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Mastering Your Emotions: Building a Self-Regulation Toolbox

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Lesson Plan

Session 1: Understanding Emotions

Build foundational awareness by identifying different emotions and their triggers, setting the stage for developing self-regulation skills.

Understanding emotions is crucial to recognizing and managing them, which helps in building a toolbox of self-regulation techniques that promote emotional well-being.

Audience

Individual student

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Engage through discussion, visuals, and guided activities to identify emotions and triggers.

Prep

Session 1 Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Greet the student and set a comfortable tone for the session.
  • Introduce the concept of emotions and ask the student what feelings they have experienced recently.
  • Briefly explain that understanding emotions is the first step toward managing them.

Step 2

Exploration of Emotions (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Use the Emotion Flashcards to visually present various emotions.
  • Ask the student to describe a time when they felt each emotion.
  • Discuss common triggers that might cause these feelings.

Step 3

Wrap-up and Reflection (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Recap the key emotions discussed and reflect on the triggers identified.
  • Ask the student how recognizing these emotions might help in managing challenges in the future.
  • Summarize the session and preview the next session's focus on self-regulation techniques.
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Activity

Emotion Flashcards for Session 1

This activity uses a set of flashcards that display various emotions to help you visually identify and discuss your feelings. You will explore and connect these emotions to your personal experiences.

Instructions:

  1. Introduction:

    • Review each flashcard one by one. Observe the emotion depicted on the card.
    • Think about a time when you experienced a similar emotion.
  2. Personal Connection:

    • For each flashcard, explain a situation where you felt that emotion. What triggered the emotion? What did you do?
    • Write a short note or draw a picture to capture this memory.





  3. Discussion Points:

    • Which emotion do you find the most challenging? Why?
    • How can recognizing these feelings help you manage your reactions when you feel overwhelmed?










  4. Reflection:

    • After reviewing all the flashcards, choose one emotion that you’d like to manage better. What strategy might help you regulate this emotion in the future?











Note: Use this activity to build a personal 'toolbox' of strategies that you can refer to in times of stress or when you feel upset by peers or classroom situations.

Happy reflecting and learning!

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lenny

Script

Guided Discussion Script: Recognizing Feelings

Introduction:

  • "Hello! Today we're going to talk about our feelings and learn how to recognize them. Can you tell me some emotions you've felt recently? For example, happiness, sadness, anger, or even excitement?"

Exploring Emotions:

  • "Now, let's look at these flashcards together. As you see each emotion, I want you to think about a time when you felt that way. Can you share a little about that time? What happened, and how did it make you feel?"

Understanding Triggers:

  • "Sometimes, certain things make us feel a certain way. For instance, loud noises might make us feel startled, or kind words might make us feel happy. Can you think of something that triggered one of your emotions? What was it, and how did you react?"

Reflecting on Feelings:

  • "Now that we've talked about these moments, why do you think it's important to understand our feelings? How can knowing what triggers our emotions help us when things are overwhelming?"





Guided Practice:

  • "Let's try a quick exercise. I will say an emotion, and I'd like you to tell me one possible trigger for that feeling. For example, if I say 'surprised', what might cause that feeling?"
  • (Pause for the student's response and offer encouragement.)

Wrap-up:

  • "Great job today! Remember, recognizing your emotions is the first step in managing them. Next time you feel a strong emotion, try to think about what triggered it and how you might handle it differently next time."










Closing Question:

  • "Before we finish, what is one thing you learned today about your emotions? Is there a particular feeling you’re curious to understand better or a strategy you’d like to try next time?"

End of Script

Use this script to guide your discussion and keep the conversation focused on understanding and reflecting on emotions. Adjust follow-up questions as needed based on the student’s responses. Good luck!

lenny
lenny