lenny

Goals: Anger & Leadership

user image

Lesson Plan

Goals: Anger & Leadership Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify personal triggers for anger, learn strategies for emotional regulation, and define characteristics of positive leadership to set personal goals for self-improvement and peer influence.

Developing emotional intelligence and leadership skills are vital for success in all aspects of life. This lesson empowers students to take control of their reactions, foster healthier relationships, and become effective role models in their community.

Audience

10th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through guided discussion, reflection, and goal-setting, students will develop actionable strategies.

Materials

Goals: Anger & Leadership Slide Deck, What Makes You Tick? Warm-Up, My Path to Positive Power Journal, and Leading with Empathy Discussion Guide

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Begin with a brief welcome and introduction to the topic of emotional regulation and positive leadership.
    - Distribute the What Makes You Tick? Warm-Up and give students 2-3 minutes to complete it individually.
    - Ask a few students to share one insight from their warm-up (e.g., a common trigger, a simple coping mechanism).

Step 2

Exploring Anger & Regulation

10 minutes

  • Display Goals: Anger & Leadership Slide Deck (Slides 1-3).
    - Lead a discussion using the Leading with Empathy Discussion Guide about common anger triggers and healthy ways to respond. Encourage students to think about how unchecked anger can impact their personal lives and interactions with others.
    - Introduce coping strategies such as deep breathing, counting, or stepping away, as outlined in the slide deck.

Step 3

Defining Positive Leadership

8 minutes

  • Transition to discussing positive leadership using Goals: Anger & Leadership Slide Deck (Slides 4-6).
    - Facilitate a brief brainstorming session: 'What does a positive leader look like?' or 'How does a positive leader act?'
    - Highlight qualities like empathy, active listening, clear communication, and conflict resolution, connecting them to effective anger management.

Step 4

Goal Setting & Reflection

7 minutes

  • Distribute the My Path to Positive Power Journal.
    - Guide students to set one measurable goal related to anger management and one goal related to positive leadership. Emphasize making goals specific and actionable.
    - Conclude by asking students to share one key takeaway or their personal commitment to their goals (optional, depending on comfort level and time).
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Unleash Your Inner Leader!

Today, we're talking about two powerful things:

  • Managing Anger: Taking control of your emotions
  • Positive Leadership: Inspiring yourself and others

These skills help you succeed in school, with friends, and in life!

Welcome students and introduce the topic. Emphasize that managing emotions and leading positively are crucial life skills. Briefly explain what will be covered in the lesson.

What Makes You Tick?

Let's kick things off with a quick reflection:

  • What situations tend to make you feel angry or frustrated?
  • How do you typically react when you feel this way?
  • What's one thing you do (or could do) to calm down?

(Refer to What Makes You Tick? Warm-Up)

Distribute the warm-up activity. Explain the purpose of the warm-up is to get students thinking about their own emotional responses. Give them 2-3 minutes to complete it individually.

Taming the Anger Monster

Understanding Anger

  • It's a normal emotion!
  • It signals something is wrong.

Healthy Responses

  • Pause & Breathe: Take 3 deep breaths.
  • Think & Choose: How do you want to respond?
  • Communicate: Express feelings calmly.
  • Problem Solve: Find solutions.
  • Step Away: Give yourself space.

(Refer to Leading with Empathy Discussion Guide)

Lead a discussion on anger triggers and healthy responses. Use the discussion guide. Ask open-ended questions and encourage students to share their experiences (if comfortable) and ideas for constructive ways to handle anger. Connect it to the idea of being in control.

Be a Positive Powerhouse!

What does a positive leader do?

  • Inspires others
  • Listens actively
  • Communicates clearly
  • Helps resolve conflicts
  • Shows empathy

Think about leaders you admire. What makes them great?

Transition to positive leadership. Ask students what comes to mind when they hear 'positive leader'. Brainstorm characteristics and write them on the board if possible. Link positive leadership to emotional regulation.

Your Leadership Superpowers

Every single one of you has the potential to be a positive leader!

It's about:

  • Setting a good example
  • Lifting others up
  • Taking responsibility
  • Making a difference, big or small

How can you use your 'superpowers' today?

Emphasize the ripple effect of positive leadership and how it contributes to a better environment. Encourage students to see themselves as leaders in their own lives and communities.

