Lesson Plan
Wellness Map Blueprint
Students will collaboratively develop personalized wellness maps by identifying emotional states, setting targeted mental health goals, and creating actionable support plans.
This lesson fosters self-awareness, empowers students to take ownership of their well-being, and builds peer-support skills critical for resilience and healthy coping.
Audience
9th Grade Class
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive mapping, peer feedback, and reflective journaling.
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review Your Mental Health Landscape Slide Deck to familiarize with key concepts and flow.
- Print copies of Emotion Check-In Cards, Design Your Roadmap Worksheet, and Reflect & Goal Journal Template for each student.
- Prepare seating arrangement for partner discussions.
- Read through Peer Plan Exchange Guidelines to guide feedback sessions.
Step 1
Emotion Check-In
5 minutes
- Distribute Emotion Check-In Cards to each student.
- Ask students to select a card representing their current emotional state.
- Invite volunteers to briefly share why they chose their emotion.
- Emphasize that all feelings are valid and promote a supportive environment.
Step 2
Explore Mental Health Landscape
10 minutes
- Launch Your Mental Health Landscape Slide Deck.
- Define the concept of a “Wellness Map” and its role in treatment planning.
- Discuss the four key components: emotional, social, physical, and cognitive wellness.
- Use slide examples to illustrate each wellness area and prompt brief student observations.
Step 3
Design Your Roadmap
15 minutes
- Hand out Design Your Roadmap Worksheet.
- Instruct students to map their current state across wellness areas, list at least two specific goals, and brainstorm support strategies.
- Encourage students to identify personal strengths and external resources.
- Circulate to offer guidance and ensure clarity on goal-setting.
Step 4
Peer Plan Exchange
10 minutes
- Pair students and have them exchange completed worksheets.
- Refer to Peer Plan Exchange Guidelines for structured feedback.
- Prompt peers to ask clarifying questions, offer suggestions, and highlight strengths.
- Encourage respectful dialogue and constructive criticism.
Step 5
Reflect & Goal Journal
5 minutes
- Distribute Reflect & Goal Journal Template.
- Ask students to write one insight gained and refine a goal into SMART format.
- Invite a few volunteers to share their reflections or revised goals with the class.
- Encourage students to keep their journals for ongoing tracking.
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Slide Deck
Your Mental Health Landscape
A visual guide to understanding and planning your well-being across four key areas.
Welcome students! Today, we’ll explore how to map out our mental health journey. Use this slide deck as a guide to understand key areas of wellness and prepare to create your own personalized Wellness Map.
What’s a Wellness Map?
• A personalized plan outlining your current well-being
• Identifies strengths and challenges
• Sets clear goals and action steps
Introduce the concept: A Wellness Map is like a roadmap that shows where you are now, where you want to go, and how you’ll get there. Emphasize its role in treatment planning and self-awareness.
Four Areas of Wellness
• Emotional: Recognizing and managing your feelings
• Social: Building supportive relationships and community
• Physical: Caring for your body and health habits
• Cognitive: Nurturing your thinking, learning, and problem-solving
Briefly define each area. Invite students to call out examples after each definition to foster engagement.
Wellness Area Examples
Emotional: Journaling or mindfulness practice
Social: Talking with a friend or joining a club
Physical: Regular exercise or balanced meals
Cognitive: Solving puzzles or learning a new skill
Share concrete examples to help students visualize each area. You can ask for volunteer examples or draw from your own experiences.
Your Turn: Observations
- Which wellness area feels strongest for you?
- Which area could use more focus right now?
Prompt students to reflect silently, then invite a few to share aloud. This primes them for the upcoming worksheet activity.
Next Steps: Building Your Map
Use your worksheet to:
- Map your current wellness levels
- Set at least two specific goals
- List support strategies and resources
Transition to the Design Your Roadmap activity. Explain that students will now map their current state, set goals, and brainstorm supports using their worksheets.
Warm Up
Warm-Up: Emotion Check-In
Description: A quick self-assessment using emotion cards to help students identify and share their current emotional state, setting a supportive tone for the lesson.
Instructions:
- Distribute one Emotion Check-In Card to each student.
- Ask students to silently reflect and decide if the emotion on their card matches how they feel right now.
- Invite a few volunteers to share why they chose their emotion. Emphasize that all feelings are valid and this is a judgment-free space.
Emotion Cards (printable):
- Happy 😄
- Sad 😢
- Anxious 😟
- Excited 🤩
- Calm 😌
- Angry 😠
- Overwhelmed 😵💫
- Motivated 💪
- Confused 🤔
Activity
Activity: Design Your Roadmap
In this activity, you’ll create a personalized roadmap for your well‐being. Use the chart below to:
- Assess your current wellness levels in each area
- Set at least two specific, achievable goals
- Brainstorm support strategies
- Identify your personal strengths and resources
| Wellness Area | Current Level (1-5) | Goal | Support Strategies | Strengths & Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emotional | ||||
| Social | ||||
| Physical | ||||
| Cognitive |
5. Personal Strengths
List two strengths you can draw on to reach your goals:
6. Available Resources
Name three people, tools, or activities that could support you:
7. SMART Goal Development
Choose one goal from above and rewrite it using the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, Time-bound):
Discussion
Discussion: Peer Plan Exchange
Time: 10 minutes
Instructions:
- Pair up and exchange your completed Design Your Roadmap Worksheet.
- Follow the feedback structure below to guide your conversation.
Feedback Guidelines:
- Listen actively with empathy and respect.
- Use “I” statements (e.g., “I notice…”).
- Ask open-ended questions to clarify understanding.
- Highlight strengths before offering suggestions.
Feedback Prompts:
- What part of the roadmap stands out as a strength? Why?
- Is the goal you set Specific and Measurable? Any ideas to refine it?
- Which support strategies feel most useful? Can you suggest others?
- How realistic is the timeline? What adjustments might help?
- What potential challenges do you foresee, and how could you address them?
Exchange Structure:
- Presenter (2 minutes): Share 1–2 key goals and support strategies from your map.
- Listener (3 minutes): Use the prompts to ask questions and offer feedback.
- Swap roles and repeat the process.
- Reflection (2 minutes): Write one change you will implement based on feedback:
Wrap-Up:
Invite volunteers to share insights or top suggestions with the class.
Cool Down
Cool-Down: Reflect & Goal Journal
Instructions: Take a few minutes to reflect on today’s session and refine your plan for moving forward. Write your responses in the spaces provided.
- Key Insight: What is one important thing you learned about yourself or your plan today?
- SMART Goal Revision: Choose one goal from your roadmap and rewrite it using the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, Time-bound).
- Action Steps: List two concrete steps you will take this week to work toward your SMART goal.
- My Commitment: Write a sentence affirming how you will hold yourself accountable and track your progress.
Reminder: Keep this journal entry in a safe place. Revisit it regularly to monitor your growth and adjust your plan as needed.