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Facing School Fears

Lesson Plan

Facing School Fears Lesson Plan

Help 8th graders overcome school avoidance by identifying feelings, triggers, and coping strategies across four 15-minute sessions.

Addressing school avoidance is critical for improving attendance and mental well-being, enabling students to engage confidently in academic and social environments.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

1 Hour Total

Approach

Interactive discussions and reflection activities over four sessions.

Materials

Facing School Fears Lesson Plan, Feelings Chart, and Trigger & Coping Strategies Worksheet

Prep

Review Materials and Session Outlines

15 minutes

Step 1

Session 1: Introduction & Emotional Expression

15 minutes

  • Welcome students and explain the purpose of the lesson.
  • Encourage students to share how they feel about school using the Feelings Chart.
  • Lead a brief discussion on common emotions associated with school-related anxiety.
  • Set the tone for openness and confidentiality.

Step 2

Session 2: Identifying Triggers

15 minutes

  • Review feedback from the previous session.
  • Facilitate a guided discussion on what specific school elements might trigger anxiety.
  • Use group brainstorming and note key triggers on a whiteboard for visibility.
  • Introduce the Trigger & Coping Strategies Worksheet to document triggers.

Step 3

Session 3: Developing Coping Strategies

15 minutes

  • Recap trigger identification from Session 2.
  • Invite students to discuss or write down possible coping strategies to manage these triggers.
  • Fill out the coping strategies section on the Trigger & Coping Strategies Worksheet.
  • Encourage practical ideas that can be implemented in the school setting.

Step 4

Session 4: Building Confidence & Future Planning

15 minutes

  • Start with a recap of the strategies developed in Session 3.
  • Engage students in a role-play or discussion on how to apply these strategies in real situations at school.
  • Discuss the importance of gradual exposure to challenging scenarios and establish personal goals.
  • End with an affirming activity, reinforcing each student's ability to cope and succeed.
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Slide Deck

Session 1: Introduction & Emotional Expression

• Welcome and introduction
• Explain the purpose of the lesson
• Use the Feelings Chart to share emotions
• Discuss common school-related anxieties

Begin with setting a welcoming and supportive tone. Remind students that this is a confidential space and encourage them to share their feelings about school using the Feelings Chart. Emphasize that all feelings are valid and the session is about understanding what they experience when thinking about school.

Session 2: Identifying Triggers

• Recap of previous session
• Discussion on what triggers anxiety at school
• Brainstorm key triggers and list them on the whiteboard
• Introduce the Trigger & Coping Strategies Worksheet for documenting triggers

Review the previous session's feedback briefly. Guide the discussion on specific aspects of school that are triggering anxiety. The Whiteboard should be ready for brainstorming. Remind the students that identifying triggers is a step towards finding solutions, and encourage openness when discussing their thoughts.

Session 3: Developing Coping Strategies

• Review identified triggers
• Discuss possible coping strategies for each trigger
• Document strategies on the Trigger & Coping Strategies Worksheet
• Encourage practical and actionable ideas

Revisit the triggers identified in Session 2. Facilitate a discussion on potential ways to cope with each trigger. Help students brainstorm practical strategies that they can use within the school setting. Counsel students to share their own ideas and record them on the worksheet.

Session 4: Building Confidence & Future Planning

• Recap coping strategies
• Role-play or discussion on applying strategies in real situations
• Discuss gradual exposure and setting personal goals
• End with an affirming activity to boost confidence

Start with a brief recap of the coping strategies developed in the previous session. Engage the students with role-playing or group discussions to plan how they might face real school scenarios using these strategies. Conclude with affirmations to boost their confidence and encourage setting personal goals.

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Worksheet

Feelings Chart

Below is a list of feelings you might experience about school. Take a moment to look over the list and think about how you feel. For each emotion, circle the face/symbol that best shows how strong the feeling is for you. If you have other feelings, don't hesitate to add them!

Instructions:

  • Review the emotions listed below.
  • Next to each emotion, you'll find a simple face/symbol to help you choose or indicate your level of feeling.
  • If you feel an emotion that's not listed, write it down in the 'Other Feelings' section and choose a symbol that matches your feeling.

Emotions:

  1. Happy
    Symbol: 😊





  2. Anxious
    Symbol: 😟





  3. Excited
    Symbol: 😃





  4. Scared
    Symbol: 😨





  5. Sad
    Symbol: 😢





Other Feelings:

Write down any other emotions you experience about school:










Remember, every feeling is valid. Think about why you might feel each emotion and prepare to share your thoughts if you are comfortable doing so.



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Worksheet

Trigger & Coping Strategies Worksheet

This worksheet is designed to help you identify the things at school that make you feel anxious or worried, and to come up with ways to feel better when these triggers occur.

Part 1: Identify Your Triggers

Think about the times you feel uneasy or anxious about school. Write down the specific situations, events, or feelings that you think trigger these emotions.

  1. Trigger:





  2. Trigger:





  3. Trigger:





(Add more if necessary):





Part 2: Brainstorm Coping Strategies

For each trigger you identified, brainstorm a few strategies or ideas that could help you feel more confident or calm when you face these challenges. Try to think of ways that you could use these strategies at school.

  1. For the first trigger:

    • Coping Strategy 1:


    • Coping Strategy 2:


    • Coping Strategy 3:


  2. For the second trigger:

    • Coping Strategy 1:


    • Coping Strategy 2:


    • Coping Strategy 3:


  3. For the third trigger:

    • Coping Strategy 1:


    • Coping Strategy 2:


    • Coping Strategy 3:


(Add more if needed):





Remember, these are your personal strategies. There are no right or wrong answers. Use this space to think about what might make you feel safer and more prepared to face school. Once you have your ideas, you can discuss them with your teacher or a trusted adult if you’d like.



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