Lesson Plan
My Safety Gameplan
Participants will learn to facilitate 8th grade students in creating personalized mental health safety plans by identifying warning signs, coping strategies, and support resources, and will practice key facilitation techniques.
Equipping educators with the knowledge and skills to guide student safety planning promotes early intervention, builds resilience, and fosters a supportive classroom environment.
Audience
8th Grade Teachers and Staff
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive workshop and modeling.
Materials
- Copies of the My Safety Gameplan Lesson Plan, - Safety Plan Discussion Prompts, - Safety Plan Worksheet, - Whiteboard and markers, and - Sticky notes
Prep
Prepare PD Materials
10 minutes
- Print copies of the My Safety Gameplan Lesson Plan, Safety Plan Discussion Prompts, and Safety Plan Worksheet.
- Arrange seating to facilitate small-group collaboration.
- Set up a whiteboard or chart paper and markers.
- Review strategies for leading sensitive discussions and ensure comfort with confidentiality norms.
Step 1
Opening & Objectives
5 minutes
- Welcome participants and share the session goals: equipping them to lead student safety-plan activities.
- Review workshop objectives: identifying warning signs, coping tools, supports, and modeling facilitation.
- Establish group norms: confidentiality, respectful listening, and nonjudgmental questions.
Step 2
Current Practice Reflection
5 minutes
- Ask educators to reflect individually on how they currently support student mental health.
- Write examples on sticky notes and post them under “Existing Supports” on the board.
- Briefly discuss common themes and gaps.
Step 3
Overview of Student Lesson
5 minutes
- Walk through the My Safety Gameplan Lesson Plan.
- Highlight each component: Warm-Up, Discussion Prompts, Worksheet Activity, Pair-Share, and Reflection.
- Clarify timing and materials needed for each step.
Step 4
Demonstration of Key Activities
10 minutes
- Model the Group Discussion using the Safety Plan Discussion Prompts.
- Invite two volunteers to role-play as students sharing warning signs and coping strategies.
- Debrief facilitation techniques: effective prompting, active listening, and encouraging specificity.
Step 5
Small-Group Planning
15 minutes
- Divide participants into groups of 3–4.
- Each group drafts an implementation plan covering: room setup, timing adjustments, accommodations for diverse learners, and partition of facilitator roles.
- Use the PD handouts to outline tasks and note any modifications needed.
- Rotate among groups to offer guidance and ask probing questions.
Step 6
Action Planning & Reflection
5 minutes
- Ask each educator to write
Discussion
Safety Plan Discussion Prompts
Objective: Guide students to articulate personal warning signs, explore coping strategies, identify supports, and plan safe steps.
Discussion Norms (Establish first)
- Confidentiality: What’s shared stays in the circle.
- Respectful listening: No interruptions.
- Nonjudgmental questions: Use “I wonder…” or “Can you tell me more?”
1. Warning Signs (5–7 minutes)
Prompt: What are early signs you notice when stress or negative thoughts begin to build?
Follow-Up Questions:
- How does your body feel? (e.g., tight chest, racing heart)
- What thoughts or emotions tend to appear first?
- When was the last time you noticed these signs?
2. Coping Strategies (5–7 minutes)
Prompt: What healthy strategies have you used or seen others use to manage those warning signs?
Follow-Up Questions:
- Which of these strategies felt most effective for you?
- Why do you think it worked?
- How could you adapt it if your stress feels more intense next time?
3. Support Resources (5 minutes)
Prompt: Who are the trusted people or resources you can turn to when you feel overwhelmed?
Follow-Up Questions:
- What makes this person/resource helpful?
- What’s one way you could reach out if you needed support?
- How can you remind yourself to ask for help sooner?
4. Safe Environment Steps (5 minutes)
Prompt: What simple actions or changes in your environment help you feel calmer?
Follow-Up Questions:
- Can you describe a place or setting where you always feel safe?
- What small item (music, book, object) brings you comfort?
- How could you set up a “go-to” spot at home or school?
Teacher Follow-Up Points
- Reinforce that there is no “right” answer; every plan is personal.
- Encourage specificity (names, times, places).
- Validate all contributions and link similar ideas together on the board.
- Remind students that they will use these ideas on the Safety Plan Worksheet.
Worksheet
Safety Plan Worksheet
Instructions: Use this worksheet to outline your personalized mental health safety plan. Refer to ideas from the Safety Plan Discussion. Be as specific as possible—names, places, and concrete steps will make your plan more effective.
1. Personal Warning Signs
What are early signs you notice when stress or negative thoughts begin to build? List at least three signs:
2. Coping Strategies
What healthy strategies can you use to manage these warning signs? List at least three strategies and explain how each helps you:
- Strategy: ______________________________
How it helps: __________________________
- Strategy: ______________________________
How it helps: __________________________
- Strategy: ______________________________
How it helps: __________________________
3. Support Contacts
Who are the trusted people or resources you can turn to when you feel overwhelmed? List at least three, including how you would reach out to them:
• Name & Relationship: _______________________
Contact Method: _________________________
• Name & Relationship: _______________________
Contact Method: _________________________
• Name & Relationship: _______________________
Contact Method: _________________________
4. Safe Environment Steps
What simple actions or changes in your environment help you feel calmer? Describe at least three steps you can take to create a safe space:
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PPP
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5. Reflection
What is one new insight or strategy you learned today that you will use in the future?