Impulse Control: Taking Charge of Your Choices

Part 1: Quick Check

1. In your own words, what is impulse control?
   
   
   
2. Why is developing good impulse control important for your life and goals?
   
   
   

Part 2: Stop, Think, Act Scenarios

Read each scenario. Then, use the Stop, Think, Act strategy to describe how the person could respond with better impulse control.

Scenario A: You are in class, and the teacher asks a question. You know the answer immediately and blurt it out before the teacher even finishes speaking, interrupting another student who was about to raise their hand.

• Stop! What should you do in this moment?
  
  
  
• Think! What are your options? What are the consequences of blurting out? What are the benefits of waiting?
  
  
  
  
  
• Act! What is a better way to respond?
  
  
  

Scenario B: You see a friend's phone unattended on their desk during a break. You have a sudden urge to quickly look through their photos as a joke.

• Stop! What should you do in this moment?
  
  
  
• Think! What are your options? What are the consequences of looking at their phone? How would your friend feel?
  
  
  
  
  
• Act! What is a better way to respond?
  
  
  

Part 3: My Self-Control Plan

1. What are some situations or emotions that tend to trigger your impulsive behaviors?
   
   
   
2. Which two strategies for self-control (like counting, deep breaths, walking away, talking it out, or distraction) do you think would be most helpful for you personally? Explain why.
   
   
   
   
   
3. How will you remind yourself to use these strategies when you feel an impulse arising?
   
   
   

Impulse Control: Group Discussion

Use these prompts to guide a thoughtful discussion about impulse control. Encourage students to share their thoughts and experiences respectfully, without naming specific individuals.

Opening the Discussion

1. What does it feel like when you have a strong impulse to do something, but you know you probably shouldn't? How does your body react?
   
   
   
   
   
2. Can you think of a time (without sharing personal details if you're uncomfortable) when you saw someone act impulsively? What happened?
   
   
   
   
   

Exploring Impact and Strategies

3. How does impulse control, or a lack of it, affect different parts of our lives? (Think about school, friendships, family, personal goals.)
   
   
   
   
   
4. Let's talk about the "Stop, Think, Act" strategy. Can you share a real-life situation where this strategy could be really helpful? Describe how each step would apply.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Of the strategies we discussed today (counting, deep breaths, walking away, talking it out, distraction, visualizing consequences), which one do you think would be the most challenging for you to use? Why?
   
   
   
   
   
6. Which strategy do you think would be the easiest or most natural for you to try?
   
   
   

Reflecting Forward

7. What's one small step you could take this week to practice better impulse control?
   
   
   
8. Why do you think it's important to be patient with ourselves as we try to improve our self-control skills?
   
   
   

Self-Control Strategy Cards Activity

Objective

Students will apply self-control strategies to various real-life scenarios.

Materials

• Printed Self-Control Scenario Cards (cut out)
• Printed Strategy Cards (create 5-6 cards, each with one strategy: e.g., "Count to 10," "Take Deep Breaths," "Walk Away," "Talk it Out," "Distraction," "Visualize Consequences") (cut out)

Instructions

1. Divide students into small groups (3-4 students per group).
2. Distribute a set of Self-Control Scenario Cards and a set of Strategy Cards to each group.
3. Explain the task: Each group will take turns drawing a scenario card. As a group, they will discuss the scenario and decide which one or two self-control strategies from their Strategy Cards would be most effective in that situation. They should be prepared to explain why they chose those particular strategies.
4. Facilitate the activity: Circulate among the groups, listening to their discussions and offering guidance or challenging their thinking with questions like:
   • "Why do you think that strategy would work best here?"
   • "Are there any other strategies that might also be useful?"
   • "What might be difficult about using this strategy in this scenario?"
5. Group Share (Optional, 5 minutes): After about 10-15 minutes of group work, bring the class back together. Ask each group to share one scenario and the strategies they chose, along with their reasoning.

Scenario Card Examples (Print and cut these out for groups):

Scenario 1: You are playing a video game online with friends, and someone keeps unfairly defeating you. You feel a surge of anger and want to yell into your microphone.

Scenario 2: You have a big test tomorrow, but your favorite show just released a new season. You really want to binge-watch it instead of studying.

Scenario 3: A friend tells you a secret, and you immediately feel the urge to share it with another friend because it's juicy gossip.

