Lesson Plan
Navigating Impulse Triggers
Students will be able to identify common impulse triggers and develop personalized strategies to manage their immediate reactions.
Understanding and managing impulses is crucial for making thoughtful decisions and improving relationships. This lesson helps students gain control over their reactions in challenging situations, leading to more positive outcomes in their daily lives.
Audience
7th Grade Group
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Through discussion, activities, and personal reflection, students will learn to recognize and control their impulses.
Materials
Impulse Triggers & Tools (slide-deck), Real-Life Trigger Talk (discussion), and My Impulse Control Action Plan (journal)
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
- Review the Impulse Control Slide Deck and lesson plan.
- Print copies of the Real-Life Trigger Talk Discussion Guide for each student.
- Print copies of the My Impulse Control Action Plan Journal for each student.
- Ensure projector/smartboard is set up for the slide deck.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What's Your First Reaction?
10 minutes
- Begin by asking students to think about a time they reacted quickly without thinking it through. Share an anonymous example if helpful.
- Introduce the concept of impulse control and why it's important.
- Facilitate a brief discussion: "What are some situations where reacting too quickly might cause problems?"
Step 2
Understanding Impulse Triggers
15 minutes
- Present the Impulse Control Slide Deck on impulse triggers and tools.
- Discuss common triggers students might face (e.g., anger, frustration, excitement, peer pressure).
- Engage students with questions from the slide deck to encourage participation and self-reflection.
Step 3
Real-Life Trigger Talk Activity
20 minutes
- Divide students into small groups or pairs.
- Distribute the Real-Life Trigger Talk Discussion Guide.
- Instruct students to discuss the scenarios provided and identify potential impulse triggers and possible controlled reactions.
- Circulate among groups to provide support and guide discussions.
Step 4
My Impulse Control Action Plan
10 minutes
- Distribute the My Impulse Control Action Plan Journal.
- Guide students through creating their personalized action plans, focusing on identifying their own triggers and developing strategies for managing them.
- Emphasize that these plans are personal tools for them to use.
Step 5
Cool-Down: One Word Reflection
5 minutes
- Ask each student to share one word that describes what they learned or how they feel about managing impulses after today's lesson.
- Reiterate the importance of practicing impulse control and that it's a skill that improves over time.
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Slide Deck
Impulse Control: Think Before You Act!
What happens when you react too quickly? What's an impulse anyway?
Welcome students and introduce the topic of impulse control. Ask them to think about times they've reacted quickly. Briefly explain what an impulse is and why it's important to learn to manage them.
What Are Impulses?
Quick, automatic reactions without much thought.
Sometimes helpful, sometimes not so much.
Think about a time you acted without thinking... what happened?
Discuss how impulses are often automatic reactions. Give simple, relatable examples like blurting out an answer or getting frustrated in a game. Ask students for their own brief examples (without judgment).
Common Impulse Triggers
- Strong Emotions: Anger, frustration, excitement, sadness.
- Peer Pressure: Wanting to fit in or impress others.
- Stress/Pressure: Feeling overwhelmed by school or other demands.
- Unexpected Events: Something surprising or unfair happens.
- Boredom: Looking for something to do, even if it's not the best choice.
Explain that certain situations or feelings can 'trigger' an impulse. Go through each example and ask students if they've felt this way or seen others react impulsively in these situations. Emphasize that everyone has triggers.
Tools for Impulse Control
- Pause & Breathe: Take a deep breath before reacting.
- Think Ahead: What are the possible consequences?
- Talk It Out: Express your feelings calmly.
- Distract & Redirect: Shift your focus to something else.
- Plan Ahead: Prepare for known triggers.
Introduce different strategies. For 'Pause & Breathe', lead a quick breathing exercise. For 'Think Ahead', ask students to consider the consequences of an impulsive action. For 'Talk It Out', discuss healthy ways to express feelings. For 'Distract & Redirect', suggest shifting focus. Reinforce that different tools work for different people.
Practice Makes Progress!
Identifying your triggers is the first step.
Using your tools regularly will make them stronger.
It's okay to make mistakes; learning takes time and effort.
Summarize the key takeaways and encourage students to start practicing these tools. Remind them that mastering impulse control is a journey, not a destination.
Discussion
Real-Life Trigger Talk: Discussion Guide
Objective: To identify common impulse triggers and discuss effective strategies for managing them in various situations.
Instructions: Read each scenario below. As a group, discuss the following:
- What is the impulse trigger in this situation?
- What might an impulsive reaction look like?
- What are some possible consequences of an impulsive reaction?
- What impulse control tools could be used here? (Refer to the strategies discussed in the Impulse Triggers & Tools Slide Deck)
- What would a more controlled, thoughtful reaction look like?
Scenario 1: The Group Project Pressure
You are working on a group project, and one of your teammates isn't doing their share. You feel your frustration building as the deadline approaches. They just laughed and said, "I'll get to it later." Your impulse is to yell at them or just do all the work yourself.
Discussion Questions:
- What is the impulse trigger here?
- What might an impulsive reaction be?
- What are the consequences of that impulsive reaction?
- What tools can you use to manage your impulse?
- What would a more thoughtful reaction look like?
Scenario 2: Social Media Snafu
You see a post on social media that a friend made, and it seems like they are talking negatively about you. You immediately feel angry and want to post something mean back, or even confront them publicly online.
Discussion Questions:
- What is the impulse trigger here?
- What might an impulsive reaction be?
- What are the consequences of that impulsive reaction?
- What tools can you use to manage your impulse?
- What would a more thoughtful reaction look like?
Scenario 3: The Unfair Call
During a game, a referee or teacher makes a call that you believe is completely unfair and costs your team the win. You feel a surge of anger and want to argue loudly or throw something in frustration.
Discussion Questions:
- What is the impulse trigger here?
- What might an impulsive reaction be?
- What are the consequences of that impulsive reaction?
- What tools can you use to manage your impulse?
- What would a more thoughtful reaction look like?
Journal
My Impulse Control Action Plan
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________
This action plan will help you identify your personal impulse triggers and create strategies to manage your reactions. Remember, controlling your impulses is a skill that gets stronger with practice!
Part 1: My Personal Impulse Triggers
Think about times when you tend to react quickly without thinking. What situations, feelings, or people tend to set off an impulsive reaction in you? List at least three of your personal impulse triggers.
-
Trigger:
How does this trigger make me feel? (e.g., angry, stressed, frustrated, overly excited) -
Trigger:
How does this trigger make me feel? -
Trigger:
How does this trigger make me feel?
Part 2: My Impulse Control Tools
Now, for each trigger you identified, think about which tools or strategies you can use to manage your impulse. You can use the tools we discussed in class (like "Pause & Breathe" or "Think Ahead") or come up with your own!
For Trigger 1: ____________________________
My Strategy(ies): (What will you do or say to yourself?)
Why I think this strategy will work:
For Trigger 2: ____________________________
My Strategy(ies):
Why I think this strategy will work:
For Trigger 3: ____________________________
My Strategy(ies):
Why I think this strategy will work:
Part 3: My Practice Commitment
- What is one small step you will take this week to practice your impulse control?
- Who can you talk to if you need help practicing or want to share your successes?
Remember, every time you choose to pause and think, you are building a stronger, more controlled you!