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Think, Feel, Act!

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Lesson Plan

Think, Feel, Act!

Students will be able to differentiate between thoughts, feelings, and actions and identify examples of each in themselves and others.

Understanding the difference between our thoughts, feelings, and actions is a superpower! It helps us understand ourselves better, manage our emotions, and make choices that lead to positive outcomes.

Audience

3rd Grade Small Group

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Through discussion and an interactive activity.

Materials

Smartboard or projector, Think, Feel, Act! Slides, Think, Feel, Act! Worksheet, and Think, Feel, Act! Answer Key

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What's the Difference?

3 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the lesson topic: exploring thoughts, feelings, and actions.
    * Use the Think, Feel, Act! Slides to guide the discussion.
    * Ask students: "What do you think the difference is between a thought, a feeling, and an action?" Allow for brief sharing.

Step 2

Defining Terms (Slide-Guided)

5 minutes

  • Go through each definition on the Think, Feel, Act! Slides:
    * Thought: What you think in your brain (e.g., "I'm hungry," "This is hard").
    * Feeling: How your body reacts to a thought or event (e.g., happy, sad, angry).
    * Action: What you do (e.g., eat a snack, ask for help, yell).
    * Provide a simple example and ask students to identify if it's a thought, feeling, or action. For instance: "My stomach growls." (Feeling). "I think I need a snack." (Thought). "I go to the kitchen." (Action).

Step 3

Worksheet Activity: Sort It Out!

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Think, Feel, Act! Worksheet to each student.
    * Explain the instructions: Students will read scenarios and decide if each statement describes a 'Thought,' 'Feeling,' or 'Action.'
    * Circulate and provide support as students work. Encourage them to discuss their choices with their small group members.

Step 4

Review and Share

2 minutes

  • Bring the group back together.
    * Briefly review the answers using the Think, Feel, Act! Answer Key and invite students to share their reasoning for one or two examples.
    * Emphasize that it's okay if some were tricky, and practice helps! Reinforce the importance of understanding these distinctions in their daily lives.
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Slide Deck

Think, Feel, Act!

What's the difference?

Welcome students and introduce the topic: understanding thoughts, feelings, and actions. Engage them by asking what they think each word means.

What's a THOUGHT?

A THOUGHT is something you think in your brain.

  • It's an idea, an opinion, or a belief.
  • It's what's going on inside your head.

Examples:

  • "I think this game is fun!"
  • "I wonder what's for lunch."
  • "This math problem is tricky."

Introduce the definition of a THOUGHT. Provide a clear, simple example. Ask students for their own examples of thoughts.

What's a FEELING?

A FEELING is how your body reacts.

  • It's an emotion you experience.
  • It can be happy, sad, angry, surprised, calm, frustrated, and more!

Examples:

  • Feeling happy when you play with friends.
  • Feeling sad when you miss someone.
  • Feeling frustrated when something is hard.

Introduce the definition of a FEELING. Explain how feelings are often responses in our body. Provide clear examples and ask students for their own examples of feelings.

What's an ACTION?

An ACTION is something you DO.

  • It's a behavior you choose.
  • It's what you say or how you move.

Examples:

  • Smiling when you're happy.
  • Asking for help.
  • Running on the playground.

Introduce the definition of an ACTION. Emphasize that actions are what we do. Provide clear examples and ask students for their own examples of actions.

Put it All Together!

Let's practice telling them apart!

Scenario: You get a perfect score on your spelling test!

  • Thought?
    "I'm so smart!"
  • Feeling?
    Excited, Proud, Happy
  • Action?
    High-fiving a friend, Telling your teacher, Doing a happy dance!

Review all three concepts. Use a simple scenario and ask students to identify the thought, feeling, and action within it. For example: "You see your friend fall down." (Thought: Oh no! Feeling: Worried. Action: Go help them up.)

Time to Practice!

Now, let's use our new skills with a worksheet!

Transition to the worksheet activity. Explain that the worksheet will give them more chances to practice.

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Worksheet

Think, Feel, Act! Worksheet

Name: _________________________

Instructions: Read each scenario. Then, decide if the statement is a Thought, a Feeling, or an Action. Write your answer in the space provided.

Scenario 1: It's snack time!

  1. My stomach growls.



  2. "I think I want an apple."



  3. I walk to my lunchbox.



Scenario 2: A friend is sad.

  1. My shoulders slump when I see my friend crying.



  2. "I should ask if they are okay."



  3. I give my friend a hug.



Scenario 3: You have a big test.

  1. "I hope I remember everything!"



  2. My hands feel a little sweaty.



  3. I take a deep breath before I start.



Scenario 4: Playing outside!

  1. "This is the best game ever!"



  2. I laugh really loud.



  3. I feel joyful and bouncy.



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Answer Key

Think, Feel, Act! Answer Key

Instructions: Review each answer and the reasoning. Remember that for open-ended questions or discussions, student responses may vary but should align with the core concepts.

Scenario 1: It's snack time!

  1. My stomach growls.

    • Answer: Feeling
    • Reasoning: A growling stomach is a physical sensation, an internal bodily reaction to hunger.

