Lesson Plan
Session 1 Lesson Plan
Students will define 'impulse,' recognize common impulse triggers, and practice pausing before reacting through discussion and a freeze game.
Learning to spot and pause impulses helps students make thoughtful choices, improving classroom behavior and peer interactions.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction to Impulses
3 minutes
Step 2
Scenario Discussion
4 minutes
Step 3
Impulse Freeze Game
6 minutes
Step 4
Cool Down Reflection
2 minutes
Game
Cool Down
Journal
Lesson Plan
Session 2 Lesson Plan
Students will identify and categorize personal impulse triggers, building awareness of feelings and situations that spark automatic reactions.
Recognizing what triggers our impulses empowers students to anticipate urges and choose thoughtful responses, reducing impulsive behaviors in class and social settings.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up Review
2 minutes
Step 2
Trigger Brainstorm
4 minutes
Step 3
Impulse Trigger Mapping Game
6 minutes
Step 4
Cool Down Discussion
3 minutes
Cool Down
Lesson Plan
Session 3 Lesson Plan
Students will learn and practice deep‐breathing as a quick “pause” strategy to calm impulses and choose thoughtful responses.
Deep breathing gives students a simple, portable tool to slow down, reduce stress, and think before acting on impulse, boosting self‐control in and out of class.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm‐Up Review
2 minutes
Step 2
Introduce Deep Breathing
3 minutes
Step 3
Guided Breathing Practice
5 minutes
Step 4
Breathing Ball Pass Game
3 minutes
Step 5
Cool Down Reflection
2 minutes
Cool Down
Lesson Plan
Session 4 Lesson Plan
Students will learn to brainstorm and choose thoughtful alternative responses to common impulse scenarios, replacing quick reactions with positive actions.
Practicing alternative responses prepares students to handle urges constructively, improving decision-making and reducing impulsive behaviors.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up Review
2 minutes
Step 2
Introduce Alternative Responses
3 minutes
Step 3
Scenario-Response Matching Game
6 minutes
Step 4
Group Share
2 minutes
Step 5
Cool Down Transition
2 minutes
Cool Down
Lesson Plan
Session 5 Lesson Plan
Students will monitor and record their impulses throughout class, using tracking charts to identify patterns and apply self-check strategies when urges arise.
Self-monitoring increases awareness of impulse triggers and empowers students to take ownership, leading to improved self-control and more thoughtful actions.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up Review
2 minutes
Step 2
Introduce Self-Monitoring
3 minutes
Step 3
Tracking Chart Practice
5 minutes
Step 4
Strategy Choice Discussion
3 minutes
Step 5
Cool Down Transition
2 minutes
Cool Down
Worksheet
Worksheet
Lesson Plan
Session 6 Lesson Plan
Students will solidify their impulse control skills by collaboratively identifying triggers, pausing strategies, and positive responses through a fun review game.
Reinforcing all learned strategies helps students internalize impulse control tools—triggers, breathing, alternative actions—so they’re ready to apply them in real situations.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up Recap
2 minutes
Step 2
Impulse Control Relay Game
10 minutes
Step 3
Cool Down Reflection
3 minutes
Cool Down
Game
