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Flip Your Words!

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Seraphine Schomber

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Flip Your Words!

Students will be able to identify examples of discouraging self-talk and reframe them into encouraging statements to foster a positive self-concept.

Learning to challenge negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones helps students build self-esteem, resilience, and a growth mindset. This skill is crucial for navigating challenges and promoting overall well-being.

Audience

3rd Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, guided examples, and a hands-on activity.

Materials

Teacher computer and projector, Flip Your Words! Slide Deck, Flip Your Words! Script, Thought Bubble Worksheet, and Pencils or crayons

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Review the Flip Your Words! Slide Deck and ensure projector is set up.
    - Print copies of the Thought Bubble Worksheet for each student.
    - Read through the Flip Your Words! Script to familiarize yourself with the talking points and discussion prompts.
    - Gather pencils or crayons for the students.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Inner Voice Intro

5 minutes

  • Begin with the Positive Vibes Warm-Up to get students thinking about their inner voice.
    * Facilitate a brief discussion about what an 'inner voice' is and how it can make us feel. Use the Flip Your Words! Script for guidance.

Step 2

Introduce

7 minutes

  • Use slides 2-4 from the Flip Your Words! Slide Deck to introduce the concept of 'flipping' discouraging thoughts.
    * Provide clear examples of discouraging thoughts and guide students in transforming them into encouraging ones. Refer to the Flip Your Words! Script for specific phrasing and prompts.

Step 3

Worksheet Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Thought Bubble Worksheet to each student.
    * Explain the activity: Students will read discouraging thoughts and then write or draw an encouraging

Step 4

Share and Reflect

5 minutes

  • Invite students to share one 'flipped' thought from their Thought Bubble Worksheet with a partner or the class.
    * Discuss how changing our inner words can change how we feel and what we do.
    * Use prompts from the Flip Your Words! Script to guide reflection.

Step 5

Cool Down: Positive Affirmation

3 minutes

  • Conclude the lesson with the My Inner Cheerleader Cool Down.
    * Encourage students to practice 'flipping' their words in their daily lives.
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Slide Deck

Your Inner Voice

What does your inner voice tell you?

Welcome students and introduce the idea that we all have an inner voice. Ask them what they think an inner voice is. Connect to the warm-up activity.

Discouraging Words

Sometimes our inner voice can say things that make us feel bad or want to give up.

These are discouraging words.

Explain that sometimes our inner voice can say discouraging things. Give a simple, relatable example like 'I'm not good at math.'

Flip Your Words!

We can change discouraging words into encouraging words!

Discouraging: 'I can't do this!'
Encouraging: 'I can try my best!'

Introduce the idea of 'flipping' these discouraging words. Explain that we can change what our inner voice says. Provide the first example on the slide and ask students for ideas on how to flip it.

More Flipping!

Discouraging: 'This is too hard.'
Encouraging: 'I can ask for help.'

Discouraging: 'I made a mistake.'
Encouraging: 'Mistakes help me learn.'

Provide another example and guide students in flipping it. Emphasize the power of positive self-talk.

Your Turn to Flip!

Now it's your turn to practice flipping discouraging words into encouraging words!

Transition to the worksheet activity. Explain that they will practice flipping words on their own.

Be Your Own Cheerleader!

Remember, your inner voice is powerful!
You can choose to make it kind and encouraging.
You are strong! You are capable! You are awesome!

Remind students of the power of their inner voice and how they can be their own cheerleader.

lenny

Script

Flip Your Words! Script

Warm-Up: Inner Voice Intro (5 minutes)

(Teacher displays Positive Vibes Warm-Up)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Let's start our day with a quick warm-up. Look at the pictures on the screen. Which one makes you feel happy and strong? Take a moment to think about why."


"Great responses! Today, we're going to talk about something really important that lives inside all of us: our 'inner voice.' Has anyone heard of an 'inner voice' before? What do you think it means?"





"That's right! Our inner voice is like the little voice inside our heads that talks to us. It can say all sorts of things throughout the day. Sometimes it says good things, and sometimes it might say things that make us feel a little bit down or discouraged."

Introduce 'Flipping' (7 minutes)

(Teacher displays Flip Your Words! Slide Deck - Slide 2: Discouraging Words)

"Take a look at this slide. Have you ever heard your inner voice say things that sound like these? Things that make you feel like you can't do something, or that it's too hard?"


"When our inner voice says things that make us feel bad, those are 'discouraging words.' They can make us want to give up or feel sad. But guess what? We have the power to change those words!"