  2. "I think I want an apple."

    • Answer: Thought
    • Reasoning: This is a statement made in the mind, a desire or decision being processed internally.

  3. I walk to my lunchbox.

    • Answer: Action
    • Reasoning: Walking is a physical movement, something actively done.

Scenario 2: A friend is sad.

  1. My shoulders slump when I see my friend crying.

    • Answer: Feeling
    • Reasoning: Slumping shoulders is a physical manifestation of an emotion, likely sadness or empathy.

  2. "I should ask if they are okay."

    • Answer: Thought
    • Reasoning: This is an internal decision-making process, a plan forming in the mind.

  3. I give my friend a hug.

    • Answer: Action
    • Reasoning: Giving a hug is a physical behavior performed outwardly.

Scenario 3: You have a big test.

  1. "I hope I remember everything!"

    • Answer: Thought
    • Reasoning: This is an internal expression of hope or worry about a future event.

  2. My hands feel a little sweaty.

    • Answer: Feeling
    • Reasoning: Sweaty hands are a physical sensation, a bodily response to nervousness or anxiety.

  3. I take a deep breath before I start.

    • Answer: Action
    • Reasoning: Taking a deep breath is a deliberate physical act.

Scenario 4: Playing outside!

  1. "This is the best game ever!"

    • Answer: Thought
    • Reasoning: This is an internal opinion or judgment about the game.

  2. I laugh really loud.

    • Answer: Action
    • Reasoning: Laughing is an audible behavior, something actively done.

  3. I feel joyful and bouncy.

    • Answer: Feeling
    • Reasoning: Joyful and bouncy describe emotional states and physical sensations associated with happiness.
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Script

Think, Feel, Act! Script

Introduction: What's the Difference? (3 minutes)

(Display Slide 1: "Think, Feel, Act!")

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to become detectives of our own minds and bodies. We're going to explore something super important for understanding ourselves and others: the difference between our thoughts, our feelings, and our actions.

Has anyone ever heard these words before? What do you think each one means? What's the difference between thinking something, feeling something, and doing something? Don't worry if it's a little tricky, we're going to figure it out together!"

(Allow a few students to share their initial ideas briefly.)

Defining Terms (Slide-Guided) (5 minutes)

(Display Slide 2: "What's a THOUGHT?")

"Let's start with Thoughts. A thought is something that happens right here, inside your brain! It's an idea, a picture, a word, or a belief that goes through your mind. You can't always see someone else's thoughts, right? They're private, happening inside your head.

Can you give me an example of a thought you might have? Maybe something you thought this morning, or something you're thinking about for after school?"

(Listen to student examples, affirming correct ones and gently guiding if confused. Refer to slide examples if needed.)

(Display Slide 3: "What's a FEELING?")

"Great examples! Now let's talk about Feelings. Feelings are how your body reacts to something. They are emotions like happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared, or calm. When you have a feeling, you might notice it in your body – maybe your heart beats fast when you're excited, or your stomach feels funny when you're nervous.

What are some feelings you've had recently? How did they feel in your body?"

(Encourage students to share different feelings and how they manifest physically.)

(Display Slide 4: "What's an ACTION?")

"Excellent! Finally, we have Actions. An action is something you do. It's a behavior you choose with your body. Actions are what people can see you doing or hear you saying. They're outward, like smiling, running, talking, or writing.

What's an action you've taken today? Or an action you might take after this lesson?"

(Prompt students for clear examples of physical actions or spoken words.)

Put it All Together! (Slide-Guided) (2 minutes)

(Display Slide 5: "Put it All Together!")

"Now, let's try to put all three together! Look at this scenario: You get a perfect score on your spelling test!

  • What thought might pop into your head?






  • What feeling might you have in your body?






  • What action might you do?






(Guide students through identifying each part, referring to the examples on the slide.)

Worksheet Activity: Sort It Out! (5 minutes)

(Display Slide 6: "Time to Practice!")

"You're doing an amazing job distinguishing between thoughts, feelings, and actions! Now it's your turn to practice on your own with a special worksheet.

I'm going to hand out this Think, Feel, Act! Worksheet. Your job is to read each sentence and decide if it describes a Thought, a Feeling, or an Action. Write your answer in the space provided.

Work quietly on your own, but if you have a question, raise your hand, and I'll come help you. You can also quietly discuss with your small group if you get stuck. You have about 5 minutes to complete it."

(Distribute worksheets. Circulate around the group, offering support and encouragement.)

Review and Share (2 minutes)

"Alright, detectives, pencils down! Let's quickly go over some of the answers on your Think, Feel, Act! Worksheet using our Think, Feel, Act! Answer Key.

Let's look at number one: 'My stomach growls.' What did you put for that one? Why?"

(Go through a few examples, asking students for their reasoning. Use the answer key as a guide.)

"Fantastic work today, everyone! Understanding the difference between thoughts, feelings, and actions is a really important skill. It helps you know what's going on inside you, and how your choices can affect what happens next. Keep practicing these skills, and you'll be emotional intelligence experts in no time!"

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