Lesson Plan
Building Your Support Team
Each student will be able to create a personal support plan identifying two trusted adults they can talk to when feeling angry.
Learning to identify and utilize trusted adults for support is crucial for developing self-advocacy skills and maintaining emotional regulation, especially when dealing with strong emotions like anger. This lesson empowers students to build their own practical support systems.
Audience
6th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through discussion, activity, and group coaching, students will identify trusted adults.
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Building Your Support Team Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Your Support Superheroes Slides, My Personal Support Plan Worksheet, and Check-in / Check-out Form.
- Ensure projector or screen is ready for the slide deck.
- Make copies of the My Personal Support Plan Worksheet for each student.
- Prepare copies of the Check-in / Check-out Form.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Who's On Your Team?
5 minutes
- Display Slide 2: "Who's On Your Team?" from Your Support Superheroes Slides.
- Ask students to think about people they trust. Encourage them to consider various roles: family, teachers, coaches, etc.
- Facilitate a brief discussion, emphasizing that everyone has a network of people who care about them.
Step 2
Guided Discussion: When to Ask for Help
10 minutes
- Display Slide 3: "When Do We Need a Superhero?" from Your Support Superheroes Slides.
- Lead a discussion on situations where students might feel angry and need to talk to a trusted adult. Use the prompts on the slide.
- Emphasize the importance of self-advocacy and seeking help as a sign of strength.
- Display Slide 4: "Trusted Adults" and discuss what makes an adult trustworthy.
Step 3
Activity: Create a Personal Support Plan
10 minutes
- Distribute the My Personal Support Plan Worksheet to each student.
- Display Slide 5: "Your Support Superheroes" from Your Support Superheroes Slides and guide students through completing the worksheet.
- Instruct students to identify at least two trusted adults they can go to when feeling angry, and to explain why they chose them and what they would say.
- Circulate and provide individual support as needed.
Step 4
Group Coaching: Sharing Our Plans
3 minutes
- Invite students (voluntarily) to share one trusted adult from their My Personal Support Plan Worksheet with a small group or the whole class.
- Reinforce the idea that having a plan helps manage strong emotions and that it's okay to ask for help.
Step 5
Wrap-Up: Curriculum Review Game
2 minutes
- Distribute the Check-in / Check-out Form.
- Display Slide 6: "Mission Accomplished!" from Your Support Superheroes Slides.
- Have students complete the form as an exit ticket, reflecting on their learning and identifying one key takeaway.
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Slide Deck
Your Support Superheroes
Building Your Personal Support Team!
Welcome students and introduce the topic of support systems. Explain that everyone needs a "superhero team" to help them when things get tough. Emphasize that this lesson is about building their personal team.
Who's On Your Team?
Think about the people who help you, listen to you, and make you feel safe.
Who comes to mind?
Ask students to think about people they trust. Encourage them to consider various roles: family, teachers, coaches, etc. Facilitate a brief discussion, emphasizing that everyone has a network of people who care about them. "Who are the people in your life that you can always count on? Maybe a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a coach, or even an older sibling? These are the people who form your personal support team!"
When Do We Need a Superhero?
What situations make you feel really angry or upset?
Why is it important to talk to someone when you feel this way?
Lead a discussion on situations where students might feel angry and need to talk to a trusted adult. Use the prompts on the slide. Emphasize the importance of self-advocacy and seeking help as a sign of strength. "Sometimes, we feel big emotions like anger. When you feel really angry, what happens inside you? How does your body feel? When you feel this way, it's really important to have someone you can talk to. Why do you think talking to someone helps when you're angry?"
Trusted Adults
What qualities make an adult trustworthy?
Who are some trusted adults you know at school or at home?
Discuss what makes an adult trustworthy. Ask students to share qualities of a trusted adult. Reinforce that these adults are there to listen, not to judge, and to help find solutions. "What makes an adult a 'trusted adult'? Is it someone who listens? Someone who understands? Someone who keeps your feelings private (when appropriate)? It's important to choose adults who make you feel safe and heard."
Your Support Superheroes
Complete your My Personal Support Plan Worksheet!
Identify at least two trusted adults.
Explain why you chose them.
Write what you would say to them when you're angry.
Guide students through completing the My Personal Support Plan Worksheet. Instruct students to identify at least two trusted adults they can go to when feeling angry, and to explain why they chose them and what they would say. Circulate and provide individual support as needed. "Now it's your turn to create your own Personal Support Plan. On your worksheet, you'll think about at least two trusted adults you can go to when you feel angry. Write down their names and why you chose them. What would you say to them?"
Mission Accomplished!
You've built your personal support team!
Complete your Check-in / Check-out Form to share your biggest takeaway.
Have students complete the Check-in / Check-out Form as an exit ticket, reflecting on their learning and identifying one key takeaway. "Great job today, Superheroes! Remember, having a support team is a sign of strength. Before you go, please complete your Check-in / Check-out Form and tell me one important thing you learned about building your support team."
Worksheet
My Personal Support Plan
Sometimes we feel angry, and it can be hard to know what to do. Having a plan and knowing who your trusted adults are can help a lot! These adults are your "Support Superheroes"!
My Support Superhero #1
Think about an adult you trust and feel comfortable talking to when you are angry or upset. This could be a parent, guardian, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, coach, counselor, or another adult in your life.
- Who is this trusted adult?
- Why do you trust this person? What qualities make them a good listener or helper?
- What would you say to this person if you were feeling angry? (Think about how you would start the conversation and what you would tell them.)
My Support Superhero #2
Now, think of another adult you trust who you could talk to when you are angry or upset. It's good to have more than one person on your team!
- Who is this trusted adult?
- Why do you trust this person? What qualities make them a good listener or helper?
- What would you say to this person if you were feeling angry? (Think about how you would start the conversation and what you would tell them.)
Reflection
Having these
Activity
Check-in / Check-out Form: Building Your Support Team
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Check-in:
-
How are you feeling about your ability to manage strong emotions today? (Circle one)
1 (Not so great) - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 (Feeling good!)
-
What is one thing that can make you feel angry?
Check-out:
-
List one trusted adult you identified today who you can talk to when you feel angry.
-
What is one important thing you learned today about building your support team or dealing with anger?
-
On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you now in reaching out to a trusted adult when you need help? (Circle one)
1 (Not confident) - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 (Very confident!)
Thank you for sharing! Your support team is there for you.