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Bounce Back!

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Kate

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Resilience Lesson Plan

Students will define resilience, identify strategies to bounce back from setbacks, and apply these strategies to real-life scenarios within a 30-minute lesson.

Building resilience helps students cope with academic and personal challenges, promoting emotional well-being and perseverance in school and beyond.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Engaging students in definitions, scenarios, and reflection.

Materials

  • Resilience Slide Deck, - Resilience Scenario Cards, - Resilience Reflection Worksheet, - Sticky Notes, and - Whiteboard and Markers

Prep

Lesson Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Resilience Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with key discussion prompts.
  • Print copies of the Resilience Scenario Cards (one set per group).
  • Print and prepare the Resilience Reflection Worksheet for each student.
  • Arrange the classroom for small-group work and ensure the whiteboard and markers are ready.
  • Place sticky notes on desks for the quick-write activity.

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Welcome students and introduce the topic of resilience.
  • Pose the question: “What does it mean to be resilient?”
  • Ask students to write quick thoughts on sticky notes.
  • Collect a few responses and post them on the whiteboard.

Step 2

Defining Resilience

5 minutes

  • Display the formal definition on the Resilience Slide Deck.
  • Discuss key elements: overcoming challenges and adaptability.
  • Invite students to share examples of resilience they’ve observed.

Step 3

Interactive Scenarios

10 minutes

  • Divide students into groups of 3–4.
  • Distribute one set of Resilience Scenario Cards per group.
  • Groups read a scenario, discuss responses, and select a resilience strategy.
  • Each group shares its scenario and chosen strategy with the class.

Step 4

Group Discussion

5 minutes

  • Facilitate a discussion on the most effective strategies from each group.
  • List common themes and key resilience strategies on the whiteboard.
  • Encourage students to ask questions and add insights.

Step 5

Reflection and Wrap-Up

5 minutes

  • Hand out the Resilience Reflection Worksheet.
  • Students reflect on a recent challenge and write how they’d apply a resilience strategy.
  • Invite volunteers to share their reflections.
  • Summarize key takeaways and encourage ongoing practice of resilience.
lenny

Lesson Plan

Bounce Back! Lesson Plan

Students will define resilience, identify and practice strategies to overcome setbacks, and apply these skills to real-life scenarios through discussion and reflection.

Building resilience fosters a growth mindset, emotional awareness, and problem-solving skills, empowering students to navigate academic and personal challenges with confidence.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussions, group scenarios, and personal reflection.

Materials

  • Bounce Back Slide Deck, - Bounce Back Scenario Cards, - Bounce Back Reflection Worksheet, - Sticky Notes, and - Whiteboard and Markers

Prep

Lesson Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Bounce Back Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with discussion points.
  • Print the Bounce Back Scenario Cards and cut into individual cards (one set per group).
  • Print and prepare the Bounce Back Reflection Worksheet for each student.
  • Arrange the classroom for small-group seating and ensure the whiteboard and markers are ready.
  • Provide each student with sticky notes for the quick-write activity.

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the concept of resilience.
  • Pose the question: “What challenges have you faced, and how did you respond?”
  • Ask students to jot down quick responses on sticky notes.
  • Collect a few notes and display them on the whiteboard.

Step 2

Defining Resilience

5 minutes

  • Display the formal definition on the Bounce Back Slide Deck.
  • Highlight key elements: persistence, adaptability, and growth mindset.
  • Invite students to share real-life examples of resilience they’ve observed.

Step 3

Interactive Scenarios

10 minutes

  • Divide students into groups of 3–4.
  • Distribute one set of Bounce Back Scenario Cards per group.
  • Groups read their scenario, discuss possible responses, and select a resilience strategy.
  • Each group prepares to share its scenario and chosen strategy with the class.

Step 4

Group Discussion

5 minutes

  • Invite each group to present its scenario and strategy.
  • Record the most effective strategies on the whiteboard.
  • Facilitate discussion on why these strategies work and look for common themes.

Step 5

Reflection and Wrap-Up

5 minutes

  • Hand out the Bounce Back Reflection Worksheet.
  • Students reflect on a recent personal challenge and outline steps to bounce back using a chosen strategy.
  • Invite volunteers to share their reflections.
  • Summarize key takeaways and encourage ongoing practice of resilience skills.
lenny

Slide Deck

Bounce Back! Building Resilience

8th Grade | Tier 1 | 30 Minutes

Let’s explore how to overcome setbacks and grow stronger.

Welcome students to the lesson. Introduce yourself and say: “Today we’re going to learn about resilience—what it is and how we can ‘bounce back’ from challenges.” Briefly review the agenda: quick-write, definition, strategies, scenarios, reflection.

Learning Objectives

• Define resilience
• Identify strategies to overcome setbacks
• Apply resilience skills to real-life challenges

Walk through each objective one by one. Emphasize that by the end of class, students will be able to define resilience, identify strategies, and apply them to real situations.

Quick-Write: Your Challenges

On a sticky note, answer:

  1. What challenge did you face?
  2. How did you respond?

Share your thoughts!

