Lesson Plan
Taming the Emotional Rollercoaster
Students will learn to identify, name, and describe common classroom emotions and apply at least two coping strategies to manage their feelings during class.
Helping students recognize and regulate emotions promotes a positive learning environment, improves self-regulation skills, and supports academic and social success.
Audience
9th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive scenarios, guided discussion, and personal reflection.
Materials
- Emotion Management Slides, - Emotion Scenario Cards, - Coping Strategies Handout, - Emotion Reflection Index Cards, and - Timer or Stopwatch
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Print and cut out Emotion Scenario Cards and Emotion Reflection Index Cards.
- Make copies of the Coping Strategies Handout for each student.
- Load the Emotion Management Slides on the classroom projector.
- Prepare a timer or stopwatch to track activities.
- Review all materials and familiarize yourself with key points and examples.
Step 1
Warm-Up and Brainstorm
5 minutes
- Display Slide 1 of the Emotion Management Slides.
- Ask: “What emotions might you feel in class?” Record responses on the board.
- Prompt students to share physical signs and common triggers for each emotion.
- Differentiation:
- Provide sentence starters for ELLs (e.g., “I feel ___ when ___”).
- Challenge advanced students to connect emotions to previous experiences.
Step 2
Scenario Exploration
8 minutes
- Divide students into pairs and distribute one Emotion Scenario Cards per pair.
- In pairs, students read their scenario, identify the emotion, list body signals, and note potential triggers.
- After 3 minutes, each pair shares their findings with the class.
- Teacher circulates to support group discussions.
- Differentiation:
- For students needing extra support, provide visuals on the card.
- Encourage advanced pairs to suggest additional emotional responses.
Step 3
Coping Strategies Discussion
10 minutes
- Hand out the Coping Strategies Handout.
- Review 4–5 strategies (e.g., deep breathing, positive self-talk, taking a break).
- Model at least two strategies with student volunteers.
- In pairs, students choose two strategies they’d use for their scenario and role-play applying them.
- Differentiation:
- Offer written prompts for strategy use.
- Invite advanced students to propose and justify new strategies.
Step 4
Reflection and Exit Ticket
7 minutes
- Distribute one Emotion Reflection Index Cards per student.
- Students write:
- An emotion they experienced this week.
- Its trigger.
- One coping strategy they will try.
- Collect cards as an exit ticket to assess understanding and plan follow-up.
Slide Deck
Taming the Emotional Rollercoaster
Today we’ll learn how to:
- Identify and name classroom emotions
- Understand what triggers them and how they feel in our bodies
- Practice coping strategies to stay calm and focused
Welcome students and introduce today’s focus: recognizing and managing classroom emotions. Briefly share the lesson objective: by the end of class, you’ll be able to name common emotions and try two coping strategies.
What Is an Emotion?
• An emotion is a feeling we experience (e.g., frustration, excitement, anxiety).
• Emotions come with body signals: racing heart, sweaty palms, tense muscles.
• They help us understand our needs and react to our environment.
Define “emotion” as a feeling state triggered by events, thoughts, or situations. Emphasize that emotions send us information about what matters to us.
Brainstorm: Emotions You’ve Felt
Question: What emotions might you feel during a lesson?
• List as many as you can think of.
• For each emotion, note a physical sign (e.g., sweaty palms) and a common trigger.
Display a blank board or chart. Prompt students: “What emotions might you feel in class?” Record responses. Ask follow-up: “How do you know you’re feeling that?” to draw out body signals and triggers.
Scenario Example
Scenario: You’re called on to present an answer but you weren’t ready. You feel your heart race and your palms sweat.
- Identify the emotion.
- List body signals.
- Note what triggered the emotion.
Now pair up and try it with your card!
Introduce a sample scenario to model the activity. Then distribute Emotion Scenario Cards so pairs can practice. Circulate to guide discussions.
Coping Strategies
Here are strategies you can use when emotions become intense:
• Deep breathing (inhale for 4, exhale for 4)
• Positive self-talk (“I’ve got this.”)
• Taking a short break
• Counting to ten slowly
• Talking to a friend or trusted adult
Hand out the Coping Strategies Handout. Quickly review each strategy and model two of them (deep breathing, positive self-talk). Encourage students to practice in pairs with their scenario.
Reflection & Exit Ticket
On your index card, write:
- An emotion you experienced this week
- What triggered it
- One coping strategy you will try next time
Turn in your card before you leave!
Explain the exit ticket. Distribute Emotion Reflection Index Cards. Collect them to gauge understanding and plan follow-up supports.
Activity
Emotion Scenario Cards
Use these cards in pairs. Read the scenario, then:
- Identify the main emotion.
- List body signals you might notice.
- Note the event or trigger.
- emotion-scenario-1: You’re called on to answer a question you didn’t prepare for, and you feel your heart racing.
- emotion-scenario-2: You receive your graded essay back and see you got an A+. You can’t stop smiling.
- emotion-scenario-3: You studied hard for a quiz but scored lower than you expected. Your hands clench into fists.
- emotion-scenario-4: You share an idea in group work, but your teammates look away and ignore you.
- emotion-scenario-5: A sudden loud noise interrupts the lesson, and you jump in your seat.
- emotion-scenario-6: The teacher praises your creative project in front of the whole class.
- emotion-scenario-7: A friend giggles when you stumble over your words during a presentation.
- emotion-scenario-8: You read the instructions for a new assignment and feel your head spin—you’re not sure what to do next.
- emotion-scenario-9: You’re worried about a personal issue at home, and it’s hard to focus on the lesson.
- emotion-scenario-10: Two classmates argue loudly behind you, and you feel your muscles tense.
Worksheet
Coping Strategies Handout
Use this handout to learn and practice different ways to manage strong emotions. Read each strategy, then write how and when you would use it in class.
1. Deep Breathing
Description: Sit up straight, close your eyes if you’d like. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4, hold for 2, then exhale through your mouth for a count of 4.
When I would use this strategy:
Steps I will follow:
2. Positive Self-Talk
Description: Replace negative thoughts with encouraging words (e.g., “I can handle this,” “I have prepared for this”).
Examples of self-talk I could use:
When I would use this strategy:
3. Taking a Short Break
Description: If possible, stand up and stretch, walk to a designated calm-down spot, or look out the window for a minute.
My plan for taking a break:
- Where I will go: ________________________
- What I will do there: ____________________
- How long I will stay: ____________________
4. Counting to Ten Slowly
Description: Quietly count from 1 to 10 at a steady pace to give yourself time to reset your thoughts and feelings.
When might this help me:
5. Talking to a Friend or Trusted Adult
Description: Share how you feel with someone who listens and can help you calm down or solve the problem.
Who I could talk to: ________________________________________
What I would say first:
My Personal Coping Plan
Think of a recent situation that felt overwhelming. Describe the situation and choose two strategies from above to handle it. Explain each step.
Situation:
Strategy 1 and steps:
Strategy 2 and steps:
Activity
Emotion Reflection Index Cards
Use this card as a quick exit ticket. On your card, write:
- An emotion you experienced this week:
- What triggered this emotion:
- One coping strategy you will try next time: