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Mood Lifelines

Lesson Plan

Glow from Within

Students will learn to recognize their emotions, explore healthy coping strategies for feelings of depression, and build resilience by practicing skills and identifying support networks.

Early awareness and practice of coping skills empowers students to manage low moods, build emotional resilience, and seek help when needed, promoting long-term mental well-being.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and hands-on activities

Materials

Prep

Gather Materials and Review

10 minutes

Step 1

Setting the Stage

5 minutes

  • Welcome students and introduce the lesson’s goal: learning skills to manage difficult feelings
  • Establish class norms: respectful listening, confidentiality, and no judgment
  • Display the Emotion Wheel Chart and explain how naming emotions can help us understand them

Step 2

Identifying Feelings and Strategies

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Feelings and Coping Strategies Worksheet
  • Use slides 2–5 in the Glow From Within Slideshow to review common feelings and coping strategies
  • Ask students to circle feelings they’ve experienced and write a coping strategy next to each
  • Pair students to share one feeling and strategy, prompting empathy and idea exchange

Step 3

Strategy Practice

8 minutes

  • Form small groups of 3–4 students
  • Give each group a few Reflection Prompt Cards
  • In turns, students draw a card (e.g., “Describe a time you felt overwhelmed. What could you do now?”), respond, and discuss possible strategies
  • Circulate to support groups and reinforce positive approaches

Step 4

Group Reflection

5 minutes

  • Reconvene as a whole class
  • Invite volunteers to share insights from their group discussions
  • Highlight examples of healthy coping strategies and resilience-building actions
  • Use a timer or stopwatch to keep reflections concise

Step 5

Closing and Next Steps

2 minutes

  • Summarize key takeaways: naming emotions, choosing coping strategies, seeking support
  • Remind students of trusted adults and resources available (counselor, teacher, family)
  • Encourage students to try one new strategy this week and journal about its effect
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Lesson Plan

Mood Lifelines Plan

Students will learn to identify their emotions, practice a brief mindfulness exercise, and create a personalized coping toolbox with strategies to manage feelings of depression.

Teaching emotional awareness and coping skills in a supportive classroom builds resilience, promotes self-regulation, and empowers students to seek help and manage low moods effectively.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, mindfulness practice, and creative activity

Materials

Prep

Gather Materials and Prepare

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction and Norms

5 minutes

  • Welcome students and introduce the lesson’s goal: building skills to manage difficult emotions
  • Establish class norms: respectful listening, confidentiality, and supportive language
  • Display the Emotion Wheel Chart and explain how naming emotions helps us understand and manage them

Step 2

Recognizing Emotions

7 minutes

  • Distribute the Feelings and Coping Strategies Worksheet
  • Guide students to review common emotions on the chart and circle those they’ve experienced
  • Invite a few volunteers to share one emotion they’ve circled and why naming it is helpful

Step 3

Mindfulness Practice

5 minutes

  • Explain the purpose of mindfulness: observing thoughts and feelings without judgment
  • Play the Mindful Moment Audio (2–3 minutes guided exercise)
  • Prompt students to notice how their body and mind feel before and after the exercise

Step 4

Building Your Coping Toolbox

8 minutes

  • Distribute the Coping Toolbox Template
  • Ask students to write or draw at least 5 coping strategies they can try when feeling low
  • In small groups, have students draw a Reflection Prompt Card, discuss how a strategy could help, and share insights

Step 5

Reflection and Closing

5 minutes

  • Reconvene as a whole class
  • Invite volunteers to share one new strategy they added to their toolbox
  • Summarize key takeaways: naming emotions, practicing mindfulness, and using coping tools
  • Encourage students to try one new strategy this week and journal its effect
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Slide Deck

Mood Lifelines

Skills to manage feelings of depression
7th Grade • 30 minutes

Welcome students. Introduce yourself and the lesson: “Today we’re going to learn skills to manage difficult feelings like feeling low or depressed. By the end, you’ll have a personal toolbox of strategies you can use anytime.”

Introduction & Norms

• Lesson goal: build skills to manage emotions
• Norms:
– Respectful listening
– Confidentiality
– Supportive language

Explain class norms: “We agree to listen respectfully, keep what’s shared confidential, and use supportive language. These norms help everyone feel safe.”

