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Pause. Reflect. Act.

Lesson Plan

Pause Reflect Act Lesson Plan

Students will learn to manage their emotions by using the 'Pause, Reflect, Act' strategy, enabling them to respond thoughtfully in challenging situations.

This lesson helps students gain essential emotional regulation skills, reducing impulsivity and improving decision-making during emotionally charged moments.

Audience

9th Grade Group

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussions, guided practice, and role-playing.

Materials

Pause Reflect Act Lesson Plan, PRA Strategy Slide Deck, and PRA Role-Play Game

Prep

Review & Familiarize

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Overview

5 minutes

  • Introduce the 'Pause, Reflect, Act' strategy using the slide deck.
  • Engage students with questions about times they might benefit from pausing and reflecting before acting.

Step 2

Guided Practice

10 minutes

  • Conduct a role-play session using the PRA Role-Play Game to simulate real-life scenarios.
  • Ask students to verbalize their thought process as they pause, reflect, and then act.

Step 3

Reflection & Debrief

5 minutes

  • Lead a group discussion on how the strategy applied during role-play.
  • Encourage students to share insights on how they can use the strategy in daily life.
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Slide Deck

PRA Strategy: Pause, Reflect, Act

Welcome! Today, we explore a method to manage emotions through a three-step process: Pause, Reflect, Act.

Introduce the PRA Strategy and provide context for the session. Emphasize that the strategy is designed to help students manage their emotions.

Step 1: Pause

• Recognize a strong emotional reaction.
• Stop and take a moment before reacting.

Think: What signals your mind to pause?

Explain in detail what 'Pause' means. Ask students to think of moments when they needed to stop before reacting.

Step 2: Reflect

• Identify the emotion and its cause.
• Consider alternative responses.

Reflect: How might your response change the outcome?

Discuss 'Reflect'. Encourage students to consider the reasons behind their emotions and the consequences of their actions.

Step 3: Act

• Choose a response based on reflection.
• Act in a way that is constructive and deliberate.

Ask: What action aligns with your values?

Outline 'Act'. This is where decision-making happens. Remind students to choose a measured response that considers the situation.

Review & Reflect

• Recall: Pause, Reflect, Act.
• How can this strategy apply in your daily life?

Let's discuss!

Conclude the slide deck by encouraging questions and summarizing the three steps. This slide sets up for role-play and discussion.

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Game

PRA Role-Play Game

The PRA Role-Play Game is designed to give students hands-on practice applying the 'Pause, Reflect, Act' strategy in various scenarios. This game encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and emotional regulation. Below are the guidelines, sample scenarios, and questions to stimulate discussion and reflection.

Game Overview

  • Objective: Help students recognize emotional triggers and practice pausing before reacting, reflecting on their feelings and reasons, and finally choosing a constructive action.
  • Duration: Approximately 10 minutes during the lesson
  • Audience: 9th Grade Group
  • Materials Needed: Scenario cards (can be printed or displayed), timer, and discussion prompts

Instructions

  1. Divide the Group: Split the class into small groups of 3-4 students.

  2. Distribute Scenario Cards: Hand out a scenario card to each group. Each card contains a brief description of a challenging situation that requires emotional regulation.

  3. Role-Play the Scenario: Ask one student to act as the protagonist facing the scenario. Other group members can play roles such as bystanders or friends offering advice.

  4. Apply the PRA Steps:

    • Pause: The student identifies a moment when their emotions might escalate. They should verbally state or gesture a reminder, saying, "Pause."





    • Reflect: The student then explains what they are feeling, why they feel that way, and considers possible reactions. Other group members are encouraged to ask reflective questions like, "What alternative actions can you take?"





    • Act: Finally, the student chooses and enacts a response that is thoughtful and constructive. Group members can discuss how this action aligns with positive outcomes.





  5. Group Discussion: After each role-play, allow a couple of minutes for the group to discuss the following questions:

    • What did you find challenging about pausing before acting?
    • How did reflecting help in choosing a better response?
    • Can you think of real-life situations where this strategy might be helpful?

  6. Class Debrief: Bring the groups together to share insights and discuss common themes that emerged during the role-play sessions.

Sample Scenarios

  • Scenario 1: You overhear a group of classmates gossiping about another student. How do you pause, reflect, and act?

  • Scenario 2: A friend shares a hurtful comment in the heat of a disagreement. What steps would you take to manage your emotions before responding?

  • Scenario 3: You receive an unexpected grade on an assignment and feel intensely frustrated. How can you apply the PRA strategy to navigate your feelings?

Follow-Up Points

  • Role Identification: Discuss how different roles (protagonist, bystander, advisor) influence the application of the strategy.

  • Real-World Application: Ask students to share personal stories where pausing, reflecting, and acting could have changed the outcome of a situation.

  • Feedback Loop: In a safe environment, allow students to provide constructive feedback on each other's use of the strategy.

Enjoy the role-playing, and remember: the key to effective emotional regulation is in conscious practice and reflection!


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Pause Reflect Act Lesson Plan | PRA Strategy Slide Deck

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