Slide Deck
You Matter Today
Welcome! Over the next 30 minutes, we’ll learn about our feelings, how to help friends, and where to find support.
Welcome students. Introduce yourself and explain that today’s session is called “You Matter Today.” We’ll spend the next 30 minutes talking about feelings, support, and how to get help if you ever need it.
Why We’re Here
It’s Suicide Awareness Month. That means we’re talking about feelings so we can support each other and know where to go for help.
Explain Suicide Awareness Month in kid-friendly terms. Emphasize that this month helps us understand feelings and caring for ourselves and others.
Feelings Are Like Weather
Just like weather, our feelings change. We have sunny days (happy), cloudy days (worried), and stormy days (angry or sad).
Use the weather analogy to normalize ups and downs. Ask students to share times they felt “sunny” or “stormy.”
Common Feelings
• Happy
• Sad
• Angry
• Scared
• Worried
• Calm
Review each feeling. Ask students to raise their hand if they’ve felt one of these today. Validate all responses.
Big Feelings & Getting Help
Sometimes feelings stick around and feel too big. If you feel sad, worried, or lonely for many days, or have thoughts you can’t shake, it’s time to get help.
Gently introduce when feelings become too big. Use simple language and reassure them it’s okay to ask for help.
Talking Helps
Talking about your feelings can make you feel lighter. You don’t have to carry big feelings on your own.
Emphasize that talking is powerful. Encourage students to share examples of trusted adults.
Who Can You Talk To?
• Parent or caregiver
• Teacher
• School counselor
• School nurse
• Friend or coach
List real people at school and home who can help. Encourage students to write these names down later.
Let’s do a 1-minute breathing exercise to calm our minds.
Introduce a simple guided breathing video. Prompt students to sit up straight, close their eyes if comfortable, and follow along.
My Support Network
Take 5 minutes to draw or list 3–5 people you can talk to when feelings get big. You can add family, friends, teachers, or counselors.
Explain the activity: students draw or list their support network back in the classroom or in their journals.
You Are Not Alone
Remember: You matter today and every day. If you ever need help, speaking up is a sign of strength.
Reinforce the key message: Every student matters and has a network.
Need Help? Resources
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988)
• Your school counselor: __________________
• Trusted adult at home or school
Share phone numbers and local resources. Encourage students to save them or write them down.
Activity
Activity: Support Network Drawing
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Blank paper or journals, pencils/crayons/markers, You Matter Today slide deck
Objective
Students will identify and visualize 3–5 trusted people in their lives whom they can turn to when feelings become overwhelming. This activity reinforces the idea that everyone has a support network and reminds students that they are not alone.
Instructions
- Introduction (1 minute)
• Remind students of the key message from You Matter Today: You are not alone.
• Explain that they will now draw their own support networks to see who they can talk to when they need help. - Modeling (1 minute)
• On the board, draw a circle in the center labeled “Me.”
• Draw a few circles around it, label them with examples (e.g., Parent, Teacher, Friend).
• Connect each circle to the center with a line. - Student Work (5 minutes)
• Distribute paper and drawing tools.
• Ask students to draw a circle in the center and write their name or draw themselves.
• Around the center, have them draw or list 3–5 people they trust (family, friends, coaches, counselors, etc.).
• Connect each person to the center with a line to show they’re part of the student’s support network.
(Use the space above to draw your network.) - Pair Share (2 minutes)
• Have students pair up and briefly explain their drawings.
• Prompt: “Who surprised you? Why did you include each person?” - Whole-Class Reflection (1 minute)
• Ask a few volunteers:- What did you notice about your network?
- How might this drawing help you next time you need support?
Follow-Up Questions
- How did it feel to think about people you can trust?
- Who will you reach out to first if you ever feel a big emotion you can’t manage alone?
- What can you do to strengthen your connection with someone in your network?
Extension/Homework (Optional)
Invite students to keep their drawing in a safe place (zip-lock bag, journal cover) and add to it whenever they remember someone new they trust. They can also write a short note to one person in their network telling them why they appreciate that person’s support.
Warm Up
Warm-Up: Feelings Check-In
Grade Level: 4th–6th Grade
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Whiteboard or chart paper, marker, optional printed emoji cards
Objective
Quickly gauge how students are feeling at the start of class, build emotional awareness, and foster a supportive environment.
Instructions
- Setup (30 seconds)
• Draw 5 simple emoji faces across the top of the board or chart paper, each labeled with a feeling word:
😊 Happy 😐 Okay 😕 Worried 😢 Sad 😠 Angry
• Under each emoji, draw a blank column. - Student Check-In (1 minute)
• Ask students to come up (or use a dry-erase board if in small groups) and place a check mark or dot under the emoji that best represents how they feel right now.
• If printed emoji cards are available, students can hold up their card instead of coming up. - Group Count & Quick Share (2 minutes)
• Count the tallies under each emoji and name the most common emotions in the room.
• Ask 2–3 volunteers (struggling or comfortable) to briefly share why they chose their emoji. Keep shares to 15–20 seconds each. - Individual Reflection (1 minute)
• On a half sheet of paper or in journals, have students write or draw one word or small sketch that explains their feeling in more detail.
- Transition to Lesson
• Reinforce: “All feelings are welcome here. Today we’re going to learn more about recognizing and sharing our feelings.”
• If you’re using You Matter Today, segue: “Let’s see how feelings can be like weather…”
Follow-Up Questions
- What surprised you about how our class is feeling today?
- Why is it helpful to check in with our feelings before we start working?
- How can recognizing someone else’s emotion help us be better friends?
Cool Down
Cool-Down: Reflection Exit Ticket
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Exit ticket paper or journals, pencils
Objective
Students will reflect on what they learned during You Matter Today and identify a trusted support person they can turn to.
Instructions
- Distribute exit ticket papers or have students use their journals.
- Ask students to respond to the prompts below:One new thing I learned today is:
One person I can talk to if I ever feel overwhelmed is:
- Collect exit tickets as students leave. Use their responses to guide follow-up discussions and support.