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Mental Health Curriculum 8th - 12th Grade
By Sign with me TOD
This product focuses on the following areas:
This mental health curriculum includes suggested activities and tips to support mental health education and instruction for students in 8th through 12th Grade. Depending on students ability levels, this product could be used in 6th and 7th grade as well.
What's in this product:
Positive Self Talk - This product includes a brief teacher guide that discusses the importance of promoting self-care for mental health and overall well-being, suggestions are provided for short mindfulness exercises for teenagers, emotional responses to various situations that may arise - both positive self-talk and negative self-talk, the importance of being unable to change the situation, but changing the way we think about something and how we feel and act, students will take time to reflect on a time they felt upset about something and what happened when they used both negative and positive-self talk, the importance of our mental health, mood, and motivation are shared, examining unhealthy thinking styles, and recognizing negative-self talk in given situations that relate with jumping to conclusions, personalization, catastrophizing, shoulding, overgeneralization, labelling, emotional reasoning, magnification and minimization (the definition of each is provided along with examples). Students will then write down ways that they would challenge and change their negative self-talk in order for it to become positive self-talk to help improve mental health, mood, and motivation.
Resiliency Activities - This product emphasizes resiliency and how it is important for students to learn from adversity and become a stronger, wiser person and recover quickly from challenges, 7 activities that can be carried out with small groups or the entire class are included in this product - these 7 activities include a teacher's guide, tips, and templates (as required are included) to go along with the teacher's guide are also included in this product. Feelings are also discussed in this product. a feelings journal template is included in this product that allows students to document how they are feeling regarding each prompt that is asked each day. A blank template is also included in this packet if you want students to complete a free-write journal entry each day.
Communication Styles Adapted Notes and Review - This product provides students with skills to support effective communication skills, explore the importance of both verbal and nonverbal communication skills, identify the principles of effective communication, and learn the difference between the 4 communication styles - passive, passive aggressive, aggressive, and assertive. Students will answer short answer comprehension questions that compare the 4 communication styles. Students will learn about passive, passive aggressive, aggressive, and assertive communication, what each communicate style entails, how they differ from each other, what passive, passive aggressive, aggressive, and assertive communicators will do (body language, facial expression, etc.), the impact of each communication style in individuals is reviewed, what each communicator may believe and say to others, and tips on how to communicate with individuals who use the 4 kinds of communication styles to communicate.
Emotional Awareness - In this product, students will identify how powerful positive and negative words are and for students to build empathy. Students will talk about words and actions that can hurt someone's heart/feelings. Students will learn the power of words and how they impact others, students will discuss the meanings of words: bullying, cattiness, discrimination, gossiping, self-esteem, and teasing, a list of hurtful words and actions, and helpful words and actions are provided, and students will be required to add onto all of these lists, students will talk about the effects of hurtful words on the heart, when students are frustrated what they can do to feel better, and how to better handle situations in the future when someone uses a hurtful word or you go to use a hurtful word.
Mental Health Stigma Activities - This product provides students with information regarding stigma. Students will answer questions regarding technology and social media and how they can affect our ability to show compassion to others, why people forget to take care of themselves and show compassion for themselves, how to stop negative thoughts from happening. Students will review the meaning for stigma, stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination. Students will also review what negative things they have heard about people with mental illness, along with positive things. Talking about how others are different and that's what makes them unique, and how others are stigmatized based on how they look, act, etc. Examples of possible stigmas are presented. The meaning of self-stigma and what examples of self-stigma are presented. Students will also review health conditions or social differences that were stigmatized throughout history, and ways to reduce stigma to eliminate negative feelings.
Throughout this product, students will answer comprehension questions and will also be presented with social scenarios that they may encounter where they are asked how they would feel or what they would do. An attitude survey regarding mental health that contains 10 questions is also included in this product. Students will compare their results when they are finished and will go over the correct answers.
Gratitude Activity – Students will complete a gratitude scavenger hunt, where will they look for things in their environment that they are grateful for and students will answer questions about what they are grateful for such as something that they are thankful for that shows a vibrant color, something that makes them feel strong, something that they recently learned/discovered, etc. students will write about experiences in for which they feel gratitude and expand upon that experience.
