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lenny

Own Your Emotions, Own The Game

mmanning

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Own Your Emotions, Own The Game

Students will learn to identify common emotions, understand their triggers, and practice strategies for managing emotions effectively to improve engagement.

Learning to manage emotions helps you stay focused, make better decisions, and connect more effectively with others, both in school and in your personal life. It's a crucial life skill for navigating challenges and succeeding.

Audience

Sophomore Boys

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, engaging activity, and a practical game.

Materials

Smartboard or projector, Slide Deck: Own Your Emotions, Own The Game, Script: Own Your Emotions, Own The Game, Emotional Weather Report Activity, and Emotional Regulation Game: Scenario Cards

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Review the Slide Deck: Own Your Emotions, Own The Game, Script: Own Your Emotions, Own The Game, Emotional Weather Report Activity, and Emotional Regulation Game: Scenario Cards to familiarize yourself with the content and flow. Ensure all necessary links are accessible and functional. Prepare any physical materials needed for the activity and game, such as printing scenario cards if not using digital versions.

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up (2 minutes)

2 minutes

Begin by welcoming students and introducing the lesson's exciting title: "Own Your Emotions, Own The Game."

Use Slide 1 and the introductory remarks from the Script: Own Your Emotions, Own The Game to set the stage.

Ask students to briefly think about a time they felt a strong emotion and how it affected what they were doing.

Step 2

Understanding Emotions (5 minutes)

5 minutes

Transition to discussing different emotions using Slide 2 and the Script: Own Your Emotions, Own The Game.

Facilitate a short discussion about common emotions, their physical sensations, and how they can impact focus and engagement.

Introduce the concept of 'emotional regulation' as gaining control over your emotional responses.

Step 3

Emotional Weather Report Activity (6 minutes)

6 minutes

Lead the students through the Emotional Weather Report Activity.

Explain the activity: Students will metaphorically identify a current emotion as a "weather condition" and a simple strategy to manage it.

Encourage sharing, emphasizing that it's okay to feel various emotions and that strategies are personal. Refer to Slide 3 for visual cues.

Step 4

Emotional Regulation Game (5 minutes)

5 minutes

Introduce the Emotional Regulation Game: Scenario Cards.

Explain the rules: Present scenarios and have students suggest healthy emotional responses.

Use Slide 4 to display game instructions or a key takeaway. Facilitate quick rounds, encouraging creative and practical solutions.

Step 5

Wrap-Up & Cool Down (2 minutes)

2 minutes

Conclude the lesson by reinforcing key takeaways: emotions are normal, and managing them helps you stay in the 'game.'

Use Slide 5 to summarize the main points.

Ask students to share one new strategy they learned or reinforced during the lesson.

Thank them for their participation.

lenny

Slide Deck

Own Your Emotions, Own The Game

How do your emotions affect your game (or schoolwork, or anything important)?

Welcome students and introduce the lesson title. Ask them to consider how their emotions can affect their performance or engagement in things they care about, like sports or schoolwork. Keep it light and relatable.

What's Your Emotional Playbook?

Emotions are powerful signals.

  • Happy: Energetic, focused
  • Frustrated: Tense, distracted
  • Anxious: Worried, difficulty concentrating
  • Angry: Agitated, impulsive

How do these feelings affect your performance?

Discuss different emotions. Ask students to share examples of when they felt these emotions and how they physically felt or acted. Introduce the idea that emotions are signals and we can learn to respond to them thoughtfully.

Your Emotional Forecast: What's the Weather?

Let's check in with our emotions like a weather report:

  1. What's your emotional 'weather' right now?
    • Stormy, Sunny, Foggy, Breezy, Cloudy?
  2. What's your 'forecast' (strategy) to manage it?
    • Take deep breaths, reframe thoughts, talk it out, take a break.

Introduce the 'Emotional Weather Report Activity'. Explain the metaphor of emotions as weather and guide students to identify their current emotional 'weather' and a corresponding management 'forecast'. Emphasize that all weather is temporary and manageable.

