My Inner Voice

Jess Yarow

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

My Inner Voice

Students will recognize and understand their inner monologue, distinguish between negative and positive self-talk, and develop strategies to reframe thoughts and build self-compassion.

A healthier self-perception and increased resilience against self-doubt are crucial for students' emotional well-being and academic success.

Audience

5th Grade

Time

45-55 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, card sort activity, and reflective worksheet.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, My Inner Voice Slide Deck, Inner Voice Activity Cards, Taming the Critic Worksheet, and Inner Voice Discussion Questions

Prep

Preparation Steps

15 minutes

Review the My Inner Voice Lesson Plan and all linked materials: My Inner Voice Slide Deck, Inner Voice Activity Cards, Taming the Critic Worksheet, and Inner Voice Discussion Questions.
- Print and cut out the Inner Voice Activity Cards. It's recommended to laminate them for repeated use.
- Make copies of the Taming the Critic Worksheet for each student.
- Ensure projector/whiteboard is set up and ready for the slide deck presentation.
- Gather markers or pens for students.

Step 1

Introduction: What's That Voice?

5 minutes

Begin by asking students if they've ever noticed a voice in their head. Explain that everyone has an 'inner voice' that talks to them throughout the day.
- Use My Inner Voice Slide Deck Slide 1-2 to introduce the concept.
- Prompt students with questions like: "What kind of things does your inner voice say?" (Allow a few brief responses, guiding towards both positive and negative examples).

Step 2

Meet the Critic and the Cheerleader

10 minutes

Introduce the idea of two main 'characters' in our inner voice: the 'Inner Critic' (negative self-talk) and the 'Inner Cheerleader' (positive self-talk).
- Use My Inner Voice Slide Deck Slide 3-5 to explain each character with examples.
- Facilitate a brief discussion using prompts from Inner Voice Discussion Questions (Question 1 & 2) about how these voices make us feel.

Step 3

Inner Voice Activity Cards

15 minutes

Distribute the Inner Voice Activity Cards to small groups or pairs.
- Instruct students to sort the cards into two piles: 'Inner Critic' statements and 'Inner Cheerleader' statements.
- Circulate and listen to their discussions, offering guidance as needed. After sorting, ask groups to share one example from each pile and explain why they categorized it that way.
- Use My Inner Voice Slide Deck Slide 6 to guide this activity.

Step 4

Taming the Critic: Reframing Thoughts

10 minutes

Explain that while the Inner Critic can be loud, we can learn to 'tame' it by reframing negative thoughts into more positive or realistic ones.
- Model a few examples on the board: e.g., "I'm bad at math" -> "Math is challenging, but I can learn it if I try."
Distribute the Taming the Critic Worksheet. Guide students through the first one or two examples together.
- Use My Inner Voice Slide Deck Slide 7-8 for this section.

Step 5

Wrap-up and Reflection

5 minutes

Bring the class back together. Ask students to share one thing they learned about their inner voice or one strategy they can use to empower their Inner Cheerleader.
- Emphasize that it's okay to have an Inner Critic, but we have the power to choose which voice we listen to more often.
- Use My Inner Voice Slide Deck Slide 9 for closing thoughts and a positive affirmation.
- Conclude with a brief class discussion using prompts from Inner Voice Discussion Questions (Question 3 & 4).

Slide Deck

What's Your Inner Voice Saying?

Have you ever had a little voice inside your head?

It tells you things all day long!

What kind of things does it say?

Welcome students and introduce the topic of their inner voice. Ask if they've ever noticed thoughts or a 'voice' in their head. Emphasize that this is normal.

Your Inner Monologue

It's like a conversation happening inside your mind!

This is called self-talk.

It can be:

Helpful and kind
Critical and doubtful

Explain that this inner voice is self-talk, and it can be positive or negative. It shapes how we feel about ourselves and the world.

Meet the Inner Critic

This voice is like a strict judge or a grumpy cloud.

It says things that make us feel bad about ourselves:

"You're not good enough."
"You'll never learn this."
"That was a silly mistake!"

Introduce the 'Inner Critic' as the voice that says negative things, makes us doubt ourselves, or points out our mistakes in a harsh way. Give examples.

How Does Your Inner Critic Make You Feel?

When your Inner Critic speaks, how do you feel?

Sad?
Frustrated?
Worried?

It's normal to have an Inner Critic, but we don't have to let it take over!

Ask students how the Inner Critic makes them feel. Guide them to understand that everyone has one, and it's not always helpful.

Meet the Inner Cheerleader!

This voice is like your best friend or a bright sunshine!

It says things that make us feel good and confident:

"You can do it!"
"Keep trying, you're learning."
"It's okay to make mistakes."

Introduce the 'Inner Cheerleader' as the positive, supportive voice. Give examples of what it might say.

Inner Voice Card Sort Activity

Work in your groups.

Sort the cards into two piles:

Inner Critic statements
Inner Cheerleader statements

Discuss why each statement belongs in its pile.

Explain the card sorting activity. Students will sort statements into 'Critic' or 'Cheerleader' categories. Encourage discussion within groups.

Taming the Critic: Reframing Thoughts

We can change what our Inner Critic says!

When you hear a negative thought, try to reframe it.

Turn it into a kinder, more helpful thought.

Example:

Critic: "I'm bad at drawing."
Cheerleader: "I can practice drawing, and I will get better."

Explain that we can 'tame' the critic by changing negative thoughts into positive or realistic ones. This is called reframing.

Practice Reframing

Let's try some together from your worksheet:

"I can't do this."
"Everyone else understands but me."
"I made a mistake, so I failed."

Go over the worksheet and model a few more examples of reframing. Encourage students to think about how different thoughts make them feel.

Empower Your Inner Cheerleader!

You have the power to choose which voice you listen to!

Your Inner Cheerleader helps you:

Feel confident
Be resilient
Believe in yourself

"I am capable and I am kind."

Conclude by reiterating the power of their inner voice and encouraging them to practice listening to their Inner Cheerleader. End with a positive affirmation.

Activity

Inner Voice Activity Cards

Instructions: Cut out each card below. Work with your group to sort them into two piles: Inner Critic statements and Inner Cheerleader statements.

Card 1

"I'm not smart enough to understand this."

Card 2

"I can try my best and learn from my mistakes."

Card 3

"This is too hard. I should just give up."

Card 4

"I can ask for help if I get stuck."

Card 5

"Everyone else is better at this than me."

Card 6

"I did a great job on that part!"

Card 7

"I look silly. I shouldn't have tried."

Card 8

"It's okay to try new things, even if I'm not perfect."

Card 9

"I'm going to fail this test."

Card 10

"I studied hard, and I'll do my best on the test."

Card 11

"Nobody likes my ideas."

Card 12

"My ideas are valuable, and I can share them."

Worksheet

Taming the Critic: My Inner Voice Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Sometimes our inner voice, the "Inner Critic," says things that make us feel bad or doubtful. But we have the power to change those thoughts into kinder, more helpful ones, just like our "Inner Cheerleader" would say!

Instructions: For each "Inner Critic" statement below, write what your "Inner Cheerleader" would say instead. Try to reframe the negative thought into a positive or realistic one.