Lesson Plan
Emotion Labeling Roadmap
Enable the student to accurately identify and label their emotions and craft personalized affirmations to redirect negative thoughts in real time.
Building self-awareness through emotion labeling and positive self-talk empowers students to manage stress, improve focus, and foster emotional resilience.
Audience
7th Grade Student
Time
25 minutes
Approach
Guided reflection, collaborative affirmation creation, and practice.
Materials
Prep
Review and Setup Materials
5 minutes
- Familiarize yourself with the Whisper to Win Slides, Daily Affirmation Journal, and Affirmation Delivery Guide.
- Ensure digital or printed copies of the slides and journal are ready.
- Arrange a quiet, private space free from distractions for the one-on-one session.
Step 1
Welcome and Grounding
2 minutes
- Greet the student warmly and explain the session’s focus on recognizing emotions and building positive self-talk.
- Lead a brief breathing exercise (three slow, deep breaths) to center attention.
Step 2
Emotion Labeling Check-In
5 minutes
- Refer to the Emotion Labeling Roadmap to remind the student of key emotion categories.
- Ask the student to identify and label their current feelings using the roadmap.
- Have the student explain their choices to confirm understanding.
Step 3
Introduce Affirmations
5 minutes
- Present examples and benefits of affirmations using the Whisper to Win Slides.
- Discuss how affirmations can interrupt negative thought patterns in stressful moments.
Step 4
Create Personalized Affirmations
7 minutes
- Guide the student through the Affirmation Delivery Guide to draft 2–3 affirmations tailored to their common stress triggers.
- Emphasize specificity, positive framing, and present-tense phrasing.
Step 5
Practice and Journal
5 minutes
- Have the student write their chosen affirmations in the Daily Affirmation Journal.
- Practice saying each affirmation aloud, focusing on confident tone and body language.
- Offer supportive feedback on clarity and delivery.
Step 6
Check for Understanding & Transition
1 minute
- Ask the student to restate one affirmation and describe when they will use it.
- Outline next steps: daily journaling and a brief check-in tomorrow to review progress.
Slide Deck
Whisper to Win
Harnessing Emotion Labeling & Affirmations for Stress Management
Welcome the student and set a positive tone. Explain that today’s session will focus on understanding emotions and using affirmations to manage stress.
Script:
“Today we’re going to explore how naming our feelings can help us feel in control—and how using our own positive statements, or affirmations, can help redirect negative thoughts.”
What Is Emotion Labeling?
• Defining an emotion by giving it a clear name
• Builds self-awareness and reduces overwhelm
• Example: Turning “I feel weird” into “I feel anxious”
Introduce the concept of emotion labeling.
Talking points:
- Emotions are signals that tell us what’s happening inside.
- Putting a name to what we feel helps us understand and manage it.
Prompt the student: “What word would you use for how you feel right now?”
Emotion Categories
Happy Sad Angry Anxious Surprised Calm
Use these as starting points to pinpoint exactly what you feel.
Show the major emotion categories to give the student language.
Activity: Point to each category and ask for an example scenario.
Refer to the Emotion Labeling Roadmap for deeper practice.
What Are Affirmations?
• Positive, present-tense statements
• Designed to interrupt negative thinking
• Examples:
– “I am calm and capable.”
– “I have the strength to keep going.”
Transition to affirmations.
Script:
“Once we know how we feel, we can use affirmations—positive statements—to shift our mindset.”
Why Use Affirmations?
• Rewire negative thought patterns
• Boost confidence and focus
• Provide a quick reset during stress
Discuss why affirmations work.
Ask:
“What happens in your mind when you repeat a positive statement?”
Writing Strong Affirmations
- Start with “I am…” or “I choose…”
- Keep it short and positive
- Make it about what you want, not what you’re avoiding
- Tailor it to your common stress triggers
Guide the student through crafting strong affirmations.
