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Your Brain's Secret Radio Station

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Lesson Plan

Your Brain's Secret Radio Station

Students will be able to differentiate between negative and positive self-talk and turn one negative thought into a positive one.

Understanding and managing self-talk is crucial for developing emotional resilience and a positive self-image. By learning to reframe negative thoughts, students can improve their mental well-being and approach challenges with a growth mindset.

Audience

5th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussions, sorting activity, and creative affirmation creation.

Materials

Self-Talk Slide Deck, Positive vs. Negative Thoughts Worksheet, and My Personal Affirmation Card

Prep

Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Welcome & Feelings Check

5 minutes

  • Greet students warmly.
    - Ask students to share one word that describes how they are feeling today. (e.g., happy, calm, excited, tired).
    - Briefly discuss that it's okay to feel different emotions and our brains are always busy processing them.
    - Transition by saying, "Today, we're going to talk about a very special 'radio station' inside your brain!"

Step 2

Introduce Inner Voice

5 minutes

  • Use the Self-Talk Slide Deck to introduce the concept of an 'inner voice' or 'self-talk'.
    - Explain that everyone has an inner voice that talks to them all day long.
    - Ask students: "What kinds of things do you think your inner voice says to you?" Allow for a few responses.
    - Introduce the idea that this inner voice can be either like a helpful friend or a critical bully.

Step 3

Friend vs. Bully Brain Sort

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Positive vs. Negative Thoughts Worksheet.
    - Explain the activity: students will sort common thoughts into categories of 'Friend Talk' (positive) or 'Bully Talk' (negative).
    - Walk through a couple of examples together as a class.
    - Have students work individually or in pairs to complete the sort.
    - Discuss answers as a class, emphasizing why certain thoughts are considered 'Friend Talk' or 'Bully Talk'.

Step 4

Practice Positive Reframes

5 minutes

  • Using the Self-Talk Slide Deck, demonstrate how to 'reframe' a negative thought into a positive one.
    - Provide 2-3 examples of negative thoughts and ask students for ideas on how to turn them into positive 'Friend Talk'.
    - Example: "I can't do this!" becomes "I'll try my best, and I can learn from my mistakes."

Step 5

Affirmation Creation & Closing

5 minutes

  • Distribute the My Personal Affirmation Card.
    - Instruct students to choose one negative thought they sometimes have and reframe it into a positive affirmation, or create a new positive affirmation that makes them feel strong and happy.
    - Have them write their affirmation on the card and decorate it.
    - Explain that they can keep this card to remind themselves of their powerful 'Friend Talk'.
    - Conclude by reiterating the importance of choosing kind and encouraging words for themselves.
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Slide Deck

Your Brain's Secret Radio Station

Tune In to Your Inner Voice!

Welcome students and introduce the intriguing title. Ask students what they think their 'brain's secret radio station' might be. Encourage participation without giving away the answer too quickly.

What's Your Inner Voice?

It's the voice inside your head that talks to you all day long!

It whispers thoughts, asks questions, and sometimes even sings a little song.

Explain that our inner voice is like a constant stream of thoughts and feelings inside our heads. It's what we 'say' to ourselves without speaking aloud. Give simple examples like thinking, 'I'm hungry' or 'This is fun'.

Friend Talk vs. Bully Talk

Friend Talk:

  • Kind, encouraging, helpful
  • 'You can do it!'
  • 'Keep trying!'
  • 'It's okay to make mistakes.'

Bully Talk:

  • Mean, discouraging, unhelpful
  • 'You're not good enough.'
  • 'Don't even try.'
  • 'You're going to fail.'

Introduce the idea of 'Friend Talk' and 'Bully Talk'. Friend Talk makes you feel good and encourages you. Bully Talk makes you feel bad or discouraged. Ask students to think about if their inner voice is usually a friend or a bully.

Become a Thought Changer!

You have the power to change the channel on your brain's radio station!

When you hear 'Bully Talk,' you can choose to change it to 'Friend Talk'!

Explain that we have the power to change our thoughts. We can 'reframe' negative thoughts into positive ones. Give an example: 'I can't do it' can become 'I will try my best'.

Positive Affirmations

What are affirmations?

  • Positive statements you say about yourself.
  • They help you feel strong, happy, and confident.
  • They are like 'Friend Talk' superpowers!

Introduce the concept of affirmations. Explain that affirmations are positive statements we say to ourselves to build confidence and a positive mindset. Ask students to think of a positive statement they could say about themselves.

Examples of Affirmations:

I am capable.

I am kind.

I am a good learner.

I believe in myself.

I am strong.

I can do hard things.

Show some examples of affirmations. Encourage students to think about which ones resonate with them, or to start thinking about their own personal affirmations.

You Control Your Radio Station!

Your inner voice is powerful, and YOU are the DJ!

Choose 'Friend Talk' to fill your day with positive tunes!

Conclude by reminding students that they are in control of their inner voice and can choose to make it their biggest fan. Encourage them to practice positive self-talk every day.

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Worksheet

Positive vs. Negative Thoughts: Friend Talk or Bully Talk?

Your brain has a special radio station, and sometimes it plays music that makes you feel good (Friend Talk) and sometimes it plays music that makes you feel not-so-good (Bully Talk). Read each thought below and decide if it's Friend Talk or Bully Talk. Circle your answer and explain why.

  1. Thought: "I'm not good at math, so there's no point in trying."

    Friend Talk / Bully Talk

    Why?





  1. Thought: "I made a mistake, but I can learn from it and do better next time."

    Friend Talk / Bully Talk

    Why?





  1. Thought: "Everyone else is better than me at drawing."

    Friend Talk / Bully Talk

    Why?





  1. Thought: "This is a challenge, but I'll try my best!"

    Friend Talk / Bully Talk

    Why?





  1. Thought: "I'm worried about the test, but I studied and I'm prepared."

    Friend Talk / Bully Talk

    Why?





  1. Thought: "I should just give up; this is too hard."

    Friend Talk / Bully Talk

    Why?





Turn Bully Talk into Friend Talk!

Choose one of the "Bully Talk" thoughts from above and rewrite it as "Friend Talk."










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Activity

My Personal Affirmation Card: Tune In to Your Best Self!

Your inner voice is your personal radio station, and you are the DJ! Today, you get to create a special message that will always play positive

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