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Impulse to Inspiration

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Lesson Plan

Session 1 Lesson Plan

Students will learn to identify impulses, understand impulse control strategies, and practice self-awareness through a creative art activity. Actionable goals: define “impulse,” list personal triggers, and craft an “Impulse Traffic Light” poster illustrating pause-and-plan steps.

ADHD students often act on impulse without pausing, leading to challenges in school and social settings. Building impulse control fosters better decision-making and emotional regulation.

Audience

Middle School Students with ADHD

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and hands-on art activity

Materials

Session 1 Slide Deck: Understanding Impulse Control, Impulse Control Warm-Up Cards, Impulse Insight Worksheet, Paper and Markers, Timer or Stopwatch, and Mindful Breathing Script

Prep

Prepare Materials and Space

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Impulse Control Card Game

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Impulse Control Warm-Up Cards facedown
  • Students take turns drawing a card describing a scenario (e.g., “You see a friend drop money”).
  • Ask: “What impulse might you feel?” and “How would you pause before acting?”
  • Encourage quick responses to build awareness of immediate reactions

Step 2

Discussion: Defining Impulse

5 minutes

  • Display slide 1–3 in the Session 1 Slide Deck: Understanding Impulse Control
  • Define “impulse” and share 2–3 real-life examples
  • Invite students to share personal impulses they’ve experienced in class or at home
  • Record common triggers on chart paper or board

Step 3

Art Activity: Impulse Traffic Light

10 minutes

  • Hand out paper and markers
  • Explain the “Impulse Traffic Light”:
    • Green = safe impulse (ok to act)
    • Yellow = pause and think
    • Red = stop and choose a strategy
  • Students draw a traffic light and fill each color with 2–3 personal impulses and corresponding actions or coping strategies
  • Circulate and prompt deeper thinking (“Why is this impulse yellow?”)

Step 4

Cool Down: Mindful Reflection

5 minutes

  • Guide students to sit comfortably and close their eyes
  • Read the Mindful Breathing Script
  • After breathing exercise, prompt students to write one word on the back of their poster describing how they feel about practicing impulse control
  • Collect posters or have students display them on a designated wall
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Slide Deck

Understanding Impulse Control

Session 1 Overview

• Define “impulse”
• Identify common triggers
• Learn the Traffic Light Strategy
• Prepare for art activity: Impulse Traffic Light Poster

Welcome everyone to Session 1 on impulse control. Introduce yourself and briefly explain that today we’ll learn what impulses are, identify triggers, and explore a simple strategy—the Traffic Light System—to help manage urges. Explain the flow: definition, examples, strategy, then the art activity.

What Is an Impulse?

• A sudden feeling or urge to act
• Arises quickly and often without planning
• Can feel powerful and hard to ignore

Read the title and ask students: “When you suddenly feel like calling out in class or grabbing an extra cookie, what is happening?” Guide them to the idea of an impulse. Emphasize that impulses are quick urges that pop up without much thought.

Common Impulse Triggers

Examples of Triggers:
• Boredom or restlessness
• Frustration or stress
• Excitement or curiosity
• Peer influence or social pressure

Ask volunteers to share times they felt these urges. Write additional triggers on the board as they come up. Highlight how recognizing triggers is the first step in pausing.

Traffic Light System

Green Light = Go
• Impulse is safe to follow
Yellow Light = Pause
• Take a moment to think
Red Light = Stop
• Choose a different action or strategy

Introduce the Traffic Light System. Explain that it gives us a visual pause-and-plan tool. Describe each color’s purpose and model a quick scenario: “Yellow—take a breath and think of choices.”

Pause-and-Plan Steps

  1. Notice your impulse
  2. Take 3 deep breaths
  3. Think of possible actions
  4. Choose the best response

Walk students through each step with a simple scenario (e.g., grabbing a toy during class). Encourage them to remember these steps during the card game and art activity.

Art Activity Prep

Create Your Impulse Traffic Light Poster:
• Map 2–3 impulses per color
• Write coping strategies in yellow and red zones
• Use markers and paper provided

Transition to the art activity. Explain that they will create a poster with their own personal impulses mapped to each light color. Remind them to use the steps they just learned while designing.

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Activity

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Worksheet

Impulse Insight Worksheet

Name: ________________________ Date: _______________

1. Defining “Impulse”

In your own words, what is an impulse?







2. Identifying Personal Triggers

Think of 3 situations where you notice strong urges. For each, complete the table below:

Trigger SituationUrge or Impulse FeltPause-and-Plan Strategy (Green/Yellow/Red)
1. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 

3. Reflection on a Recent Moment

Choose one impulse you felt recently and answer:

  1. What happened? Describe the situation in 2–3 sentences.











  1. Which Traffic Light color did it fit (Green/Yellow/Red)? Why?






  1. If you could pause and plan, what strategy would you use next time?






4. Creative Traffic Light Design

Draw your own Impulse Traffic Light. In each light (Green, Yellow, Red), write or sketch a coping strategy that works for you.





















5. Actionable Goal Setting

Write one SMART goal you will work on this week to practice impulse control (e.g., “When I feel like interrupting, I will take 3 deep breaths before speaking.”).







Turn this worksheet in at the end of class. We’ll revisit your goals and strategies next session!

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Cool Down

Mindful Breathing Script

  1. Find Your Seat
    Sit comfortably in your chair with both feet flat on the floor. Rest your hands gently on your lap.
  2. Settle In
    Close your eyes or softly rest your gaze on a spot in front of you. Notice how your body feels—any tension in your shoulders, neck, or jaw.
  3. Belly Breath
    • Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4, feeling your belly expand.
    • Pause and hold your breath for 2 counts.
    • Exhale gently through your mouth for a count of 6, noticing your belly contract.
  4. Repeat
    Complete three full breaths (inhale–hold–exhale). With each exhale, imagine letting go of any leftover tension or worries.
  5. Notice
    After the third breath, pause and take one normal breath. Notice how your chest and belly move.
    Observe any changes in your body or mind—are you more relaxed, calm, or focused?
  6. Return
    When you feel ready, gently open your eyes (if they were closed) and bring your attention back to our space.
    Take one more deep breath together and carry this calm energy into the rest of your day.
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Warm Up

The redundant warm-up material has been removed to streamline the resources for Session 1. Let me know if any other adjustments are needed!

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