• lenny-learning-logoLenny Learning
  • Home
    Home
    • Lessons
    Lessons
  • Curriculum
    Curriculum
  • Surveys
    Surveys
  • Videos
    Videos
  • Support
    Support
  • Log In
lenny

Your Brain on Feelings

user image

Hannah Stedham

Tier 3
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Your Brain on Feelings

Students will identify basic emotions, understand the brain's role in feelings, and recognize the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions, fostering self-awareness (CASEL) and foundational CBT principles.

Understanding our emotions, and how they connect to our thoughts and actions, is crucial for developing self-awareness and effective coping strategies. This lesson lays the groundwork for managing anxiety and depression using evidence-based CBT and CASEL principles.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, self-reflection, and foundational CBT/CASEL strategies.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Your Brain on Feelings Slide Deck, and Markers or pens

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Review the Your Brain on Feelings Slide Deck and lesson plan.
    - Ensure projector or whiteboard is ready.
    - Have markers or pens available.

Step 1

Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking the student: "On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is 'not so good' and 5 is 'great!', how are you feeling right now?" Have them share their feeling and why (briefly).

Step 2

Introduction to Emotions and the Brain

10 minutes

  • Present Your Brain on Feelings Slide Deck slides 1-3.
    - Introduce the idea that feelings are signals from our brain.
    - Introduce the CBT concept of how our thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected. Explain that understanding this connection is a key part of self-awareness (CASEL).
    - Discuss basic emotions (happy, sad, angry, scared) and their physical sensations.
    - "Does anyone know what part of our brain is often called the 'emotion center'?" (Hint: Amygdala - no need for deep science, just an intro).

Step 3

Emotion Charades/Scenario Share

10 minutes

  • Provide the student with a common scenario (e.g., "You got an A on a test," "You missed the bus," "Your favorite team lost").
    - Ask them to discuss what emotions they might feel, what thoughts might they have, and what might they do in that scenario? How do those feelings show up in their body?

Step 4

Cool-Down: One New Thing

5 minutes

  • Ask the student to reflect on today's lesson.
    - "What is one new thing you learned about how your thoughts, feelings, or brain work together today?"
    - Have them share it with you.
lenny

Slide Deck

Your Brain on Feelings: Introduction

Understanding Our Emotions
Why feelings matter
The brain's role in our emotions
Developing coping skills for anxiety and depression (preview)

Welcome the student and introduce the topic. Explain that over the next 8 weeks, we'll explore how their brain processes feelings and learn ways to manage them. Start with a warm-up activity asking the student to share their current mood.

What Are Feelings?

Signals from Our Brain and Body
What do feelings tell us?
Are all feelings good or bad?

Engage the student with a question: "What are feelings?" Guide the discussion to define emotions as signals our body and brain send to tell us what's happening. Emphasize that all feelings are okay to have.

Where Do Feelings Come From?

Our Brain is the Boss of Feelings!
It sends signals to our body
It helps us react to the world around us

Introduce the idea that feelings originate in our brain. Briefly mention the amygdala as the 'alarm center' or 'emotion headquarters' without going into too much scientific detail. The goal is to establish the brain-emotion connection.

Common Feelings

Happy
Sad
Angry
Scared
Surprised
Disgusted

Show some common emotions and ask the student to identify them. Prompt them to think about what these emotions feel like in their body. For example, where do they feel anger? Or happiness?

Activity: Scenario Share

Discuss:
What emotions might you feel in these situations?
Why might you feel that way?
How do these feelings show up in your body?

Transition to the activity. Explain the scenario-based discussion and ensure the student understands the task. Facilitate the discussion.

Reflect and Share

What is one new thing you learned or thought about regarding your feelings or brain today?
Why is it important to understand our feelings?

Wrap up the lesson by asking the student to share one key takeaway. Emphasize that we will continue to explore emotions and how to work with them in future sessions.

lenny