systematically collecting data, identifying triggers, and developing personalized strategies—fostering self-awareness and positive change.
Audience
4th Grade Student
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Structured data collection and collaborative problem-solving
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Clue Collection Slide Deck
- Print copies of the Behavior Diary Worksheet
- Print and review the Evidence Evaluation Rubric
- Read through the Hypothesis Huddle Discussion Guide
- Arrange a quiet, comfortable space for the session
Step 1
Introduction & Goal Setting
5 minutes
- Greet the student and build rapport
- Explain the session’s purpose: collect behavior clues, identify patterns, and co-create an action plan
- Share today’s objectives: data collection, pattern identification, intervention planning
- Emphasize confidentiality and positive intent
Step 2
Data Review & Clue Collection
7 minutes
- Display the Clue Collection Slide Deck
- Prompt the student to recall recent instances of the target behavior
- Record contextual details (when, where, who, what happened) as “clues” on the slides
- Encourage descriptive, nonjudgmental language
Step 3
Behavior Diary Setup
5 minutes
- Distribute the Behavior Diary Worksheet
- Guide the student to select one or two specific behaviors to monitor
- Model how to log date, time, antecedents, behavior, and consequences
- Agree on a daily or per-period logging frequency
Step 4
Hypothesis Huddle
7 minutes
- Use the Hypothesis Huddle Discussion Guide
- Brainstorm possible triggers (antecedents) and outcomes (consequences)
- Have the student rank their top hypotheses for why the behavior occurs
- Validate all contributions and foster curiosity
Step 5
Evidence Evaluation
3 minutes
- Present the Evidence Evaluation Rubric
- Review collected clues and hypotheses
- Have the student rate each hypothesis’s support level (strong, moderate, weak)
- Discuss which hypothesis is best supported by the data
Step 6
Action Planning & Reflection
3 minutes
- Co-develop 1–2 small intervention steps based on the strongest hypothesis
- Invite the student to reflect on key insights from today’s session
- Assign diary logging tasks and schedule the next check-in
- Reinforce the student’s role as a behavior detective and celebrate their progress
Slide Deck
Clue Collection
Gathering and recording behavior clues to help us see patterns
Introduce the Clue Collection deck. Explain that clues are details about when, where, and how their behavior happens. Encourage curiosity and openness.
Why Collect Clues?
• Understand when and where a behavior happens
• Identify possible triggers (antecedents)
• Discover what happens afterward (consequences)
• Use data to make positive changes
Define why we collect clues. Emphasize that clues help us understand triggers and results of behaviors without judgment.
Clue Logging Template
When (date & time):
Where (location):
Who was involved:
What I did or saw:
What happened next (outcome):
Walk the student through each field. Model filling in a clue step by step.
Example Clue
When: Monday at 10:15 AM
Where: Math class
Who: Me and Ms. Lee
What I did: Tapped my pencil repeatedly
What happened next: Ms. Lee asked me to stop; classmates giggled
Show this example to illustrate clear, factual descriptions. Point out how each field is complete.
Your Turn: Log a Clue
When (date & time):
Where (location):
Who was involved:
What I did or saw:
What happened next (outcome):
Invite the student to fill in their own clue. Provide positive prompts and help as needed.
Next Steps
• Review today’s clues and pick 1–2 patterns to explore
• Bring these clues to our Hypothesis Huddle session
• Use the Behavior Diary to log daily clues
• Remember: you’re the detective—every detail counts!
Summarize and transition to next lesson steps. Remind the student to record at least one more clue before you meet again.
Worksheet
Behavior Diary Worksheet
Use this diary to log each instance of your target behavior. Be as detailed as you can!
Log Entry 1
Date: ____________________________
Time: ____________________________
Location: _________________________
Antecedent (What happened just before?):
Behavior (What you did or saw?):
Consequence (What happened next?):
Log Entry 2
Date: ____________________________
Time: ____________________________
Location: _________________________
Antecedent (What happened just before?):
Behavior (What you did or saw?):
Consequence (What happened next?):
Reflection Prompts
Answer these questions after completing your diary entries:
- What did I notice about my behavior today?
- What seemed to trigger my behavior?
- How did I feel after it happened?
- What could I try next time to change this pattern?
Keep your diary entries up to date and bring this worksheet to each session!
(For teacher reference: use this alongside the Evidence Evaluation Rubric and our next Hypothesis Huddle Discussion Guide.)
Discussion
Hypothesis Huddle Discussion Guide
Session Length: 7 minutes
Goal: Brainstorm and evaluate possible reasons (hypotheses) for the target behavior using collected clues.
Materials
- Behavior Diary Worksheet
- Collected clues from Clue Collection
Steps
1. Warm-up (1 minute)
• Remind the student that they’re the detective and review one or two clues together.
2. Brainstorm Potential Triggers (2 minutes)
Question: What happened just before your behavior in the clues we collected?
• Encourage listing all possible antecedents.
• Probe: Who was there? What were you doing? How were you feeling?
Your ideas:
- ____________________________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________________________
3. Explore Possible Outcomes (2 minutes)
Question: What tended to happen after the behavior?
• Think about how others responded and how you felt.
Your ideas:
- ____________________________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________________________
4. Form Hypotheses (1 minute)
Combine triggers and outcomes to create “If… then…” statements.
Example: If I feel stressed during group work, then I tap my pencil because I want attention.
Your hypotheses:
- Hypothesis 1: ___________________________________________________________
- Hypothesis 2: ___________________________________________________________
5. Rank and Evaluate (1 minute)
Use the Evidence Evaluation Rubric to rate each hypothesis: Strong, Moderate, Weak.
| Hypothesis | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hypothesis 1 | _______ | ___________________________ |
| Hypothesis 2 | _______ | ___________________________ |
6. Next Steps (Final Thoughts)
Discuss which hypothesis seems most supported and plan one small test or strategy to try before the next session.
• Test idea: ____________________________________________________________________
• When to check results: _________________________________________________________
—
Note: Validate every idea, encourage curiosity, and celebrate the student’s detective work!
Rubric
Evidence Evaluation Rubric
Use this rubric to rate how well the collected clues support each hypothesis. Mark each criterion as Strong, Moderate, or Weak.
| Criterion | Strong (3) | Moderate (2) | Weak (1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Clues | 4 or more clear, detailed clues collected | 2–3 clues collected | Fewer than 2 clues collected |
| Relevance to Hypothesis | All clues directly support or refute the hypothesis | Some clues support or refute the hypothesis | Most clues are irrelevant or unclear |
| Consistency Across Occurrences | Clues show a clear, repeatable pattern | Patterns appear but with occasional inconsistencies | No clear pattern or inconsistent clues |
| Level of Detail | Rich, specific descriptions (who, what, when, where) | Some details but missing key context | Descriptions are vague or incomplete |
How to use:
- Review each hypothesis alongside your collected clues.
- Rate each criterion based on the evidence.
- Sum the scores (3 = Strong, 2 = Moderate, 1 = Weak) to determine overall support:
• 10–12: Strong support
• 6–9: Moderate support
• 4–5: Weak support - Discuss which hypothesis has the strongest overall score and plan your next intervention step accordingly.