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Wise Mind Walkabout

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Lesson Plan

Wise Mind Walkabout

Students will be able to define and identify "Wise Mind" and practice using it to make balanced decisions by integrating emotional and rational thinking.

Understanding Wise Mind helps students make more thoughtful decisions by balancing their feelings and facts, leading to better problem-solving and reduced impulsive actions.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and a decision-making game.

Materials

Whiteboard or Chart Paper, Markers, Wise Mind Walkabout Game Cards, and Wise Mind Worksheet

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction to Wise Mind (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "Have you ever made a decision just based on how you felt, and it didn't turn out well? Or, have you ever made a decision that seemed logical, but it just didn't feel right?"
  • Introduce the concept of 'Three States of Mind': Emotion Mind (decisions based purely on feelings), Reasonable Mind (decisions based purely on facts and logic), and Wise Mind (the balance between both).
  • Explain that Wise Mind is like a wise owl, combining the heat of the heart (emotions) with the cool of the head (logic) to make the best decision.

Step 2

Wise Mind Walkabout Game (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Explain the Wise Mind Walkabout Game. Students will pick a scenario card and, as a group, discuss how Emotion Mind, Reasonable Mind, and then Wise Mind would approach the situation.
  • Guide the discussion, emphasizing that there's no single "right" answer, but rather a balanced approach.
  • Encourage students to articulate how they would use both their feelings and facts to arrive at a Wise Mind decision.

Step 3

Wise Mind Worksheet & Wrap-up (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Wise Mind Worksheet.
  • Ask students to complete one scenario on their own or with a partner, focusing on identifying Emotion Mind, Reasonable Mind, and Wise Mind responses.
  • Conclude by reiterating the importance of Wise Mind in everyday life and how practicing it can lead to more effective choices. Ask if there are any questions.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Wise Mind!

How do you make decisions?

Welcome students and introduce the concept of decision-making. Ask a general question to get them thinking about how they make choices.

Three States of Mind

  • Emotion Mind: Decisions based on feelings. (e.g., I really want that candy!)
  • Reasonable Mind: Decisions based on facts and logic. (e.g., Eating too much candy is bad for my teeth.)
  • Wise Mind: The balance between feelings and facts. (e.g., I'll have one piece of candy today and brush my teeth well.)

Introduce the three states of mind: Emotion Mind, Reasonable Mind, and Wise Mind. Explain each briefly with simple examples.

What is Wise Mind?

🧠 It's where your heart ❤️ and your head 💡 work together!

Wise Mind is finding a balance between:

  • What you feel (Emotion Mind)
  • What you know (Reasonable Mind)

It helps you make the best choices for you!

Explain Wise Mind as the integration of Emotion and Reasonable Mind. Use the analogy of an owl or a balanced scale. Emphasize that it's about finding a middle ground, not ignoring emotions or logic.

Wise Mind Walkabout Game

Time to practice!

We'll look at different situations and explore:

  1. How would Emotion Mind react?
  2. How would Reasonable Mind react?
  3. How would Wise Mind react? (The best choice!)

Introduce the Wise Mind Walkabout Game. Explain that they will discuss scenarios and apply the three states of mind.

Practice Makes Wise!

You'll now try a scenario on your own or with a partner. Remember to think about both your feelings and the facts to find your Wise Mind.

Keep practicing your Wise Mind to make awesome choices every day!

Transition to the worksheet for individual or pair practice. Reinforce the main takeaway: practicing Wise Mind leads to better decisions.

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Game

Wise Mind Walkabout Game Cards

Instructions: Cut out the cards below. For each card, discuss as a group:

  1. How would Emotion Mind react?
  2. How would Reasonable Mind react?
  3. How would Wise Mind react? (What is the balanced decision?)

Scenario Card 1

Your best friend accidentally broke your favorite toy. You feel really angry and want to yell at them.












Scenario Card 2

You have a big test tomorrow that you didn't study much for. You feel super stressed and want to just give up and watch TV.












Scenario Card 3

Someone at school said something mean to you. You feel hurt and want to say something mean back, or just avoid them forever.












Scenario Card 4

You see a new video game that all your friends have, and you really, really want it. You know you have chores to do, but you want to ask your parents for it right now.












Scenario Card 5

Your teacher gives you a challenging group project. You feel nervous and worried you won't do well, so you want to let your teammates do all the work.












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Worksheet

Wise Mind Worksheet: Finding Your Balance

Instructions: Read the scenario below. Then, describe how Emotion Mind, Reasonable Mind, and Wise Mind would approach the situation. Think about what you feel and what you know.

Scenario:

Your parents told you that you need to spend an hour every day reading to improve your grades. You really want to play outside with your friends after school.

1. Emotion Mind Reaction:

What would you feel like doing? What impulsive decision might you make based purely on that feeling?







2. Reasonable Mind Reaction:

What would you know you should do based on facts, rules, or logic? What would be the purely logical decision?







3. Wise Mind Decision:

How can you balance your feelings and your facts to make the best choice? What is the wise decision that considers both what you want and what you need to do?












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