This lesson plan is meant to be something students are doing multiple times a week, month, and year. It is split into basic, intermediate, and advanced levels in a scaffolded method.
Introduction Level:
Learners in this level are new to the reflection process. They need to practice identifying emotions and moments of where they can improve.
Step 1 - Post: What happened?
In the caption…
- Ask learners to pick a moment they want to reflect on – any moment. Provide some helpful ideas of recent things they might have done in school, or common events that they might have experienced outside the classroom.
- Describe the photos, videos, audio recording, etc. in words
- Tell the story of the documented moment
Post it to Unrulr!
Step 2 - Post: How did it make you feel?
Ask your students to reread their post from Level 1
- As they are rereading their own post, ask them to record all emotions that cross their mind – whether they feel it when reading the post, or they remember feeling it during the documented moment
- It is important to emphasize:some text
- No feelings are “stupid”
- All emotions have meaning
- Patience because this isn’t easy
- Even at this introduction level of reflection, Here is an article in the Greater Good Magazine by University of Berkley that describes how and why writing down, or journaling, your thoughts is difficult but beneficial.
Advanced Level:
Students in this level have been introduced to reflection and recording feelings, and they are ready to go a step further. They are telling stories within their reflections, but lack depth when identifying their emotions
Step 1 - Post: What happened? How did it make you feel?
In this level, students describe what happened and how it made them feel in one step
- Ask students to describe a moment or event in detail
- As they’re describing what happened, ask students how that moment or event makes them feel.
- Questions to help students spark their thinking:some text
- Think back to that moment in time, and try to recall any feelings you had
- What were your bodies’ physical reactions? Verbal? Mental?
- Why did your body and mind react that way?
(Optional Step) Ask: what did you learn from this?
Step 2 - Post: What would you do differently next time?
- Ask students if a similar event or moment occurred in the future what would they do differently? Would they change anything?
- If they wouldn’t change anything? Why?
- Questions to spark their thinking:some text
- What about this moment did you dislike? If so, would you change that?
- Did you react or respond in a way you wish you could change?
- Do you have any regrets? Wishes?
Super Advanced:
Learners can identify their emotions and note ways they might change/improve their approach to the same situation. Learners have not yet identified similar situations which could benefit from the same changes.
Example: I’ve learned that I can be impulsive and make less thoughtful decisions when I feel rushed. I often do this when I’m around my brother, so like the moment I documented above, I’m going to try to slow down and look around before I respond.
Step 1 - Post: What happened? How did it make you feel?
In this level, students describe what happened and how it made them feel in one step
- Ask students to describe a moment or event in detail
- As they’re describing what happened, ask students how that moment or event makes them feel.
- Questions to help students spark their thinking:some text
- Think back to that moment in time, and try to recall any feelings you had
- What were your bodies’ physical reactions? Verbal? Mental?
- Why did your body and mind react that way?
Step 2 - Post OR comment on Post 1
Ask students if they would go back and change anything that happened. If so, do they know why?
Questions to help spark their thinking:
- If you were to face this same situation again…
- What is something you learned about yourself from this circumstance?
Take it a step further… Ask:
- Are there other places/spaces where similarly adjusting your approach would help?
- Has this happened before? Or something similar? some text
- Why do you think a similar situation happened?
- What could you learn from this?
- In the past, describe a situation that triggered the same emotional responses
- Can you connect this past situation with the one you recently posted about?
- Similarities?
- Differences?
