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Taming the Fire Within

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Jennifer Figueroa Hogan

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Taming the Fire Within Lesson Plan

Students will learn key strategies for anger management, recognize triggers, and practice self-regulation techniques to improve daily social interactions.

Anger management skills help students with ADHD and ED handle their emotions, ultimately improving focus, behavior, and relationships in and out of the classroom.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Engage students through interactive discussion, multimedia content, and hands-on practice.

Materials

Taming the Fire Within Lesson Plan, Anger Management Worksheet, Anger Management Slide Deck, and Interactive Anger Control Activity

Prep

Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Taming the Fire Within Lesson Plan to understand all components.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Anger Management Slide Deck and ensure multimedia functionality.
  • Prepare copies of the Anger Management Worksheet for all students.
  • Set up the classroom for the interactive Anger Control Activity.
  • Consider accommodations for students with ADHD and ED to ensure accessibility.

Step 1

Warm Up

10 minutes

  • Start with a brief relaxation exercise to help students settle.
  • Ask guided questions about feelings and common triggers to engage students in thinking about anger.
  • Encourage a safe space for sharing personal experiences, emphasizing respect and understanding.

Step 2

Interactive Slide Deck Presentation

15 minutes

  • Present the Anger Management Slide Deck outlining key concepts like identifying triggers and emotional regulation techniques.
  • Pause periodically to ask comprehension questions and invite student reflections.
  • Highlight strategies tailored for ADHD and ED.

Step 3

Worksheet Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Anger Management Worksheet.
  • Guide students through exercises that prompt them to identify triggers and brainstorm coping strategies.
  • Provide individualized support for students requiring additional help.

Step 4

Interactive Anger Control Activity

15 minutes

  • Conduct the Interactive Anger Control Activity where students practice role-playing scenarios.
  • Divide students into small groups to simulate conflict resolution and emotional regulation scenarios.
  • Encourage each group to discuss the effectiveness of different strategies.

Step 5

Cool Down and Reflection

10 minutes

  • Lead a guided cool down session using deep breathing and mindfulness exercises.
  • Facilitate a reflective discussion on what strategies worked and how they can be applied in daily life.
  • Allow students to share personal insights and set individual goals for managing anger.
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Slide Deck

Anger Management: Taming the Fire Within

Welcome! Today we'll explore what anger is, triggers, and strategies to handle our feelings. Let's learn to control our fire!

Introduce the lesson with a brief overview of what will be covered. Emphasize the key concepts: what anger is, common triggers, and why managing anger is important. Mention that this is a safe space to learn and share.

What is Anger?

Anger is a normal emotion, but when uncontrolled, it can hurt ourselves and others. Let's explore how it feels and what causes it.

Discuss the concept of anger as a natural emotion. Ask the students what anger feels like and share simple, relatable examples. Encourage participation by asking questions like 'What does anger look like for you?'

Identifying Your Triggers

Triggers can include stressful situations, misunderstandings, or feeling overwhelmed. What are some things that trigger your anger?

Explain common triggers that might cause anger. Use relatable examples like conflicts with friends, frustration during homework, or feeling misunderstood. Highlight that triggers differ from person to person.

Self-Regulation Techniques

Techniques:

  • Deep Breathing
  • Counting to Ten
  • Taking a Break
  • Expressing Yourself

These tools help calm the anger before it grows.

Introduce self-regulation techniques like deep breathing, counting, taking a break, or using words to express feelings. Illustrate how these techniques help calm the fire of anger.

Practice: Role-Playing Scenarios

Let's practice! In groups, simulate scenarios where you use the techniques learned to manage anger. Discuss what worked and what could be improved.

Engage students in a role-playing scenario discussion. Highlight the benefits of practicing these strategies in a safe, controlled environment. Ask reflective questions after sharing scenarios.

Cool Down & Reflection

Take a deep breath and reflect: What strategy will you use next time you feel anger rising? Sharing our goals helps us remember the steps to calm down.

Wrap up the session by reviewing what was learned, reinforcing the importance of managing anger positively. Invite students to share one thing they will try when feeling angry.

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Worksheet

Anger Management Worksheet

Part 1: Understanding Anger

  1. What does anger feel like to you? Describe your physical and emotional reactions when you start feeling angry.





  2. List some situations or events that you believe could trigger your anger. Think about both big events and small annoyances.