Distribute sticky notes. Prompt students: “What challenges have you faced recently? How did you respond?” Give 2–3 minutes to write. Collect a few and post them on the board.

What Is Resilience?

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and adapt to change.

Reveal the formal definition. Read aloud: “Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and adapt to change.” Ask: “What stands out to you in this definition?” Facilitate 1–2 quick responses.

Key Elements of Resilience

• Persistence: Keeping going despite obstacles
• Adaptability: Adjusting your approach when things change
• Growth Mindset: Believing challenges help you learn

Discuss each element with examples. For persistence, ask for a time they didn’t give up. For adaptability, ask how they changed their approach. For growth mindset, ask what they learned.

Resilience Strategies

• Seek support (friends, family, teachers)
• Positive self-talk (remind yourself of past successes)
• Reframe the challenge (look for lessons)
• Set realistic goals (break tasks into steps)
• Practice problem-solving (brainstorm options)

Introduce common strategies. Briefly describe each bullet. Encourage students to think of examples for each strategy.

Interactive Scenarios

  1. Form groups of 3–4.
  2. Receive a Bounce Back Scenario Card.
  3. Discuss: What happened? Which strategy will help?
  4. Prepare to share your plan.

Divide the class into groups of 3–4. Hand out one set of Bounce Back Scenario Cards per group. Explain: “Discuss your scenario, choose one strategy, and plan how to apply it.”

Group Presentations

• Scenario summary
• Chosen strategy
• Why it’s effective

Invite each group to present. Record strategies on the board under headings. Ask: “Why will this strategy work? How might you adapt it for your own life?”

Reflection & Wrap-Up

  1. Complete your Bounce Back Reflection Worksheet.
  2. Describe a personal challenge.
  3. Outline steps to bounce back.
  4. Volunteers share their reflections.

Distribute the Bounce Back Reflection Worksheet. Explain: “Write about a challenge you faced and outline steps you’ll take to bounce back using one strategy.” Give 3–4 minutes.

Key Takeaways

• Resilience helps us face and overcome setbacks.
• Strategies like positive self-talk and problem-solving can be practiced.
• Every challenge is an opportunity to grow.

Keep bouncing back!

Summarize the lesson. Emphasize that resilience is a skill that grows with practice. Encourage students to use at least one strategy this week.

lenny

Activity

Bounce Back Scenario Cards

Use these scenario cards in groups of 3–4. For each card:

  1. Read the scenario aloud.
  2. Discuss: What happened? How did the person feel?
  3. Choose one resilience strategy (from the slide deck).
  4. Plan how to apply that strategy step by step.
  5. Be ready to share your plan with the class.

Scenario 1: The Surprising Test Grade
Jamie studied hard for a science test but received a C, lower than any previous grade.

  • What happened?
  • How might Jamie feel?

Scenario 2: The Forgotten Presentation
Alex was assigned to present a group project in class but realizes on the morning of the presentation that they left their slides at home.

  • What happened?
  • How might Alex react?

Scenario 3: The Missed Tryout
Riley tried out for the school basketball team and didn’t make the cut.

  • What happened?
  • What emotions might Riley experience?

Scenario 4: The Friendship Fallout
Morgan had a misunderstanding with a close friend and now they aren’t speaking.

  • What happened?
  • How might Morgan feel?

Scenario 5: The Creative Block
Taylor is writing an essay but feels stuck and can’t come up with any new ideas.

  • What happened?
  • What frustrations might Taylor face?

Scenario 6: The Sports Injury
Jordan injured their ankle before an important game and can’t play.

  • What happened?
  • How might Jordan cope with disappointment?

Scenario 7: The Rejected Club Application
Casey applied to join the drama club but was not accepted.

  • What happened?
  • What might Casey be feeling?

Scenario 8: The Tech Glitch
Sam finishes a creative digital art project but the file becomes corrupted and won’t open.

  • What happened?
  • How might Sam respond to this setback?

Scenario 9: The Overwhelming Schedule
Jordan has multiple tests and a big family event all in one week and feels stressed.

  • What happened?
  • What strategies could Jordan use to manage stress?

Scenario 10: The Public Speaking Fear
Avery is scheduled to speak in front of the entire grade but feels extremely nervous.

  • What happened?
  • How might Avery work through anxiety?
lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Bounce Back Reflection Worksheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: _____________

Use this worksheet to reflect on a personal challenge and plan how to bounce back using one of the resilience strategies from the Bounce Back Slide Deck.

  1. Describe a recent challenge you faced. What happened and how did it make you feel?





  2. Which resilience strategy will you use to bounce back? (Choose from: Seek support; Positive self-talk; Reframe the challenge; Set realistic goals; Practice problem-solving)
    Strategy: _________________________________
    Explain why you selected this strategy:





  3. Outline your step-by-step plan to apply this strategy to your challenge:

    • Step 1: _________________________________





    • Step 2: _________________________________





    • Step 3: _________________________________





  4. How will you measure your progress? What will success look like for you?





  5. If your first strategy doesn’t work as planned, what could you try next?





  6. Reflect: How did creating this plan affect your confidence in handling challenges?





lenny
lenny