Game Time! Responding Smart

Scenario Cards Challenge:

  • We'll read a situation.
  • You tell us: How can you respond in a way that helps you stay in control and engaged?
  • Think of healthy coping strategies!

Explain the 'Emotional Regulation Game'. Use scenarios relevant to their lives (e.g., tough call in a game, a frustrating homework problem, a misunderstanding with a friend). Encourage brainstorming various healthy responses.

Victory Lap: Key Takeaways

  • Awareness: Know what you're feeling.
  • Acceptance: It's okay to feel.
  • Action: Choose how you respond.

Managing your emotions helps you perform your best in every part of your life!

Summarize the lesson. Reinforce that emotional intelligence is a strength. Encourage them to practice these skills daily. Ask for a quick share-out of one thing they'll try.

lenny

Script

Script: Own Your Emotions, Own The Game

Introduction & Warm-Up (2 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 1: Own Your Emotions, Own The Game)

"Alright, gentlemen, welcome! Today we're diving into something super important, whether you're on the field, in the classroom, or just hanging out with friends. Our lesson today is called, 'Own Your Emotions, Own The Game.'

Think about it for a second. Have you ever been in a game, or working on something important, and suddenly you feel a strong emotion – maybe frustration, excitement, or even nervousness – and it totally changes how you play or how well you focus?


Today, we're going to explore those feelings and learn how to use them to our advantage, rather than letting them control us. It's about being in charge of your inner game."

Understanding Emotions (5 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 2: What's Your Emotional Playbook?)

"So, what are emotions? They're powerful signals our bodies and minds send us. They tell us a lot about what's going on around us and inside us. Look at some of these common emotions on the slide: happiness, frustration, anxiety, anger.

Can anyone share a time they felt one of these emotions, and what it felt like in their body? Or how it affected what they were trying to do? No need to share specifics, just generally, how did it impact you?


Sometimes, these feelings can be overwhelming, right? We might lash out, shut down, or lose focus. But here's the cool part: we can learn to manage them. That's what we call emotional regulation – it's like being the coach of your own emotional team.

When you regulate your emotions, you're not getting rid of them; you're just choosing how you respond. It helps you stay engaged, think clearly, and perform better, no matter the situation."

Emotional Weather Report Activity (6 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 3: Your Emotional Forecast and prepares for Emotional Weather Report Activity)

"Now, let's try something a bit different to check in with our emotions. We're going to do an Emotional Weather Report Activity. Think of it like this: if your emotions were weather, what would it be right now? Are you feeling 'Stormy' with a lot of frustration, 'Sunny' and energetic, or maybe 'Foggy' and a bit confused?

I'm going to give each of you a moment to think about two things:

  1. Name Your Weather: What emotional 'weather' are you experiencing right now?
  2. Create Your Forecast: What's one small thing you can do to manage this emotional weather constructively? This is your personal 'forecast' for dealing with that feeling.

Take about 30 seconds to think about it. If you're comfortable, we'll share your emotional weather report and one strategy you thought of.


(Allow students to think and then facilitate brief sharing.)

"Great job, guys. It's a powerful tool to name what you're feeling and then actively think about how you can navigate it."

Emotional Regulation Game (5 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 4: Game Time! Responding Smart and prepares Emotional Regulation Game: Scenario Cards)

"Alright, it's game time! We're going to play a quick game called 'Emotional Regulation Scenarios.' I've got some scenario cards here, things that might happen in your daily life. When I read a scenario, I want you to tell me: How can you respond in a way that helps you stay in control and engaged, rather than letting the emotion take over? What's a healthy way to handle it?

(Read scenarios from Emotional Regulation Game: Scenario Cards. Encourage quick, practical responses. Facilitate 2-3 scenarios depending on time.)

"Excellent ideas! It's all about having a playbook of responses, so you're ready for whatever emotional curveball comes your way."