Part 2: Identifying Personal Triggers and Responses

  1. Identify one personal trigger for anger that you have experienced before. What happened and how did it make you feel?





  2. How did you react when this trigger occurred? Write down your immediate thoughts and actions.





Part 3: Coping Strategies and Self-Regulation

  1. Brainstorm at least three strategies that can help manage anger when you start feeling overwhelmed. For example, deep breathing or counting to ten.





  2. Think of a scenario where you successfully managed your anger. Describe what strategy you used and what made it effective.





Part 4: Reflection and Goals

  1. Reflect on the strategies you listed. Which one do you feel most comfortable trying in the future and why?





  2. Set a personal goal related to anger management for the next week. What will you do differently when you notice your anger rising?





Use this space to doodle or write any additional thoughts about managing anger:










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Activity

Interactive Anger Control Activity

Overview

In this activity, students will participate in role-playing scenarios to practice using anger management techniques. They will work in small groups to simulate real-life situations where anger might arise. This activity encourages collaboration, the application of learnt strategies, and reflection on their effectiveness.

Objectives

  • Practice identifying and managing triggers in simulated situations.
  • Apply self-regulation techniques like deep breathing, counting, and expressing feelings constructively.
  • Reflect on group strategies and share insights on what worked best.

Instructions

  1. Group Formation:

    • Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students.

  2. Scenario Distribution:

    • Each group will receive a role-playing scenario (you can create scenarios or use examples from the slide deck). For instance, a scenario could involve a disagreement over a group project or a misunderstanding during a game.

  3. Role Play:

    • Within each group, students assign roles (e.g., person feeling angry, mediator, friend, etc.).
    • Each group practices the scenario for about 5-7 minutes, applying anger management strategies discussed during the lesson.

  4. Discussion and Reflection:

    • After role-playing, each group discusses:
      • What triggered the anger in the scenario?
      • What techniques did they use to manage their emotions?
      • How effective were these techniques?
      • What could have been done differently?
    • Rotate roles if time permits, so each student gets a chance to practice different roles.

  5. Class Sharing:

    • Bring the class back together and invite groups to share their experiences and insights.
    • Encourage students to discuss the variety of strategies used and what they learned from observing others.


      ## Tips for Teachers
  • Walk around during role-plays to provide support and gentle guidance.
  • Reinforce positive attempts at self-regulation by praising effective use of strategies.
  • Remind students that mistakes are opportunities to learn and improve their anger management skills.

Materials Needed

  • Prepared role-playing scenario cards (optional)
  • A timer to manage role-play duration
  • Space for small group discussions

This activity builds on the concepts from the Anger Management Slide Deck and the Anger Management Worksheet by giving students a chance to practice in a safe, supportive environment.


Reflect on your experience: What one strategy do you think will help you most when you feel angry?










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Warm Up

Anger Awareness Warm Up

Objective

Engage students in initiating a calm and reflective atmosphere by exploring their feelings and identifying potential triggers of anger, setting the stage for deeper learning during the lesson.

Instructions

  1. Relaxation Exercise (5 minutes):

    • Begin by inviting students to close their eyes and take deep, slow breaths.
    • Guide them through a brief mindfulness exercise focusing on releasing tension from their bodies.





  2. Guided Reflection (5 minutes):

    • Pose open-ended questions like "What does anger feel like in your body?" and "Can you think of a time when you felt your anger starting to rise?"
    • Encourage students to think about physical sensations (such as a racing heart or tight muscles) and emotions associated with anger.
    • Invite a few students to share their thoughts (ensuring a safe space and emphasizing confidentiality and respect).





This warm-up sets a calm tone for the session and primes students for the interactive activities ahead.

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Cool Down

Reflection and Goal Setting Cool Down

Overview

In the final part of the lesson, students will reflect on the activities and strategies discussed, engage in a calming breathing exercise, and set personal goals for managing anger in their everyday lives.

Cool Down Activities

  1. Guided Breathing Exercise (5 minutes):

    • Have students sit comfortably and close their eyes.
    • Lead them through a deep breathing exercise: Inhale slowly through the nose for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, and exhale slowly through the mouth for 6 counts.
    • Repeat this cycle several times to help students relax and refocus.





  2. Reflective Discussion (3 minutes):

    • Ask students to share one strategy they found helpful during the lesson.
    • Encourage them to explain how they think this strategy could help in real-life situations.





  3. Personal Goal Setting (2 minutes):

    • Invite students to write down one personal goal related to anger management that they will work on over the next week.
    • Ask them to consider what steps they will take when they notice signs of anger rising.





Note: Ensure that all students feel safe and supported, especially those with ADHD and emotional disturbances (ED). Provide additional assistance if needed and praise honest reflection and effort.

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