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Mood Monopoly

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Lesson Plan

Mood Monopoly Lesson Plan

Students will engage in the Mood Monopoly board game to practice identifying and applying coping strategies when faced with challenging emotions, then share techniques with peers and reflect on how they might use these strategies in real life.

This lesson builds essential emotional regulation skills by providing a hands-on, collaborative environment to practice coping strategies. It promotes self-awareness, peer support, and prepares students to manage emotions in real-life situations.

Audience

7th Grade Small Group

Time

50 Minutes

Approach

Interactive gameplay with guided discussion and reflection.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 Minutes

Step 1

Introduction and Objective Review

5 Minutes

  • Display Game Rules & Coping Cards Slide Deck.
  • Introduce Mood Monopoly and explain objectives: practicing coping strategies.
  • Review game rules, how to move tokens, draw coping cards, and use strategies.
  • Address any student questions.

Step 2

Mood Monopoly Gameplay

30 Minutes

  • Divide students into groups of 3–4 and distribute Mood Monopoly Board, dice, tokens, and coping cards.
  • Students take turns rolling the dice and moving their tokens.
  • When landing on an emotion challenge space, draw a coping card, read the scenario, and select a strategy to apply.
  • Encourage discussion: Why might this strategy help? How could it look in real life?
  • Circulate to guide groups and reinforce strategy use.

Step 3

Strategy Swap Activity

10 Minutes

  • Distribute Strategy Swap Activity Sheet to each group.
  • In pairs or small groups, students share one effective coping strategy they used during gameplay.
  • Record the strategy and explain why it was helpful.
  • After 5 minutes, rotate partners so students exchange additional strategies.

Step 4

Post-Game Reflection Cool-Down

5 Minutes

  • Hand out Post-Game Reflection Worksheet.
  • Students individually reflect on the coping strategies learned and note which they might use.
  • Invite volunteers to share one reflection with the whole group.
  • Summarize key takeaways and reinforce applying coping strategies beyond the game.
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Slide Deck

Mood Monopoly: Game Rules & Coping Cards

• Practice emotional regulation in a fun, group board game format
• Learn and apply coping strategies when you draw a coping card
• Share your ideas and support peers as you play
• Reflect on how to use these skills in real life later

Welcome everyone! Today we’ll review the rules of Mood Monopoly and explore some key coping strategies you’ll see on the coping cards. Encourage questions at any time.

Game Setup

  1. Form groups of 3–4 players
  2. Give each group: 1 Mood Monopoly board, tokens, dice, coping cards pile
  3. Decide turn order (youngest first or rock-paper-scissors)
  4. Place all tokens on START

Walk students through each setup step. Point out materials and group size.

Gameplay Flow

  1. Roll the dice and move your token forward
  2. Land on a space:
    – Emotion Challenge space: draw a coping card
    – Safe Space: nothing happens, next player goes
  3. Read the coping card scenario aloud
  4. Choose a strategy from the card and discuss why it helps
  5. Replace the card at the bottom and end your turn

Explain the flow of each turn slowly, pausing for clarifying questions.

Coping Card Categories

• Physical Strategies (e.g., deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation)
• Creative Outlets (e.g., drawing, journaling)
• Social Support (e.g., talking with a friend, asking for help)
• Cognitive Strategies (e.g., positive self-talk, reframing thoughts)

Introduce categories and help students recognize different coping approaches.

Sample Coping Card

Scenario: “I feel overwhelmed by homework and can’t focus.”
Possible Strategies:
• Take 5 minutes to stretch or breathe deeply
• Break tasks into small steps and set a timer
• Talk with a classmate or teacher to clarify assignments

Review this example together. Ask volunteers what strategy they’d pick.

Tips for Success

• Listen actively when peers share their strategies
• Explain why a strategy works—this deepens learning
• Try new ideas even if they feel unusual at first
• Remember: There’s no “winner”—the goal is practicing coping skills

Encourage students to use all parts of the game to learn. Remind them to be respectful and supportive.

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Game

Mood Monopoly Board

This board features 20 spaces around a square track. Players start at START and work toward FINISH by landing on Safe Spaces or Emotion Challenge spaces where they draw a coping card.

Layout: 20-space square track (positions 1–5 along the top, 6–10 down the right side, 11–15 along the bottom in reverse, 16–20 up the left side).

Colors:
• Emotion Challenge spaces: #D9A3BE
• Safe spaces: #C972A1
• Start/Finish: #D18AB0

Spaces:

  1. START: Ready… Go!
  2. Safe Space
  3. Emotion Challenge: Frustration—“I can’t figure out this math problem.”
  4. Safe Space
  5. Emotion Challenge: Overwhelm—“Too many assignments are due at once.”
  6. Safe Space
  7. Emotion Challenge: Anger—“Someone said something hurtful.”
  8. Safe Space
  9. Emotion Challenge: Anxiety—“I have a big test tomorrow.”
  10. Safe Space
  11. Emotion Challenge: Sadness—“I miss my friend who moved away.”
  12. Safe Space
  13. Emotion Challenge: Jealousy—“A teammate got more praise than me.”
  14. Safe Space
  15. Emotion Challenge: Loneliness—“I feel left out at lunch.”
  16. Safe Space
  17. Emotion Challenge: Stress—“I feel pressure to do well in sports.”
  18. Safe Space
  19. Emotion Challenge: Disappointment—“My project didn’t turn out how I wanted.”
  20. FINISH: You’ve reached Emotional Mastery!

Players landing on an Emotion Challenge space draw a card from the coping pile and practice a strategy before moving on.

Enjoy practicing your coping skills as you journey around the Mood Monopoly board!

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Activity

Strategy Swap Activity Sheet

In pairs or small groups, share one effective coping strategy you used or discussed during Mood Monopoly. Record each partner’s strategy, explain why it was helpful, and note when you might use it.

Strategy 1
Name of Strategy:




Shared by (Partner Name):




Why this strategy is helpful:







When might I use this strategy in real life?







Rotate partners and share another strategy.

Strategy 2
Name of Strategy:




Shared by (New Partner Name):




Why this strategy is helpful:







When might I use this strategy in real life?







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Cool Down

Post-Game Reflection Worksheet

Reflection Prompts

1. Which coping strategy did you find most helpful today? Why?







2. Describe a real-life situation where you could use this strategy.







3. How might you combine more than one strategy to manage your emotions?












4. One personal goal for using coping strategies this week is:







5. Something I learned about supporting others is:







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Mood Monopoly • Lenny Learning