Wrap-Up & Cool Down (2 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 5: Victory Lap: Key Takeaways)

"Fantastic work today, everyone. Let's do a quick 'victory lap' to recap what we've learned.

Remember these three steps:

  • Awareness: Know what you're feeling.
  • Acceptance: It's okay to feel it.
  • Action: Choose how you respond.

Learning to own your emotions means you can own the game – whether that's your academic game, your sports game, or just the game of life. It helps you stay focused, make smart choices, and be the best version of yourself.

Before we go, can one or two of you share one thing you'll try to remember or use from today's session?


"Thanks for being engaged and for sharing today, guys. Keep practicing these skills!"

lenny
lenny

Activity

Emotional Weather Report Activity

Objective

To help students metaphorically identify their current emotional state as a "weather condition" and brainstorm a personal "forecast" for managing it.

Instructions for Students

  1. Check Your Internal Forecast: Take a moment to think about how you are feeling right now.

    • If your emotions were weather, what would it be? (e.g., "Stormy" = angry/frustrated, "Foggy" = confused/unfocused, "Breezy" = relaxed/calm, "Sunny" = happy/energetic, "Cloudy with a chance of rain" = worried/anxious)



  2. Name Your Weather: Silently (or out loud if comfortable), name your current emotional weather condition.

  3. Create Your Forecast: Think of one practical strategy that could help you manage this emotional weather. This is your personal "forecast" for navigating the feeling.

    • Examples: If "Stormy," take a deep breath. If "Foggy," ask for clarification. If "Cloudy," talk to a friend. If "Sunny," keep doing what you're doing!



Sharing (Optional - for group discussion)

If you feel comfortable, share:

  • Your current "Emotional Weather Report."
  • One strategy from your "Forecast."

(Teacher Note: Emphasize that all weather is temporary and manageable. Encourage a variety of responses and reinforce that everyone experiences different emotional weather. Create a safe, supportive space.)

lenny
lenny

Game

Emotional Regulation Game: Scenario Cards

Objective

To provide students with practical scenarios to practice identifying emotions and suggesting healthy coping strategies.

Instructions for the Teacher

  1. Prepare: Print and cut out the scenario cards below (or display them on a screen).
  2. Introduce: Explain that this is "Game Time" where students will tackle real-life emotional challenges.
  3. Facilitate: Read each scenario aloud. Ask students to quickly brainstorm and share healthy ways to respond or manage the emotions described.
  4. Encourage: Emphasize that there are many valid strategies. Encourage creative and practical solutions. Prompt them to consider what they can control.
  5. Discussion: Briefly discuss why certain responses are more helpful than others.

Scenario Cards

---START OF SCENARIO CARDS---

Scenario 1: Frustrated with a Teammate

During a basketball practice, a teammate keeps missing passes, causing your team to lose points. You feel your blood pressure rising and just want to yell at him.

  • What emotion are you feeling?


  • What could you do to manage this emotion and respond constructively?





Scenario 2: Overwhelmed by Homework

You have three major assignments due tomorrow, and you feel completely overwhelmed and stressed. You just want to shut down and play video games instead.

  • What emotion are you feeling?


  • What could you do to manage this emotion and start tackling your work?





Scenario 3: Unfair Call in a Game

The referee makes a terrible call against you in a close game, and you know it was wrong. You feel furious and want to argue, but you know you shouldn't get a technical foul.

  • What emotion are you feeling?


  • What could you do in that moment to keep your cool and stay focused on the game?





Scenario 4: Social Media Envy

You see a post from a friend showing them at a party you weren't invited to. You feel left out and a pang of jealousy.

  • What emotion are you feeling?


  • What could you do to manage this feeling and not let it ruin your day?





Scenario 5: Challenging Test Question

You're taking a test, and you come across a question that completely stumps you. You start to feel anxious and worry you're going to fail the whole test.

  • What emotion are you feeling?


  • What strategy could you use to calm yourself and approach the question?





---END OF SCENARIO CARDS---

lenny
lenny