Lesson Plan
Math Signals: What's Your Body Telling You?
Students will be able to recognize and list at least two physical signs of anxiety they experience when doing math.
Understanding our body's signals for anxiety is crucial for developing self-awareness and coping strategies. This lesson empowers students to identify these feelings and take proactive steps to manage them, making math a less daunting experience.
Audience
4th Grade Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Through discussion and a body mapping activity, students will identify their personal math anxiety signals.
Materials
Listening To Your Body Slide Deck, My Body Signal Map Worksheet, Calm Down Strategy Cards Activity, and Pencils/Crayons
Prep
Preparation Steps
15 minutes
- Review the Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
- Print copies of the My Body Signal Map Worksheet (one per student).
- Prepare the Calm Down Strategy Cards Activity by cutting out the cards if necessary.
- Ensure the Listening To Your Body Slide Deck is ready for display.
Step 1
Connect: Feelings Check-in
10 minutes
- Display Slide 2: "How Are We Feeling Today?"
- Teacher Script: "Good morning/afternoon everyone! Let's start by checking in with our feelings. Sometimes, our bodies tell us how we're feeling without us even saying a word. Can anyone share a feeling they've had recently and how their body showed it? For example, when I feel excited, my heart might beat a little faster!"
- Facilitate a brief class discussion, encouraging students to share examples of feelings and their corresponding body sensations (e.g., happy -> smiling, sad -> heavy chest, angry -> tight muscles). Focus on a variety of emotions.
- Transition: "Today, we're going to focus on a particular feeling that can sometimes pop up when we're doing math: worry or anxiety. And we're going to become super detectives at noticing what our bodies tell us!"
Step 2
Explore: Body Signals for Math
15 minutes
- Display Slide 3: "What Are Body Signals?"
- Teacher Script: "Just like a traffic light gives signals to cars, our bodies send us signals about how we're feeling, especially when we're worried or anxious. These are often called 'stress responses.' Think about when you're about to take a test, or solve a really tricky math problem. What might you notice happening in your body?"
- Display Slide 4: "Common Body Signals"
- Teacher Script: "Let's brainstorm some common body signals together. Some people might feel a 'tummy ache,' or their hands might get a little sweaty. Others might notice their heart beating faster or their breathing getting quicker. There's no right or wrong answer here, because everyone's body is unique!"
- Record student ideas on the board. Guide them to think about physical sensations (e.g., fast heart, sweaty palms, tight shoulders, shaky hands, butterflies in stomach, tense jaw).
- Transition: "Now that we've talked about some general body signals, let's think about our own bodies and how they talk to us when we're doing math."
Step 3
Practice: My Body Signal Map
15 minutes
- Display Slide 5: "Map Your Math Signals"
- Distribute the My Body Signal Map Worksheet and pencils/crayons.
- Teacher Script: "Now it's your turn to be a body signal detective! On your worksheet, you'll see an outline of a person. I want you to think about a time you felt worried or a little anxious about math. Maybe it was during a quiz, or a challenging problem. Where did you feel that worry in your body? Draw or write about those signals on your map. You might draw a squiggly line on the stomach for 'butterflies' or color hands red for 'sweaty palms.' Try to identify at least two signals."
- Circulate around the room, offering support and prompting students with questions like, "What do you notice in your hands when you're nervous?" or "Does your breathing change?"
- Transition: "Great job everyone! It takes real courage to think about these feelings, and you're all doing wonderfully."
Step 4
Reflect: Noticing is the First Step
5 minutes
- Display Slide 6: "What We Learned Today"
- Teacher Script: "Having 'body signals' when we're doing math is totally normal! Everyone experiences them differently. The most important thing we learned today is that noticing these signals is the first, brave step to helping ourselves. When we know what our body is telling us, we can then choose a 'calm down' strategy. We'll explore those strategies more next time, but for now, just practice noticing."
- Briefly ask a few students to share one signal they identified (volunteers only).
- Collect the My Body Signal Map Worksheets.
- Optional Extension (if time allows): Briefly introduce the Calm Down Strategy Cards Activity by showing a few cards and explaining that these are tools they can use once they notice their signals.
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Slide Deck
Listening To Your Body
Your amazing body talks to you!
It sends you signals about how you're feeling inside, even when you don't use words.
Today, we're going to become detectives and learn to listen to our body's signals, especially when we're thinking about math!
