Managing Emotions

Objective: Students will be able to identify ways to help them find positive coping skills.  (Total lesson length: 20-30 minutes)

Materials: SQUABBLES At The Movies, Lesson 8

Procedures:

1. View the corresponding SQUABBLES video.  (Length: 5 minutes)
2. Discuss the term “coping skills.”  Coping skills are things we can do to help ourselves feel better. 
3. Discuss and list positive coping skills.  (Riding your bike, coloring, singing, etc.)
4. Discuss and list negative coping skills that we should stay away from.  (drugs, alcohol, violent behaviors, etc.)
5. Ask students some things they do to cheer themselves up when they feel mad or sad.  Coping skills should be good things that don’t cause more problems.  
6. Talk about the word “empathy.”  Empathy means we see that someone else is hurting and we want to help them feel better.
7. Remember the video talked about helping others find ways to cheer up and be positive.  Read a “Bummer” from the list followed by the “You Could” statement. Ask the students if the “You Could” statement is a good coping skill or a bad coping skill.  (They are all bad.) Then have the students suggest a more appropriate coping skill to cheer someone up. (Ex. You could get mad and break something. You should go ride your bike.)  Feel free to draw the following diagram on the board.

Closing: Remind students that staying positive and using good coping skills takes work and some planning.  And helping others find good coping skills shows great empathy and friendship.