Stress Response Adapted Notes - This product provides students with information regarding stress. Students will complete a stress test and reflect on what may cause them stress. Fight/flight/freeze response is also reviewed in this product and how it relates with stress. Once students have taken the stress test, they will analyze their results. Students will work in groups and complete the packet regarding the effects of stress. Students will answer questions such as how they felt when they were feeling stressed, etc. Students will review the effects of stress charts provided that include what happens when the body is in fight or flight compared to when it is relaxed. Students will also learn about the emotional, physical, and mental effects of stress and see how they differ from one another. Students will learn what stress and stressors are when they discuss coping with stress. Healthy and unhealthy strategies to cope with stress are included in this product. Students will take time to reflect on a time when they were stressed or if they were stressed and answer questions regarding making healthy or unhealthy choices to cope with stress.
Throughout this product, students will answer comprehension questions and will also be presented with social scenarios that they may encounter where they are asked how they would feel or what they would do. An attitude survey regarding mental health that contains 10 questions is also included in this product. Students will compare their results when they are finished and will go over the correct answers.
If you aren’t interested in this bundle, you may be interested in each product that is included in this bundle:
Positive Self Talk:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Positive-Self-Talk-Activities-and-Tips-9822221
Resiliency Activities:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Resiliency-Activities--9826305
Communication Styles Adapted Notes and Review:
Mental Health Stigma Activities:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Mental-Health-Stigma-Activities-9844604
Gratitude Activities:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Gratitude-Activities-9753926
Stress Response Adapted Notes:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Stress-Response-Adapted-Notes-and-Activities-9848108
If you like this product, please leave a positive review. :)
Secondary ELA Activities for any Novel (BUNDLE)
By Language Arts Excellence
This bundle featuring six of our best-selling language arts resources is the perfect teacher's survival kit that can be adapted for any short story or novel throughout the school year!
The variety of lesson plans, activities, and assessments in this bundle will spruce up your ELA curriculum and encourages learning in thoughtful, creative ways. Due to the diversity of resources, your students will be hitting several Common Core reading, writing, and speaking/listening standards with each activity. Your students will thank you for offering such engaging ways to learn!
Products included in this bundle:
⭐Characters in the Hot Seat
This product features all the materials you need to conduct a thoughtful and engaging "HOT SEAT" for almost any class novel! The hot seat is set up essentially like a talk show, however in order to allow for full class participation, there are multiple interviewers and multiple character guests. Through role play, this lesson tests your students' understanding of the novel and allows them to showcase their knowledge of the characters and the relationships between them. Your students will be having so much fun that they will not even realize the high-order thinking skills they are applying! This activity can easily modified for almost any novel as well as for the number of students in your classroom.
⭐Novel Playlist Assignment
This product features a creative and contemporary assignment in which students create their own music playlist for a novel by analyzing the lyrics of their favorite songs and synthesizing them with literary elements of their chosen book. This is a great activity that encourages students to think beyond the traditional 5 paragraph essay and consider literary elements in a deeper and more creative way. Your students will thank you for giving them a chance to have fun as they apply higher-order thinking skills!
⭐Socratic Seminar Lesson Plan and Materials
Socratic Seminars (or "Fish Bowl" Conversations as I like to call them with my students) are fantastic, higher order ways of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to what they are learning in class. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, I did the work for you! This packet includes everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom and can be adapted for absolutely any topic. All you need are the questions to form the basis of these discussions!
⭐Literature Circle Task Cards
This set of 32 unique task cards contain engaging thought-provoking questions meant to prompt lively discussion for literature circles or books clubs in your middle or high school ELA classroom. Questions are mainly reader-response and are fully aligned to the Common Core. They can be used at any point during the reading of a novel or short story and are great as both full-class lesson plans or for time-fillers at the end of class. I also like to use these cards as bell-ringer activities to check in on my students' thoughts and understanding of the novel as we go. These are the perfect task cards to add to your teacher's toolbox and use all year long!
⭐Figurative Language Challenge
I created this "Figurative Language Challenge" activity and lesson plan several years ago for my middle school students as they were studying Edgar Allan Poe's figurative language-laden works. Little did I know that it would become the most requested game among my students of all time. This resource includes a meticulously-detailed lesson plan using warm-up, explanation, application, and synthesis, and a one-of-a-kind game that will get your students excited about identifying figurative language. This is the perfect lesson plan for a Friday or any time you need to amp up the energy in your classroom without sacrificing learning... and of course, it is Common Core aligned!
⭐ Differentiated Essay Prompts for ANY Novel!
This product features 20 beautifully-made task cards with generic essay prompts that will work for any novel. These prompts are differentiated so that they appeal to all learners and give all students a chance to shine in their essay writing! After years of tweaking my essay prompts, I have created questions that are thoughtful and concise so that in turn, they reap excellent student responses.
Purchasing these resources as a bundle saves 20% off the cover price!