Welcome students and introduce the topic of listening to their bodies. Explain that today they'll learn about 'body signals,' especially when feeling anxious about math.
How Are We Feeling Today?
Take a moment to check in with yourself.
- How are you feeling right now?
- Where do you feel that emotion in your body?
(For example, if you're excited, your heart might feel fluttery! If you're tired, your shoulders might feel heavy.)
Begin with a feelings check-in. Ask students to share how they are feeling and where they feel it in their body. Encourage a variety of emotions and physical sensations.
What Are Body Signals?
Just like a car dashboard has warning lights...
Your body has its own special signals!
These signals tell you when you might be feeling worried, nervous, or even excited.
They're often physical feelings in different parts of your body.
Introduce the concept of 'body signals' as a way our body communicates. Explain that these are often our body's way of reacting to stress or worry, like a warning system.
Common Body Signals
When you feel worried or anxious, especially about math, you might notice:
- A fast heartbeat
- Sweaty palms
- A 'tummy ache' or 'butterflies' in your stomach
- Feeling hot or flushed
- Tight shoulders or a sore neck
- Shaky hands or knees
- Shallow or fast breathing
What other signals do you notice?
Brainstorm common body signals related to feeling worried or anxious, especially in the context of math. Write student suggestions on the board.
Map Your Math Signals
It's time to be a Body Signal Detective!
- Think about a time you felt worried about math.
- On your My Body Signal Map Worksheet, draw or write where you felt those signals in your body.
- Try to identify at least two different signals.
(For example: draw squiggly lines on the stomach for 'butterflies', or shade hands for 'sweaty palms')
Explain the activity using the 'My Body Signal Map Worksheet'. Emphasize that students should think about their own experiences with math anxiety and map those specific signals.
What We Learned Today
Your body is talking to you!
- Everyone has different body signals for worry.
- Noticing these signals is the first and most important step.
- Once you notice a signal, you can choose a strategy to help you feel calmer.
Great job listening to your amazing bodies!
Conclude by reiterating that noticing signals is the first step. Briefly mention that in future lessons, they will learn strategies to help with these signals.
Worksheet
My Body Signal Map: What Does Math Worry Feel Like?
Name: ________________________
Instructions:
Think about a time when you felt worried or anxious about math. Maybe it was during a test, or when you were solving a tough problem.
On the body outline below, draw or write where you felt those feelings in your body. You can use words, colors, or simple drawings to show your body signals. Try to identify at least two signals!
(Teacher Note: A blank body outline image should be provided here for students to mark on.)
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Activity
Calm Down Strategy Cards
Instructions:
These cards are to help you remember different ways to calm down when you feel worried or anxious, especially about math. You can cut them out and keep them in a safe place.
Read each card. Which ones do you think might work best for you?
Card 1: Deep Breaths
- How to do it: Close your eyes (if you feel comfortable). Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose, counting to 4. Hold your breath for a count of 4. Slowly let it out through your mouth, counting to 6.
- Why it helps: Deep breaths tell your body to relax and can slow down a fast heartbeat.
Card 2: Take a Brain Break
- How to do it: If you feel stuck or worried about a math problem, ask your teacher if you can take a quick 1-2 minute break. You could stretch, get a drink of water, or look out the window.
- Why it helps: Stepping away for a moment can help clear your head and give you a fresh perspective.
Card 3: Positive Self-Talk
- How to do it: Silently tell yourself something kind and encouraging. For example, "I can do this," "It's okay to make mistakes," or "I'm going to try my best."
- Why it helps: Your words have power! Positive self-talk can help change worried thoughts into brave thoughts.
Card 4: Squeeze and Release
- How to do it: Tense up a part of your body (like your hands, shoulders, or feet) by squeezing tightly for 5 seconds. Then, completely relax that part of your body. Notice the difference.
- Why it helps: It helps you notice where you're holding tension and then release it, making your body feel more relaxed.
Card 5: Visualize a Calm Place
- How to do it: Close your eyes and imagine your favorite calm, peaceful place. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you feel?
- Why it helps: Your brain doesn't always know the difference between imagination and reality. Imagining a calm place can help your body feel calm too.
Card 6: Ask for Help
- How to do it: If you're feeling overwhelmed, remember it's okay to ask for help! Raise your hand and tell your teacher you're feeling stuck or worried about the math work.
- Why it helps: You don't have to face challenges alone. Asking for help can make problems feel smaller and easier to solve.