Anxiety Feelings Worksheet

Name: ________________________ Date: ________________

1. List Three Feelings

Write three words that describe how you feel when you think about going to school.

1. _______________________________________
   
   
   
2. _______________________________________
   
   
   
3. _______________________________________
   
   
   

2. Match Feelings to Scenarios

Your teacher will read or show you small scenario cards. For each scenario, write the feeling (from above or your own) that best matches how you would feel.

Scenario 1: ____________________________________________________



Scenario 2: ____________________________________________________



Scenario 3: ____________________________________________________

3. Physical Signs of Anxiety

What does your body feel like when you’re anxious at school? Write at least three physical signs.
a. _______________________________________



b. _______________________________________



c. _______________________________________

4. Anxious Thoughts

What kinds of thoughts go through your mind when you feel anxious about school? Write at least three.
a. _______________________________________



b. _______________________________________



c. _______________________________________

Use this worksheet to help you notice and name your feelings. We’ll use these notes when we learn coping strategies in future sessions!

Feeling Matching Activity

Time: 7 minutes
Objective: Match feelings to school scenarios to recognize anxiety triggers.

Materials:

• Scenario Cards prepared by teacher
• Anxiety Feelings Worksheet

Instructions:

1. Pair up students.
2. Give each pair a set of scenario cards describing school situations (e.g., taking a test, presenting in class, lunchroom noise).
3. Ask pairs to read each scenario and choose a feeling from their worksheet that matches how they would feel in that situation.
4. Have pairs write the feeling next to the scenario on the card.
5. After matching, each pair shares one scenario and feeling with the whole group, explaining their choice.

Teacher Tips:

• Encourage students to use the physical signs and thoughts sections of their worksheets to deepen understanding.
• Provide prompts or additional feeling words if students struggle to match.
• Validate all responses to foster a supportive environment.

Session 1 Discussion

Time: 5 minutes
Objective: Help students share experiences of school-related anxiety, normalize feelings, and build group support.

Discussion Guidelines

• One person speaks at a time; please listen without interrupting.
• Everyone’s feelings are valid—there are no “wrong” answers.
• What’s shared here stays here.
• Use respectful language and kind tones.

1. Check-In Prompt (1–2 minutes)

• Invite each student to share the word they wrote on their index card during the Warm-Up Check-In.
• Ask: “What made you choose that word?”

2. Explore What Anxiety Feels Like (1–2 minutes)

• Display the group Anxiety Definition poster.
• Question: “What does anxiety feel like in your body?”
  • Follow-up: “Look at your Anxiety Feelings Worksheet. Which physical sign on your list happens most often?”
• Question: “What kinds of thoughts go through your mind when you feel that way?”
  • Follow-up: “How do those thoughts make you feel overall?”

3. Share a Real-Life Scenario (2 minutes)

• Prompt: “Think of a time at school when you felt anxious. Would anyone like to tell us briefly what happened?”
  • Follow-up: “How did your body feel? What did you do next?”
• If few volunteers: offer a sample scenario (e.g., presenting in class) and ask, “Does anyone else relate to that? How would you feel?”

4. Link to Coping Tools (1 minute)

• Remind students: “Next, we’ll learn strategies to help when we notice these feelings.”
• Prompt: “What is one thing you’d like to try when you feel anxious?”
  • Encourage naming a simple tool (e.g., deep breathing, positive self-talk).

Facilitator Tips:

• Validate each student’s sharing (“Thank you for sharing—I know that took courage.”).
• If a student struggles to find words, offer prompts from the worksheet (physical signs, thoughts).
• Keep the pace calm and ensure no one feels rushed.

Transition to Next Activity: “Thanks for sharing. Let’s move on to our Feeling Matching Activity to see how these feelings come up in school situations.”

Session 1 Warm-Up Check-In

Time: 5 minutes
Objective: Quickly gauge and share how students feel about coming to school today, build group rapport.
Materials:

• Index cards (one per student)
• Markers
• Chart paper poster titled Anxiety Definition or blank for grouping feelings

Instructions

1. Give each student an index card and a marker.
2. Prompt: “Write one word on your card that describes how you feel about coming to school today.”
3. When everyone is done, have students fold their cards and place them in a collection box or basket.
4. Teacher shuffles the cards, then reads each word aloud anonymously.
5. As each word is read, invite volunteers to place it on the chart paper poster, grouping similar feelings together.
6. Briefly say: “I notice many of us feel [e.g., nervous, excited, tired]. That’s okay—today we’ll talk about anxiety and build tools to help.”

Facilitator Tips:

• Encourage every student to participate, even if they write a simple word.
• Validate all feelings: “Thank you for sharing—it helps us know we’re not alone.”
• Keep the pace calm; model reading cards in a steady voice.
• Use the grouped words later when defining anxiety and discussing feelings.

Session 1 Cool-Down

Time: 5 minutes
Objective: Reinforce learning of coping strategies and set a goal to try one tool before next session.

Materials:

• Coping Tools Overview Card
• Index cards or sticky notes

1. Guided Deep Breathing (2 minutes)

• Model the breathing exercise from the Coping Tools Overview Card:
  • Inhale slowly for a count of 4, hold for 2, exhale for a count of 6.
  • Repeat together 3 times.

2. Choose Your Coping Tool (1 minute)

• Show the Coping Tools Overview Card again.
• Ask each student to pick one tool they want to try when they feel anxious before our next session.

3. Exit Ticket: Tool & Plan (2 minutes)

• Distribute an index card to each student.
• Prompt: “Write the coping tool you chose and one sentence about when you will use it at school.”

Tool I will try: __________________________

When I will use it: _________________________

• Invite volunteers to share their plan if they feel comfortable.

Preview Next Session:
“Next time, we’ll practice deep breathing and explore other mindfulness strategies to help manage anxiety in real time.”