Emphasize:
- Present tense
- Positive phrasing
- Specific to your needs
Your Turn: Create & Practice
Fill in the blanks:
• “I am ______________________.”
• “I choose to __________________.”
• “I have the power to ______________.”
Practice saying each out loud.
Invite the student to draft 2–3 affirmations using the prompts below.
Offer support and feedback on phrasing and confidence.
Transition to journal writing next.
Journal
Daily Affirmation Journal
Date: _________________________________
1. Morning Emotion Check
How do I feel right now? Why?
2. My Personalized Affirmations
Using the Affirmation Delivery Guide, write 2–3 affirmations you plan to use today:
- ________________________________________
- ________________________________________
- ________________________________________
3. Affirmation Practice Reflection
When did I use my affirmations, and what changes did I notice in my thoughts or feelings?
4. Plan for Tomorrow
Which affirmation(s) will I use and in what situation?
— Keep this journal with you and review it daily to build a strong, positive mindset! —
Script
Affirmation Delivery Guide
Teacher Script & Prompts
1. Setting the Stage (1 minute)
Teacher: “Great job drafting your affirmations! Now we’re going to focus on how to say them so they really stick. Let’s start by taking a steady, confident posture—feet hip-width apart, shoulders relaxed, and hands either at your sides or one over your heart.”
2. Present-Tense Power (2 minutes)
Teacher: “Remember, affirmations work best in the present tense, as if the positive statement is already true. For example, instead of ‘I will be calm,’ we say ‘I am calm and capable.’”
Prompt: “Can you try saying your first affirmation that way?”
Student repeats.
- Follow-up: “How does stating it as if it’s happening now make you feel?”
3. Voice & Body Language (3 minutes)
Teacher: “Your voice and body add extra power. Let’s practice three things:
- Volume: Speak loud enough for you to hear clearly—no whispering.
- Pace: Slow down so each word lands.
- Gesture: Use one small movement, like placing your hand on your chest or extending your arm.
Try your affirmation again, using these tips.”
Student practices; teacher offers quick feedback (“That was strong—nice and slow on ‘calm’!”).
4. Emotional Connection (2 minutes)
Teacher: “As you speak, notice how your body feels. Are your shoulders softer or your breath deeper? That connection makes the affirmation more real.”
Prompt: “What did you notice in your body this time?”
5. Repetition & Reinforcement (2 minutes)
Teacher: “Research shows that repeating an affirmation aloud five times in a row helps your brain accept it. Let’s pick one affirmation and say it together five times.”
Student leads; teacher echoes.
6. Planning for Real-World Use (1 minute)
Teacher: “When might you use these affirmations? Morning wake-up? Before a test? Jot your plan in the Daily Affirmation Journal. Then practice saying your go-to phrase each time you notice stress.”
Closing Prompt
Teacher: “Which affirmation will you choose as your ‘anchor phrase’ today, and when will you say it?”
Student responds to confirm understanding.
Warm Up
Check-In Breath
Begin the session with a quick breathing exercise to help you settle in and focus.
- Find Your Seat: Sit comfortably with feet flat on the floor and hands resting in your lap.
- Inhale Deeply: Breathe in slowly through your nose for a count of 4.
3. Hold: Gently hold your breath for a count of 4.
4. Exhale Fully: Release the breath through your mouth for a count of 6.
5. Repeat: Complete three full cycles of inhale-hold-exhale.
After you finish, take a moment to notice any changes.
Reflection
How do you feel now compared to before this exercise? What did you notice in your body or mind?
Cool Down
Anchor Phrase Commitment
Use this exit ticket to affirm your commitment to using your chosen affirmation today.
1. My Anchor Affirmation Phrase:
______________________________________________
2. When I will use this affirmation:
______________________________________________
3. Number of times I will say it when I notice stress:
__________ times
4. How I expect this affirmation to help me today:
— Thank you for your commitment! Keep practicing your positive self-talk. —