Scenario 4: You're working on a group project, and one member isn't pulling their weight. You're frustrated and want to confront them angrily in front of everyone.

Scenario 5: You see a delicious snack that isn't yours in the refrigerator at home. No one is around, and you have a strong craving to eat it.

Scenario 6: Your teacher gives you constructive criticism on an assignment, and your first reaction is to feel defensive and argue with them.


## Strategy Card Examples (Print and cut these out for groups):

• Count to 10 (or 20!)
• Take Deep Breaths
• Walk Away / Change Your Environment
• Talk it Out (with a trusted person)
• Distraction / Redirect Your Focus
• Visualize Consequences (Positive and Negative)

Impulse Control Quiz Answer Key

1. Which of the following best defines an impulse?

Correct Answer: B A strong, sudden urge to act without thinking.

• Thought Process: The lesson defined impulse as a sudden urge or desire to act without thinking. Option B directly reflects this definition.

2. Why is developing good impulse control important?

Correct Answer: C It leads to better decisions and fewer regrets.

• Thought Process: The slide deck and discussion emphasized that impulse control helps in making thoughtful choices, achieving goals, and avoiding negative consequences. Better decisions and fewer regrets encapsulate these benefits.

3. Which two of the following are effective strategies to help control an impulse?

Correct Answer: B. Counting to 10 or taking deep breaths. and D. Walking away from the situation or distracting yourself.

• Thought Process: The lesson covered various strategies for self-control, including counting, deep breaths, walking away, and distraction. Options B and D correctly identify two of these effective strategies.

4. You are feeling frustrated in class and want to interrupt the teacher. Which step of the "Stop, Think, Act" strategy comes first?

Correct Answer: C Stop and take a breath.

• Thought Process: The "Stop, Think, Act" strategy begins with the "Stop" phase, which involves physically pausing and taking a moment, often with a deep breath, before reacting.

5. Sarah wants to save money for a new video game but sees a tempting snack in the store. How would impulse control help her achieve her goal?

Correct Answer: C By pausing, remembering her video game goal, and deciding not to buy the snack.

• Thought Process: Impulse control involves resisting immediate gratification for a longer-term goal. In this scenario, Sarah using strategies to pause, reflect on her savings goal, and make a conscious decision not to buy the snack demonstrates good impulse control.

Self-Control Scenario Game: What Would You Do?

Objective

Students will practice applying impulse control strategies in various simulated real-life situations.

Materials

• Printed Self-Control Scenario Cards (from Self-Control Strategy Cards Activity or additional scenarios below, cut out)
• Timer
• Optional: Small whiteboards or paper for groups to write down their responses

Instructions

1. Divide students into small groups (3-4 students per group).
2. Explain the Game: The teacher will read a scenario. Each group will have 60-90 seconds (adjust as needed) to discuss and decide how the person in the scenario could use impulse control strategies (e.g., Stop, Think, Act; Count to 10; Deep Breaths; Walk Away; Talk it Out; Distraction; Visualize Consequences) to make a better choice. They should be prepared to explain their chosen strategy and reasoning.
3. Game Play:
   • Read a Self-Control Scenario Card aloud to the class.
   • Start the timer. Groups discuss quietly.
   • When time is up, ask each group to share their strategy and reasoning. Encourage different groups to share different strategies if applicable.
   • Discuss as a class: What were the pros and cons of each suggested strategy? What might be difficult in this situation?
4. Continue with multiple scenarios as time allows, rotating which group shares first.

Additional Scenario Examples (Use these or the ones from the Self-Control Strategy Cards Activity):

Scenario 1: You are in the school cafeteria, and someone accidentally bumps your tray, spilling your drink. Your immediate reaction is to yell at them.

Scenario 2: You're scrolling through social media, and you see a post that makes you feel really angry and want to leave a mean comment.

Scenario 3: It's late at night, and you have a big homework assignment due tomorrow that you haven't started. You have a sudden urge to stay up playing video games instead of working.

Scenario 4: Your parent tells you to do a chore, and you feel like arguing back and saying

Impulse Control Project Rubric

Project: My Impulse Control Action Plan

Objective: Students will create a personal action plan to identify triggers for impulsive behavior and outline specific strategies they will use to improve self-control in various situations.