___________________________________________________________________________
⭐Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐
Secondary ELA Activities for any Novel (BUNDLE)
By Language Arts Excellence
This bundle featuring six of our best-selling language arts resources is the perfect teacher's survival kit that can be adapted for any short story or novel throughout the school year!
The variety of lesson plans, activities, and assessments in this bundle will spruce up your ELA curriculum and encourages learning in thoughtful, creative ways. Due to the diversity of resources, your students will be hitting several Common Core reading, writing, and speaking/listening standards with each activity. Your students will thank you for offering such engaging ways to learn!
Products included in this bundle:
⭐Characters in the Hot Seat
This product features all the materials you need to conduct a thoughtful and engaging "HOT SEAT" for almost any class novel! The hot seat is set up essentially like a talk show, however in order to allow for full class participation, there are multiple interviewers and multiple character guests. Through role play, this lesson tests your students' understanding of the novel and allows them to showcase their knowledge of the characters and the relationships between them. Your students will be having so much fun that they will not even realize the high-order thinking skills they are applying! This activity can easily modified for almost any novel as well as for the number of students in your classroom.
⭐Novel Playlist Assignment
This product features a creative and contemporary assignment in which students create their own music playlist for a novel by analyzing the lyrics of their favorite songs and synthesizing them with literary elements of their chosen book. This is a great activity that encourages students to think beyond the traditional 5 paragraph essay and consider literary elements in a deeper and more creative way. Your students will thank you for giving them a chance to have fun as they apply higher-order thinking skills!
⭐Socratic Seminar Lesson Plan and Materials
Socratic Seminars (or "Fish Bowl" Conversations as I like to call them with my students) are fantastic, higher order ways of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to what they are learning in class. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, I did the work for you! This packet includes everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom and can be adapted for absolutely any topic. All you need are the questions to form the basis of these discussions!
⭐Literature Circle Task Cards
This set of 32 unique task cards contain engaging thought-provoking questions meant to prompt lively discussion for literature circles or books clubs in your middle or high school ELA classroom. Questions are mainly reader-response and are fully aligned to the Common Core. They can be used at any point during the reading of a novel or short story and are great as both full-class lesson plans or for time-fillers at the end of class. I also like to use these cards as bell-ringer activities to check in on my students' thoughts and understanding of the novel as we go. These are the perfect task cards to add to your teacher's toolbox and use all year long!
⭐Figurative Language Challenge
I created this "Figurative Language Challenge" activity and lesson plan several years ago for my middle school students as they were studying Edgar Allan Poe's figurative language-laden works. Little did I know that it would become the most requested game among my students of all time. This resource includes a meticulously-detailed lesson plan using warm-up, explanation, application, and synthesis, and a one-of-a-kind game that will get your students excited about identifying figurative language. This is the perfect lesson plan for a Friday or any time you need to amp up the energy in your classroom without sacrificing learning... and of course, it is Common Core aligned!
⭐ Differentiated Essay Prompts for ANY Novel!
This product features 20 beautifully-made task cards with generic essay prompts that will work for any novel. These prompts are differentiated so that they appeal to all learners and give all students a chance to shine in their essay writing! After years of tweaking my essay prompts, I have created questions that are thoughtful and concise so that in turn, they reap excellent student responses.
Purchasing these resources as a bundle saves 20% off the cover price!
___________________________________________________________________________
⭐Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐
Emergency ELA Lesson Plan BUNDLE
By Language Arts Excellence
Why is it that calling out sick can actually mean more work as you scramble to come up with a plan for your substitute teacher?
This product features a bundle of 6 (mostly) print & go emergency lesson plans that are ideal for days prior to and returning from vacations, between units, emergency sub plans, or simply those days when you just "can't." (And let's face it, we've all been there!)
Each lesson plan maintains a high standard for student learning and engagement with minimal preparation on your end. Plans are varied yet cohesive and allow for differentiation within your classroom. It is recommended that you read through each lesson plan prior to the start of class to make sure that you have all materials ready as photocopying and in some cases moderate set-up is required. While plans work well for substitutes, you may find that they are so much fun that you will want to experience them with your students yourself!
Purchasing these resources as a bundle saves 20% off the cover price!
Products included in this bundle:
⭐ "Still I Rise" (Angelou) Lesson Plan & Materials -- A best-selling product!
