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Feeling Down?

Lesson Plan

Spotting the Clouds

Guide the student to recognize early signs of depression (“clouds”) and practice three immediate coping strategies to foster self-awareness and resilience.

Early identification of mood changes and building simple coping habits can prevent escalation of depressive symptoms and empower the student to manage their emotions.

Audience

7th Grade Student

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive mood check, guided reflection, strategy practice.

Materials

Mood Meter Slide Deck, - Symptom Check-In Worksheet, and - Emotion Reflection Prompt Journal

Prep

Review and Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Welcome & Mood Check

5 minutes

  • Greet the student warmly and set a supportive tone
  • Display the first slide of the Mood Meter Slide Deck
  • Ask the student to place their current feeling on the mood meter
  • Briefly discuss why checking in on mood is important for self-awareness

Step 2

Spotting the Clouds

5 minutes

  • Introduce the ‘clouds’ metaphor: early, subtle signs of low mood
  • Guide the student through the Symptom Check-In Worksheet
  • Help them identify any patterns or recent ‘clouds’ they may have noticed
  • Personalized Coaching: gently prompt for details if the student struggles to recall examples

Step 3

Exploring Feelings

10 minutes

  • Provide the Emotion Reflection Prompt Journal
  • Ask the student to choose one ‘cloud’ from their worksheet and write about:
    • What happened just before you noticed this cloud?
    • What thoughts went through your mind?
    • What physical sensations did you feel?
  • Personalized Coaching: if stuck, offer sentence starters like “I felt… because…”

Step 4

Introducing Coping Strategies

5 minutes

  • Present three quick coping strategies using the slide deck:
    1. Deep breathing (4-7-8 technique)
    2. Five-minute movement break (stretch or walk)
    3. Positive self-talk (create a reassuring phrase)
  • Model each strategy briefly and invite the student to practice one together

Step 5

Review & Next Steps

5 minutes

  • Recap the identified ‘clouds’ and the coping strategies practiced
  • Set a simple goal: choose one strategy to try today and note observations
  • Confirm the student feels confident using the strategy
  • Schedule a brief follow-up check-in to reinforce progress
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Slide Deck

Mood Meter Check-In

[Insert mood meter graphic]

On this mood meter, find and circle the area that best matches how you’re feeling right now.

Welcome the student and set a supportive tone. Explain that you’ll begin by checking in on how they’re feeling today and practicing noticing emotions.

Spotting the Clouds

Imagine your mood like the sky. Small, subtle “clouds” can form before a big storm.
Noticing these clouds early helps you take action before they grow.

Introduce the clouds metaphor. Emphasize that small mood changes can be like tiny clouds that signal how we’re feeling inside.

Common Signs of Low Mood

• Feeling sad or down more often
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Low energy or feeling slowed down
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling irritable or restless
• Changes in appetite

Point out each symptom and invite the student to see if they’ve noticed any of these clouds recently.

Quick Coping Strategies

  1. Deep Breathing (4-7-8 technique)
    • Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, exhale for 8
  2. Movement Break
    • Take a 5-minute stretch, walk, or dance
  3. Positive Self-Talk
    • Create and repeat a reassuring phrase (e.g., “I am strong and I can handle this.”)

Model each strategy briefly. Invite the student to choose one to practice together.

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Worksheet

Symptom Check-In

Date: __________________________

Instructions: Review the list of common low-mood “clouds” below. For each one you’ve noticed in the past week, check the box and write a brief note about when or how you experienced it.

  • Feeling sad or down more often
    Notes:


  • Loss of interest in favorite activities
    Notes:


  • Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
    Notes:


  • Low energy or feeling slowed down
    Notes:


  • Difficulty concentrating
    Notes:


  • Feeling irritable or restless
    Notes:


  • Changes in appetite
    Notes:


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Journal

Emotion Reflection Prompt Journal

Instructions: Choose one cloud you noted on the Symptom Check-In Worksheet. Use the prompts below to reflect on what happened, how you felt, and what you might try next time. Fill in your answers in the spaces provided.

  1. What happened just before I noticed this cloud?
    I noticed a shift when…





  2. What thoughts went through my mind?
    I thought…





  3. What physical sensations did I feel in my body?
    I felt…





  4. How did I react or respond to these thoughts and feelings?
    I responded by…





  5. What can I do next time to help myself earlier?
    Next time I will…





Feel free to add any extra notes or observations below:












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Feeling Down? • Lenny Learning