Your Goals, Your Path

Now, let's set some goals!

Think about:

  1. Anger Management: One specific action you'll take.
  2. Positive Leadership: One way you'll inspire others.

(Refer to My Path to Positive Power Journal)

Explain the journal activity. Guide students to set specific, actionable goals. Reiterate the importance of setting realistic and personal goals. Provide time for them to start writing.

lenny

Warm Up

What Makes You Tick? A Quick Check-In

Take a few minutes to reflect on your emotions, especially anger, and how you react. Be honest with yourself – this is for your own understanding!

  1. What are 2-3 common situations or things that often trigger feelings of anger or frustration in you? (e.g., being interrupted, feeling misunderstood, unfairness)



  2. When you start to feel angry, what are some of the physical signs you notice in your body? (e.g., tense shoulders, fast heartbeat, clenching fists)



  3. What is your typical first reaction when you feel angry? (e.g., yell, shut down, walk away, confront)



  4. Can you think of one thing you do, or could do, to help yourself calm down in the moment?



lenny
lenny

Journal

My Path to Positive Power: Goal Setting

Take some time to think deeply about how you want to grow as an individual and as a leader. Setting clear, actionable goals is the first step towards making positive changes.

Part 1: Mastering My Emotions (Anger Management)

Think about the triggers and reactions you identified in the warm-up. How can you respond more constructively when anger arises? Your goal should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

  1. My Anger Management Goal: What specific action will you take to manage your anger more effectively?






  2. Why is this goal important to me? How will achieving this goal benefit you and your relationships?






  3. What is one small step I can take today to work towards this goal?



Part 2: Leading with Impact (Positive Leadership)

Consider what it means to be a positive leader and how you can embody those qualities in your daily interactions. How can you be a positive influence on your friends, family, and community?

  1. My Positive Leadership Goal: What specific action will you take to demonstrate positive leadership?






  2. Why is this goal important to me? How will being a positive leader make a difference in your life and the lives of others?






  3. What is one small step I can take today to work towards this goal?



Reflect and Commit

  • How do these two goals connect? How can managing your anger help you be a better leader?






  • Write a short personal commitment statement to yourself about sticking to these goals.






lenny
lenny

Discussion

Leading with Empathy: Group Discussion Guide

This guide will help facilitate a productive discussion about managing anger and fostering positive leadership. Encourage open and respectful dialogue.

Part 1: Navigating Anger

  1. Opening Question: Thinking about our warm-up, what are some common external events or situations that seem to trigger anger in people? (e.g., traffic, someone being rude, feeling disrespected)

    • Follow-up: Are there common internal thoughts or feelings that often accompany these external triggers?

  2. Impact of Unmanaged Anger: How does unmanaged anger, whether in ourselves or others, affect relationships, teamwork, or even just the general atmosphere of a classroom or a home?

    • Follow-up: Can you share an example (without naming names) of how someone's anger negatively impacted a situation?

  3. Constructive Responses: We talked about a few strategies to deal with anger in the moment (pause, breathe, think, communicate, step away). Which of these do you think is the hardest to do when you're truly upset, and why?

    • Follow-up: What are some other healthy ways to release or process angry feelings over time (e.g., exercise, talking to a trusted person, writing)?

Part 2: Embracing Positive Leadership

  1. Defining Positive Leadership: Based on our slides, what's one characteristic of a positive leader that you feel is most important, and why?

    • Follow-up: Can a person who struggles with anger still be a positive leader? How?

  2. Leadership in Everyday Life: We often think of leaders as people in big positions. How can you show positive leadership in your daily life, even in small ways, among your friends, family, or in school clubs?

    • Follow-up: How does effectively managing your own emotions contribute to you being a more positive and effective leader?

  3. Inspiring Change: How can a positive leader help others to manage their anger or to act more positively?

    • Follow-up: What challenges might a positive leader face when trying to influence others, and how can they overcome them?

Part 3: Connecting the Dots

  1. Synthesis: How does practicing emotional regulation (like anger management) directly contribute to your ability to be a more effective and respected positive leader?

  2. Personal Takeaway: What is one new idea or strategy you learned today that you want to try applying in your own life this week?

lenny
lenny