This lesson plan on Angelou's poem can be used in a variety of ways throughout the school year. For instance, the lesson is the perfect jumpstart for your unit on slavery, Civil Rights, poetry, or Women's Rights in America. It can also be used as a stand-alone lesson to get your students to reflect upon and discuss overcoming their own personal obstacles. Given the theme of the poem, the lesson even acts as a great medium for discussing how to to rise above bullying in a society where bullying is sadly so prevalent. These meticulously laid-out materials and lesson plan will have your students thinking, speaking, reading, and writing all in one class period and interacting deeply with one of the most beautiful and resounding works of American poetry.
⭐ We Didn't Start the Fire Activity
This step-by-step two-day lesson plan encourages students to consider what defines their generation and then create their own lyrics to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire." Every year, this lesson has been a huge hit with my students especially on the last two days of school. Your students will appreciate your taking the time to allow them to step back and reflect upon their world. You will love it because no preparation is needed at all for this very memorable activity!
⭐Shakespeare's "Death Lines" Activity
In this full-length lesson plan, students will closely examine the final lines of Shakespearean characters before their deaths (if you know Shakespeare, there are quite a few!). Following a mini-lesson on the importance of these final words, students will take part in the classic game, Mafia, with a unique, Shakespearean twist. I invented the take on this game several years ago and it has become one of my students' and my favorite days of the whole school year. There is truly nothing like seeing students having a great time while studying Shakespeare. I am confident that your students will love it too!
⭐"Literature Talk" Lesson Plan
This product features an engaging "Literature Talk" activity that will have your students thinking, writing, speaking, and moving all in one class period. In this activity, they must choose between 6 different quotes about books and articulate why the quote aligns with their own perspective. They will have a chance to discuss their opinions in small groups and as part of a full class discussion. The full-length lesson plan can literally be used any day of the school year and is sure to spark thoughtful discussion among your students.
⭐Collaborative Writing Activity
"Collaborative Story Time" is a communal story-telling activity in which students practice using Freytag's Pyramid plot structure in their own narrative writing. In this activity, each student begins a story inspired by a unique evocative photograph. They are prompted to write the exposition of the tale by introducing the setting and main characters. After the allotted amount of time, the story is then passed to another student who is prompted to write the inciting incident or conflict and begin to detail the rising action. The paper is passed from student to student twice more until the story is resolved. When the stories are finished, the worksheet is returned to the original student who can then make edits and is responsible for producing a final draft.
⭐Poe's Annabel Lee Poetry/Song Pairing
Who in the world knows more about love and loss than Edgar Allan Poe? This resource features a full-length lesson plan and accompanying materials for a song/poem pairing of "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe and popular song, "Sad Beautiful Tragic." Lesson plan is Common Core aligned and centers around rhyme scheme, repetition, figurative language, and theme. This student-tested activity is the perfect addition for any unit on Edgar Allan Poe and is guaranteed to enlighten your students on the timelessness of Poe's poetry in an engaging and contemporary way.
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⭐Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐
Back to School Poetry Escape Room Bundle - In Class & Digital
By Language Arts Excellence
This bundle includes the in-class and digital versions of our Back to School Poetry Escape Room.
There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! Now, you can facilitate our popular Back to School Poetry Escape Room at home for distance learning or in the classroom with this meticulously-crafted resource. Whether they are in school or at home, your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize how much they are learning about poetry while trying to escape!
How does it work?
The ghosts of Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, Langston Hughes, William Shakespeare, and Maya Angelou have risen from the grave to lock your students inside your classroom. They are upset because they believe that students spend too much time talking about (fill in the blank with whatever is hip with students these days) and not enough time reading and writing poetry. Students cannot escape until they complete 5 poetry-based tasks to show these ghosts of poets past that they do in fact know their poetry.
In-Class Escape Room Includes:
- Escape Room Basics
- Detailed Day-Of Instructions
- Escape Room Print Checklist
- Student Teams Chart
- Materials for 5 Tasks: task signs to be folded upright, task instructions (2 per page for easy printing), and necessary information to be kept at stations
- Student Answer Booklets (small and large options)
- Teacher Answer Keys
- Code Word Theme Open Response for homework or in-class writing activity
Digital Escape Room Includes:
- Instructions for how to access and share escape room and answer key through Google Drive
- Materials for 5 Tasks: digital task signs, detailed task instructions, and supplementary materials
- Digital Student Worksheets
- Digital Teacher Answer Key
This escape room is suitable for middle and high school students and is ideal at the beginning of the school year or any time during your poetry unit without modification. Students will need to know definitions of poetic devices and terms in order to complete the activity. Some of the terms covered: stanza, enjambment, simile, oxymoron, alliteration, rhyme scheme, personification, tone, sonnet, haiku, limerick, acrostic...
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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence