Summary: This is a longer lesson! In the first section, students reflect on how regulated they feel and the strategies that they already have to draw on. In section two, the students briefly learn about self-control versus self-regulation and the definitions of each. In section three, the students learn about the biological basis of emotions and the role played by the amygdala as well as emotions in the Zones of Regulation program. The next section focuses on how emotions appear in the body, from smiling to sweating. Then students move into learning about emotional triggers in others and identifying their own. Then the lesson moves into self-regulation strategies, with students first identifying strategies they know, then doing a movement activity to learn more. Finally, the lesson ends with students making their own self-regulation plan for how to get back to feeling good from feeling on edge, sad, or angry.

Teaching notes: The extension activity is fairly fast as students have generated both triggers and strategies earlier in the lesson. The bulk of the lesson time is in the earlier slides. Students often get stuck on possible self-regulation strategies and so the answer key has a whole bunch you can use to cue students.

Approximate length: 120-160 minutes

About the curriculum: School success relies on key skills that students are rarely taught. The goal of this curriculum is to level the playing field and to directly teach the executive functioning, self-regulation, and life skills that all students need to succeed in school. Through 20 lessons across four units, this year long curriculum will help students build a foundation for success in school and life– and leave them with an individualized success workbook at the end of the program.