Lesson Plan

Group Mind Check Guide

In this 15-minute small-group activity, students will identify and articulate their current emotions on a visual spectrum and collaborate to share and record coping strategies, fostering self-awareness and peer support.

Promotes emotional literacy and peer empathy by normalizing mental health check-ins, helping students articulate feelings, learn coping strategies from classmates, and build a supportive classroom culture.

Audience

9th Grade Small Group Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Visual spectrum mapping and guided peer discussions.

Materials

Spectrum of Emotions Slide Deck, and - Emotional Spectrum Circle Activity Cards

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Print Emotional Spectrum Circle Activity Cards for each small group.
Queue up the Spectrum of Emotions Slide Deck on the classroom display.
Review discussion prompts and roles outlined in the Group Mind Check Guide.

Step 1

Introduction

2 minutes

Divide students into groups of 4–5.
Assign roles: facilitator, timekeeper, note-taker.
Explain the purpose: share current emotions and support peers through coping strategy discussions.

Step 2

Emotion Identification

3 minutes

Display the first slide of the Spectrum of Emotions Slide Deck.
Students choose and indicate their current emotion on the spectrum (e.g., via sticky note or verbal share).
Note-taker records each student’s emotion on the Emotional Spectrum Circle Activity Cards.

Step 3

Coping Strategies Discussion

7 minutes

Prompt each student to share one coping strategy they use for their current emotion.
Use discussion prompts from the Group Mind Check Guide to deepen the conversation.
Facilitator ensures each member shares and that time limits are respected.

Step 4

Group Reflection

3 minutes

Groups summarize common emotions and coping strategies identified.
Conduct a brief whole-class share-out: one group highlights the most helpful strategy discovered.
Close with a positive affirmation or self-care reminder.

Slide Deck

Spectrum of Emotions

Welcome to our Mind Check activity. We'll use an emotion spectrum to identify how we're feeling today. Be honest with yourself and supportive of your peers.

Welcome students and explain that we'll be exploring the range of emotions. Emphasize confidentiality and respect.

Emotion Spectrum

Here's a visual representation of the spectrum of emotions from positive to negative:

😀 Happy — 🙂 Content — 😐 Neutral — 😟 Anxious — 😢 Sad

Think about where you fit right now.

Display the graphic of the spectrum. Briefly describe each point and emotion. Invite students to reflect on where they feel they belong.

How to Identify Your Emotion

Look at the spectrum above.
Choose the emotion that best matches how you feel currently.
Place your marker (sticky note) on that point of the spectrum.
Record your chosen emotion on your Emotional Spectrum Circle Activity Card.

Walk through each step slowly. Demonstrate placing a sticky note on the display. Ensure all students have a marker and their circle card ready.

Discussion Prompts

• What coping strategies help you when you feel this way?
• Can you share a time when this strategy worked for you?
• What might you try next if it doesn’t help?
• How can your peers support you right now?

Encourage students to share openly. Use these prompts if the conversation stalls, and remind everyone of respectful listening and empathy.

Self-Care Reminder

You are not alone. Take a deep breath and remind yourself: “I am capable of handling my feelings.”

Reach out to someone you trust if you need support.

Close by reading the affirmation aloud. Encourage students to take this message with them and reach out if they need additional support.

Activity

Emotional Spectrum Circle Activity

Objective: Provide students with a visual, hands-on card to record their emotions and coping strategies, then share insights with their small group.

Materials (per group of 4–5):

Emotional Spectrum Circle cards (one per student)
Markers or pens

Template Layout:

A large circle divided into five equal pie-shaped segments labeled:
• 😀 Happy
• 🙂 Content
• 😐 Neutral
• 😟 Anxious
• 😢 Sad
Below each segment, a blank line or two for writing a coping strategy.
A central space for the student’s name or initials.

Instructions:

Distribute Cards (1 minute)
- Give each student one Emotional Spectrum Circle card and a marker.
Emotion Marking (2 minutes)
- Students write their name/initials in the center.
- On their card, place a dot in the segment that best represents how they feel right now.
Strategy Recording (4 minutes)
- Under the chosen segment, each student writes one coping strategy they find helpful for that emotion.
- Encourage concise ideas (e.g., “Take 5 deep breaths,” “Listen to a song”).
Group Sharing & Recording (6 minutes)
- Students place their cards in the middle of the group.
- Note-taker reviews each card and notes down common emotions and strategies on a master sheet or whiteboard.
- Discuss:
  • Which coping strategies appeared most often?
  • Were there any unique or surprising ideas?
  • How might you try a new strategy next time?
Wrap-Up (2 minutes)
- Each group shares one key insight or strategy with the whole class.
- Remind students that they can revisit these strategies whenever they need support.

Feel free to print the circle cards double-sided, with blank on reverse for extra notes. Encourage students to keep their cards for personal reflection or swap (anonymously) if they wish to see peers’ strategies.

Mind Check

Erika Hapa