Lesson Plan
Anxiety Detective Plan
Guide a 5th grader to spot and record anxious thoughts like clues, then use detective strategies to ‘catch’ and challenge them, building coping skills and self-awareness.
By framing anxiety as a mystery to solve, this lesson empowers the student to externalize worries, practice evidence-based thinking, and develop self-regulation skills in a fun, relatable format.
Audience
5th Grade Student
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Detective-themed activities to identify and challenge anxious thoughts.
Materials
Prep
Prepare Detective Materials
5 minutes
- Review the Clue Board Slides to familiarize yourself with the visual clues and prompts.
- Print or have digital access to the Anxiety Case File activity sheets.
- Prepare copies of the Detective’s Log for journaling.
- Review the Thought Catcher Warm-Up instructions to guide the student effectively.
Step 1
Thought Catcher Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Introduce the concept of ‘catching’ thoughts like flies in a net.
- Use the Thought Catcher Warm-Up to have the student jot down any recent worried thoughts.
- Encourage the student to describe where and when they noticed each thought.
Step 2
Detective Role Introduction
5 minutes
- Explain that they are now an Anxiety Detective on a case to find and solve anxious clues.
- Show the Clue Board Slides to demonstrate examples of thought ‘clues’ (e.g., “What if…” questions, physical sensations).
- Ask the student to name their detective persona.
Step 3
Anxiety Case File Investigation
20 minutes
- Give the student the Anxiety Case File sheet.
- Guide them to record each anxious thought as a new ‘case,’ noting:
- Date/time of the thought
- Trigger or situation
- Physical clues (e.g., racing heart)
- For each case, prompt them to ask detective questions:
- “What evidence supports this worry?”
- “What evidence contradicts it?”
Step 4
Detective’s Log Reflection
10 minutes
- Provide the Detective’s Log for personal reflection.
- Have the student choose one case to analyze further:
- Summarize the facts
- Propose a balanced conclusion
- Write a positive coping strategy (e.g., deep breathing, self-talk)
- Discuss their findings and praise their detective work.
Step 5
Closing and Next Steps
5 minutes
- Review the strategies the student identified in their log.
- Encourage them to continue using their detective skills when new worries arise.
- Set a brief follow-up appointment to review additional cases and reinforce progress.
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Slide Deck
Clue Board: Searching for Anxious Thoughts
Today, we’ll become Anxiety Detectives. Our mission: find clues of anxious thoughts and solve the mystery by gathering evidence.
Introduce the Clue Board concept. Explain that just like detectives hunt for clues at a mystery scene, we’ll hunt for clues of anxious thoughts in our minds.
What Is an Anxious Thought?
Anxious thoughts are worries or “what if” questions that pop into your mind when you feel unsure or afraid.
Examples:
• “What if I mess up in class?”
• “I can’t do this.”
Define anxious thoughts in kid-friendly language and invite the student to share one example they've noticed recently.
Common Clue Types
Look for these detective clues:
• “What if…” questions
• Negative predictions (“I’ll fail.”)
• All-or-nothing words (“always,” “never”)
• Physical sensations (racing heart, sweaty palms)
Walk through each clue type. Ask the student to name any other clues they’ve noticed in their body or mind.
Detective Questions
When you spot a clue, ask yourself:
- What evidence supports this worry?
- What evidence contradicts it?
- What’s a more balanced conclusion?
Highlight how evidence helps solve the case. Model one example: e.g., worry “I’ll fail the test” then list supporting vs. contradicting evidence.
Ready to Begin Your Case?
Use your Anxiety Case File to record each clue you find:
• Date & time
• Situation that triggered it
• Physical & thought clues
• Answers to your detective questions
Prepare to transition into the Anxiety Case File activity. Emphasize that the Case File is their personal detective notebook.
Warm Up
Thought Catcher Warm-Up
In this quick warm-up, you’ll practice “catching” your anxious thoughts just like a detective catching clues.
-
Think of a recent worry or anxious thought.
When did it pop into your mind? Where were you?
_______________________________________________________ -
Write down the exact thought you noticed.
(e.g., “What if I forget what to say?”)
_______________________________________________________ -
Notice any physical clues.
How did your body feel?
• Racing heart?
• Butterflies?
• Tight muscles?
_______________________________________________________ -
Rate how strong the worry felt (0 = not strong, 10 = very strong).
__ / 10
Once you’ve caught your thought, we’ll use our detective tools to learn more about it and decide if it’s a fair worry or just a sneaky clue!
Activity
Anxiety Case File
Use this sheet to record each anxious thought as a new “case.” Gather your clues, ask detective questions, and solve the mystery of your worry!
1. Date & Time:
______________________________________________________
2. Situation (What was happening when you noticed this thought?):
______________________________________________________
3. Anxious Thought (Your “Clue”):
______________________________________________________
4. Physical Clues (Body sensations you felt):
• _________________________________________________
• _________________________________________________
• _________________________________________________
5. Detective Questions
- What evidence supports this worry?
______________________________________________________ - What evidence contradicts this worry?
______________________________________________________ - What’s a more balanced conclusion?
______________________________________________________
6. Coping Strategy (Your plan to feel better next time):
(e.g., deep breathing, positive self-talk, taking a break)
______________________________________________________
When you’ve solved this case, share your findings in your Detective’s Log and celebrate your smart detective work!
Journal
Detective’s Log
Use this log to dive deep into one of your anxiety cases. Reflect on the clues you found, the evidence you weighed, and the coping strategies you chose.
1. Case Number & Date:
Case #: ____ Date: ____
______________________________________________________
2. Summary of the Situation and Thought:
Describe what was happening when you caught this worry and the exact thought you noticed.
______________________________________________________
3. Evidence that Supported the Worry:
What clues or facts made this worry feel true?
______________________________________________________
4. Evidence that Contradicted the Worry:
What clues or facts showed this worry might not be accurate?
______________________________________________________
5. Balanced Conclusion:
What’s a fair and balanced way to think about this situation?
______________________________________________________
6. Coping Strategy and Reflection:
Which strategy did you choose (e.g., deep breathing, positive self-talk)? How did it help you feel better?
______________________________________________________
7. Next Steps as an Anxiety Detective:
What will you do next time you notice this worry?
______________________________________________________
8. What I Learned About Myself:
Reflect on your detective skills and any new insights you discovered.
______________________________________________________