(Teacher displays Flip Your Words! Slide Deck - Slide 3: Flip Your Words!)

"Today, we're going to learn how to 'flip' those discouraging words into 'encouraging words.' Encouraging words are like a cheerleader in your head, cheering you on and making you feel strong and capable!"

"Look at the example on the slide: 'Discouraging: I can't do this!' What's an encouraging way to say that? How can we flip that thought?"


"Fantastic ideas! 'Encouraging: I can try my best!' See how that makes you feel different? It makes you want to try, even if it's tricky."

(Teacher displays Flip Your Words! Slide Deck - Slide 4: More Flipping!)

"Let's try another one. What if your inner voice says, 'This is too hard.' How can we flip that into an encouraging thought?"


"Excellent! 'I can ask for help.' It's okay to ask for help, and it shows strength! And what about, 'I made a mistake'? How can we flip that?"


"Yes! 'Mistakes help me learn.' Everyone makes mistakes, and they are chances for us to get better!"

Worksheet Activity (10 minutes)

(Teacher displays Flip Your Words! Slide Deck - Slide 5: Your Turn to Flip!)

"Now it's your turn to be a 'word flipper'! I'm going to hand out a Thought Bubble Worksheet. On this worksheet, you'll see some discouraging thoughts inside bubbles. Your job is to 'flip' them by writing or drawing an encouraging thought in the empty bubble next to it."

"You can write words, draw a picture, or even just jot down a few ideas. Work quietly on your own. If you need help, raise your hand."










**(Circulate and provide support as students work on their Thought Bubble Worksheet.)

Share and Reflect (5 minutes)

"Alright, let's bring it back together. Who would like to share one of their flipped thoughts from their Thought Bubble Worksheet? You can share with a partner first, then we'll share with the whole group."

(Allow students to briefly share with a partner, then call on a few volunteers to share with the class.)

"How did it feel to change those discouraging words into encouraging ones? Do you think changing your inner words can change how you feel or what you do? Why?"





"That's powerful! Our thoughts really do affect our feelings and our actions."

Cool Down: Positive Affirmation (3 minutes)

(Teacher displays Flip Your Words! Slide Deck - Slide 6: Be Your Own Cheerleader!)

"As we finish up today, I want you to remember this: Your inner voice is incredibly powerful. You get to choose what it says! You can choose to make it your own personal cheerleader."

(Teacher displays My Inner Cheerleader Cool Down)

"Let's all read this together: 'I am strong! I am capable! I am awesome!' I want you to carry that thought with you today. Whenever you hear a discouraging thought, remember you can 'flip' it and be your own inner cheerleader! Great job, everyone!"

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Thought Bubble Worksheet: Flip Your Words!

Name: _________________________

Date: _________________________

Instructions: Read the discouraging thought in the first bubble. Then, in the empty bubble next to it, write or draw an encouraging thought that can help you feel better and keep trying!

Example:

Discouraging Thought:
(Bubble: I can't do this!)

Encouraging Thought:
(Empty Bubble for student response)







Your Turn:

  1. Discouraging Thought:
    (Bubble: This is too hard!)

    Encouraging Thought:
    (Empty Bubble for student response)







  2. Discouraging Thought:
    (Bubble: I made a mistake!)

    Encouraging Thought:
    (Empty Bubble for student response)







  3. Discouraging Thought:
    (Bubble: No one wants to play with me.)

    Encouraging Thought:
    (Empty Bubble for student response)







  4. Discouraging Thought:
    (Bubble: I'm not good enough.)

    Encouraging Thought:
    (Empty Bubble for student response)







  5. Discouraging Thought:
    (Bubble: I give up!)

    Encouraging Thought:
    (Empty Bubble for student response)







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Warm Up

Positive Vibes Warm-Up!

Instructions: Look at the pictures below. Circle the picture that makes you feel happy, strong, and ready to learn! Then, briefly write why you chose that picture.

(Imagine here: Two or three simple, positive images. E.g., a smiling sun, a child raising their hand confidently, a group of friends laughing.)

Why did you choose this picture?





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Cool Down

My Inner Cheerleader Cool Down

Instructions: Finish these sentences about what you learned today and how you can be your own inner cheerleader!

  1. Something I learned about my inner voice is...





  2. One discouraging thought I can "flip" this week is...





  3. I will remind myself that I am... (e.g., strong, smart, kind, brave)





  4. My favorite encouraging phrase is: "I ________________________!"

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