Circle of Practices Discussion Guide

Overview: In small groups, students will share and reflect on self-care practices they’re most interested in and develop a simple plan for trying one this week.

Time: 10 minutes

Materials:

• Self-Care Spectrum for reference
  
• Sticky notes or notebook for jotting ideas

Group Setup:

• Groups of 3–4 students
• Assign roles in each group:
  • Facilitator – Keeps the discussion on track and prompts quieter members to share
  • Recorder – Jots down key ideas, insights, and action steps
  • Presenter – Shares one group takeaway with the whole class

Guiding Questions:

1. Which self-care domain (Physical, Emotional, Social, Creative) are you most drawn to? Why?
   
   
   
2. What specific activity in that domain interests you most? (e.g., biking, journaling, calling a friend, drawing)
   
   
   
3. When and where could you fit this activity into your weekly routine?
   
   
   
4. What challenges might you face when trying this, and how could you overcome them?
   
   
   

Follow-Up Prompts (if groups need more to discuss):

• Can you share a time you tried something like this before? What happened?
• Who could remind or encourage you to stick with this practice?
• What’s one small first step you could take to get started?

Reporting Out (2 minutes):

• Each group’s Presenter shares one insight or plan with the class.

Assessment & Differentiation:

• Teachers circulate, listen for understanding and realistic planning.
• Provide sentence starters or bilingual dictionaries for learners who need language support.

Next Steps:

• Collect group notes or have each student write a one-sentence self-care goal on a sticky note to post on the class board.

Self-Care Bingo

Overview: Students will practice identifying and sharing self-care activities by mingling and completing a bingo card. This gets them talking about self-care, learning from peers, and noticing areas they might try personally.

Time: 10 minutes

Materials:

• Self-Care Bingo Cards (one per student)
• Pens or pencils
• Clipboards or desks cleared for writing

Instructions:

1. Distribute one bingo card and a pen to each student.
2. Explain the rules:
   • Each square lists a self-care practice (e.g., “Went for a walk,” “Drew or painted,” “Listened to music”).
   • Students circulate (respecting personal space or a designated movement area) to find classmates who have tried that practice.
   • When a student confirms they’ve done it, they write their name in the square.
   • Aim to get five in a row—horizontal, vertical, or diagonal—and shout “Bingo!”
3. When someone gets Bingo, pause and ask them to share one interesting practice they discovered and with whom.
4. Continue until several students have shared or time is up.

Debrief (2 minutes):

• Invite 2–3 students to share something they learned about a new self-care idea.
• Ask: “Which square was hardest to fill? Why might that practice be new or challenging?”

Differentiation & Adaptations:
• ELL Supports: Provide a word bank or picture icons next to challenging vocabulary. Allow students to point or use translation apps.
• Social-Distance Version: Instead of signing names, students can give each other a sticker or initial on the teacher’s printed name tag, or complete a digital version of the card in small virtual breakout rooms.
• Movement Constraints: If mingling isn’t possible, students can rotate seats every 30 seconds or use a partner nearby.

Assessment:

• Informally observe students’ engagement and conversation to see which self-care practices resonate.
• Note any practices that go unfilled—consider adding those to future lessons or discussions.

Mood Meter Reflection

Reflect on today’s self-care activities and how they made you feel. Then set a goal for next week.

1. Choose Your Mood Quadrant

☐ Top-Left (Yellow): High Energy, Unpleasant (e.g., anxious, frustrated)

☐ Top-Right (Red): High Energy, Pleasant (e.g., excited, happy)

☐ Bottom-Left (Blue): Low Energy, Unpleasant (e.g., sad, tired)

☐ Bottom-Right (Green): Low Energy, Pleasant (e.g., calm, content)

Which quadrant did you choose? Why?

2. My Self-Care Practice Goal

What self-care activity will I try this week?

3. Action Steps

How will I make time for it and follow through?

1. ___________________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
2. ___________________________________________________________
   
   
   
   

4. My Support & Reminders

Who or what will help me stick with my goal?

Tip: Post this sheet somewhere you’ll see it every day—your desk, bedroom wall, or school locker!