Lesson Plan
Mystery SOAP Mission Plan
Students will collaborate in a mystery game to practice identifying and documenting the Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan components of SOAP notes, then write a full SOAP note for a client case.
Mastering SOAP notes is vital for clear clinical communication, legal accuracy, and effective treatment planning. This interactive lesson builds students’ confidence and competence in professional documentation.
Audience
9th Grade Class
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Collaborative gamified mystery solving
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and cut client case cards for Client Case Card Hunt Game
- Print enough copies of the SOAP Clue Tracker Worksheet for each group
- Queue up the Clue-Based SOAP Overview Slide Deck on the classroom projector/computer
- Arrange desks/tables into small groups for collaborative play
Step 1
Hook & Introduction
5 minutes
- Display the first slide of the Clue-Based SOAP Overview Slide Deck
- Explain that students are new “detectives” solving a SOAP mystery
- Briefly review what SOAP stands for and why each component matters
- Reveal the game objective: find all SOAP clues and document a complete note
Step 2
Teach & Model
10 minutes
- Use slides 2–5 in the Clue-Based SOAP Overview Slide Deck to define Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan
- Model filling out one SOAP entry on the board using a sample client scenario
- Highlight key language cues and documentation standards
Step 3
Game Setup & Play
20 minutes
- Divide students into small detective teams and distribute one SOAP Clue Tracker Worksheet per team
- Scatter client case cards from the Client Case Card Hunt Game around the room or hand them out randomly
- Teams hunt for cards, read each client snippet, and record which SOAP component it represents on their tracker
- Once they collect all four clues, teams draft a full SOAP note for one client case using their tracker
Step 4
Debrief & Assessment
10 minutes
- Reconvene as a class and have each team share one example from their tracker
- Discuss any confusing clues or common mistakes
- Collect one completed SOAP note per team for formative assessment
- Provide feedback on structure, accuracy, and documentation style
Slide Deck
Clue-Based SOAP Overview
Welcome, detectives! Today we’ll uncover the four key components of a SOAP note. Your mission: identify clues in each section to build a complete note.
Welcome students and set the detective theme. Explain that SOAP notes are like solving a case: each component gives you a clue to help plan treatment.
Subjective (S)
• Information reported by the client: symptoms, feelings, concerns, history
• Clues include direct quotes (e.g., “I’ve been feeling anxious”), descriptions of pain levels, mood changes
Explain that Subjective is what the client tells us. Highlight importance of direct quotes and client perceptions.
Objective (O)
• Observable and measurable data: vital signs, test results, clinician observations
• Clues include numbers (e.g., heart rate = 90 bpm), behavioral observations, documented measurements
Describe how Objective data is measured or observed by the clinician. Emphasize measurable signs.
Assessment (A)
• Clinician’s interpretation and clinical impressions: diagnoses, progress, hypotheses
• Clues include analysis of data, differential diagnosis, summary statements
Clarify that Assessment is the clinician’s professional interpretation of S & O data. Discuss diagnostic reasoning.
Plan (P)
• Proposed interventions and next steps: therapies, referrals, follow-up
• Clues include recommended actions (e.g., exercise plan), referrals, homework assignments
Define Plan as the next steps. Stress specificity: who does what, when, and how.
Model Example
Subjective: Client reports difficulty sleeping for 2 weeks, says “I can’t turn my brain off at night.”
Objective: Dark circles under eyes; sleep diary shows 4–5 hours/night; frequent yawning observed.
Assessment: Insomnia related to stress, moderate severity.
Plan: Teach sleep hygiene techniques; refer for CBT-I; schedule follow-up in one week.
Walk through this example step by step, highlighting how each clue fits into SOAP.
Game
Client Case Card Hunt
In this game, teams hunt for client case cards hidden around the room. Each card contains a brief SOAP snippet. Teams must read each snippet, determine which SOAP component it represents (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, or Plan), and record it on their SOAP Clue Tracker Worksheet.
How to Play
- Scatter the client case cards around the room or hand them out randomly.
- Each team finds a card, reads the snippet, and notes the component on their tracker.
- Once a team collects one example of each component (S, O, A, P), they return to draft a full SOAP note using their collected clues.
Client Case Cards
Card 1 (Subjective):
“Client reports, ‘I’ve had a headache every morning this week,’ and says the pain feels like pressure around the temples.”
Card 2 (Subjective):
“Client states, ‘I feel sad most days and have lost interest in my hobbies.’”
Card 3 (Subjective):
“Client mentions, ‘Ever since the car accident, my lower back pain has been constant at a 7/10.’”
Card 4 (Objective):
“Heart rate measured at 102 bpm; client observed pacing and wringing hands.”
Card 5 (Objective):
“Client’s PHQ-9 score is 15, indicating moderate depression.”
Card 6 (Objective):
“Range of motion: lumbar flexion limited to 40°; noted guarded gait during walk.”
Card 7 (Assessment):
“Symptoms consistent with generalized anxiety disorder; stress-related insomnia likely contributing.”
Card 8 (Assessment):
“Moderate depressive episode, no current suicidal ideation; functional impairment in social activities.”
Card 9 (Assessment):
“Acute low back strain without red-flag symptoms; muscle spasm present.”
Card 10 (Plan):
“Teach progressive muscle relaxation; assign daily sleep hygiene log; follow-up in one week.”
Card 11 (Plan):
“Refer to physical therapy for core strengthening; recommend NSAIDs as needed; re-evaluate in two sessions.”
Card 12 (Plan):
“Initiate CBT focusing on cognitive restructuring for anxiety; homework: thought record sheets; next session review.”
Worksheet
SOAP Clue Tracker
Record Your Clues
Fill in one example clue for each component as you find it during the hunt.
| Component | Clue Snippet | Card # |
|---|---|---|
| Subjective (S) | ||
| Objective (O) | ||
| Assessment (A) | ||
| Plan (P) |
Draft Your Full SOAP Note
Use the clues you recorded above to write a complete SOAP note. Be sure to label each section.
Subjective
Objective
Assessment
Plan