Recognizing Emotions

• Refer to the Emotion Wheel Chart
• Circle emotions you’ve experienced
• Share why naming an emotion helps

Distribute the Feelings and Coping Strategies Worksheet. Point to the Emotion Wheel Chart. Give students 7 minutes to circle emotions they’ve felt. Invite a few volunteers to name an emotion and describe why naming it helps.

Mindfulness Practice

• Listen to the Mindful Moment Audio
• Notice your breath and body sensations
• Observe thoughts without judgment

Prepare to play the audio. Explain: “Mindfulness helps us notice thoughts and feelings without judging them.” Play the 2–3 minute Mindful Moment Audio. Afterward, ask: “How did your body or mind feel before and after?”

Building Your Coping Toolbox

• Use the Coping Toolbox Template
• List or draw 5 coping strategies
• In groups, draw a Reflection Prompt Card and discuss

Hand out the Coping Toolbox Template. Invite students to write or draw at least five strategies they can use when feeling low. Then form small groups, draw a Reflection Prompt Card, and discuss how a chosen strategy could help.

Reflection & Closing

• Share one new strategy you created
• Key takeaways:
– Name emotions
– Practice mindfulness
– Use your coping toolbox
• Try one strategy this week and journal

Reconvene and ask for volunteers to share one new strategy they added. Summarize: naming emotions, practicing mindfulness, and using coping tools. Encourage students: “Try one strategy this week and journal how it helps.”

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Worksheet

Feelings and Coping Strategies

Part 1: Identify and Strategize

Use the Emotion Wheel Chart to circle 5–6 emotions you’ve experienced recently. For each emotion below, write one or two healthy coping strategies you can try.

  1. Emotion: __________
    Strategy 1: __________
    Strategy 2: __________







  1. Emotion: __________
    Strategy 1: __________
    Strategy 2: __________







  1. Emotion: __________
    Strategy 1: __________
    Strategy 2: __________







  1. Emotion: __________
    Strategy 1: __________
    Strategy 2: __________







Part 2: Reflect on a Situation

Think of a time you felt one of the emotions above. Describe what happened and which strategy you used or could have used.












Part 3: Plan for the Week

Choose one coping strategy from above to try this week. Write down your plan for when and how you will use it.










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Activity

Reflection Prompt Cards

Use these cards in your small-group discussions to explore coping strategies. Have each student draw a card, read the prompt aloud, and share their response. Discuss how the suggested strategy could apply in different situations.

Card 1
Describe a time you felt overwhelmed. Which coping strategy helped you then, or what new strategy could you try next time?



Card 2
Think of a moment when you felt sad. What one coping tool can you use right now, and how do you think it will help?



Card 3
Recall a situation where negative thoughts took over. How might a brief mindfulness exercise change your experience?



Card 4
What’s one healthy activity that lifts your mood (e.g., drawing, walking, listening to music)? When could you schedule it into your week?



Card 5
Who is a trusted person you can reach out to when you’re feeling low? Describe how you would start that conversation.



Card 6
What self-care practice makes you feel calm (e.g., deep breathing, journaling)? How can you incorporate it into your daily routine?



Card 7
Imagine you have a big test coming up and you feel anxious. Which coping strategy could reduce your stress, and why?



Card 8
When you feel down, what positive self-talk phrases could you use? List three phrases you’d say to yourself.



Card 9
Think of a past success that made you proud. How can remembering that moment help you when you feel low?



Card 10
What small goal can you set for today to boost your mood (e.g., drink water, take a walk)? Outline the first steps to achieve it.



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Activity

Coping Toolbox Template

Instructions:

  1. Think of healthy coping strategies you can use when you’re feeling low (e.g., deep breathing, talking to a friend, drawing).
  2. Write or draw at least 5 strategies in the spaces below—use words, small pictures, or symbols.

My Coping Toolbox

  1. Strategy #1:










  2. Strategy #2:










  3. Strategy #3:










  4. Strategy #4:










  5. Strategy #5:










  6. (Optional) Strategy #6:










Tip: Keep this toolbox somewhere you can see it, or take a photo on your device so it’s always handy!

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Mood Lifelines • Lenny Learning