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Your Body, Your Feelings

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Lesson Plan

Your Body, Your Feelings

Students will understand the connection between emotional well-being and physical health, identify how emotions can manifest physically, and explore healthy coping strategies for somatic complaints.

Understanding this connection empowers students to better interpret their body's signals, manage stress, and develop healthier coping mechanisms for emotional challenges, leading to overall improved well-being.

Audience

Teenage Girls

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, reflective journaling, and practical coping strategies.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: How Are You, Really?

3 minutes

Display Slide 1: "How Are You, Really?"
Begin by asking students to think about how they are really feeling, beyond a simple "fine." Encourage them to consider any physical sensations they might be experiencing. Explain that today's lesson will explore the link between feelings and physical sensations. (Refer to Your Body, Your Feelings Slide Deck)

Step 2

Introduction: The Mind-Body Connection

3 minutes

Display Slide 2: "Mind-Body Connection: It's Real!"
Introduce the concept of the mind-body connection. Explain that our emotions aren't just in our heads; they can have a real impact on our physical bodies. Give a simple example, like how feeling nervous might make your stomach hurt. (Refer to Your Body, Your Feelings Slide Deck)

Step 3

Discussion: Emotions & Your Body

4 minutes

Display Slide 3: "What Does Stress Feel Like?"
Lead a group discussion using the prompts on the slide. Ask students to share (if comfortable) times when they've noticed their emotions affecting their bodies. Prompt them with examples like:

  • Headaches when stressed about school.
  • Tense shoulders when feeling anxious.
  • Upset stomach before a big presentation.
    Emphasize that these are normal responses and that everyone experiences them differently. (Refer to Your Body, Your Feelings Slide Deck)

Step 4

Activity: My Body, My Calm

5 minutes

Display Slide 4: "Coping Toolkit: What Helps?"
Introduce the My Body, My Calm Activity. Lead a discussion where students brainstorm and share practical strategies for managing physical symptoms of stress or emotions. Encourage them to think about what they already do or what new techniques they could try. (Refer to Your Body, Your Feelings Slide Deck and My Body, My Calm Activity)

Step 5

Journaling: Reflecting on My Experiences

4 minutes

Display Slide 5: "Journal Time: My Feelings, My Body"
Distribute the My Feelings, My Body Journal. Instruct students to spend a few minutes reflecting and writing about their own experiences with emotions and physical sensations, as well as strategies they can use. Reassure them that this is for their personal reflection and they don't have to share anything they're not comfortable with. (Refer to Your Body, Your Feelings Slide Deck and My Feelings, My Body Journal)

Step 6

Cool-Down: One Takeaway

1 minute

Display Slide 6: "One Takeaway"
Ask each student to share one thing they learned or one thought they had during the lesson. This can be a quick verbal share or a silent reflection. Thank them for their participation and remind them that paying attention to their body's signals can be a powerful tool for self-care.

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Slide Deck

How Are You, Really?

Beyond "fine," how does your body feel right now?

Welcome students and encourage them to quietly reflect on this question. This is to get them thinking about internal sensations. No need for verbal sharing yet.

Mind-Body Connection: It's Real!

🤯 Our feelings don't just stay in our head!

🧠 They can show up in our bodies.

🤔 Ever felt a "knot" in your stomach when you're nervous?

Introduce the idea that our thoughts and emotions aren't just in our minds; they affect our physical bodies. Give a simple, relatable example.

What Does Stress Feel Like?

Think about a time you felt really:

😤 Stressed?
😟 Anxious?
😠 Upset?

Where did you feel it in your body?

  • Headaches?
  • Tense shoulders?
  • Upset stomach?
  • Fast heartbeat?

Facilitate a discussion. Encourage students to share their experiences if they feel comfortable. Validate their experiences and normalize these feelings.

Coping Toolkit: What Helps?

When your body sends a stress signal (like a headache or tense muscles), what helps you?

  • Deep breaths?
  • Listening to music?
  • Talking to a friend?
  • Moving your body?
  • Drinking water?
  • Writing it down?

Let's share our ideas and build a "coping toolkit" together! (Refer to My Body, My Calm Activity)

Introduce the "My Body, My Calm" activity. Guide students to brainstorm practical coping strategies for managing physical symptoms of stress or emotions. Emphasize that different strategies work for different people.

Journal Time: My Feelings, My Body

Take a few minutes to reflect:

  1. When have your emotions impacted your body?
  2. What emotions tend to show up physically for you?
  3. What is one way you can listen to your body's signals? (Consider strategies we just discussed!)

(Refer to My Feelings, My Body Journal)

Explain that they will now have a few minutes for personal reflection in their journals. Emphasize that it's private unless they choose to share. Encourage them to also consider the coping strategies discussed.

One Takeaway

What is one thing you learned or realized today about your body and your feelings, or about managing those feelings?

Ask each student to share one quick takeaway from the lesson. It can be a word, a phrase, or a short sentence.

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Journal

My Feelings, My Body Journal

Sometimes, our emotions can send signals to our bodies. This journal is a space for you to explore those connections.

Prompt 1: Checking In With My Body

Take a moment to close your eyes (if you feel comfortable) and notice any sensations in your body. Are your shoulders tight? Is your stomach fluttering? Do you feel energetic or tired?

Write down what you notice, without judgment.










Prompt 2: Emotions and Physical Sensations

Think about a recent time you felt a strong emotion (like stress, happiness, sadness, anger, excitement, or anxiety). Where did you feel that emotion in your body?

For example, if you felt stressed, did you get a headache or a tense neck? If you felt excited, did your heart race?












Prompt 3: Listening to My Signals

What is one way you can pay more attention to the signals your body sends you? How might understanding these signals help you take better care of yourself?












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Activity

My Body, My Calm Activity

Now that we've talked about how our feelings show up in our bodies, let's explore what we can do to help ourselves feel better when those physical signals pop up.

Think & Share: Your Coping Toolkit

Think about a time when you felt a physical symptom due to stress or other emotions (like a headache, tense shoulders, or butterflies in your stomach).

  1. What did you do (or what could you do) to help yourself in that moment?

    • Examples: Take a few deep breaths, listen to music, talk to a friend, go for a walk, drink some water, stretch, write in a journal.






  2. What is one new strategy you'd like to try next time?






Let's share some of our ideas as a group. Remember, there's no right or wrong answer – what works for one person might be different for another!

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Your Body, Your Feelings • Lenny Learning