Lesson Plan
Mind Matters Lesson Plan
Students will learn to recognize and name their emotions, reduce mental health stigma, and practice two simple coping strategies by the end of the 30-minute lesson.
Building emotional awareness and destigmatizing mental health helps 8th graders develop empathy, self-care skills, and a supportive classroom community.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up and Community Agreement
5 minutes
Step 2
Direct Instruction: Defining Emotions & Stigma
7 minutes
Step 3
Emotion Identification Activity
8 minutes
Step 4
Coping Strategies Discussion
6 minutes
Step 5
Reflection and Cool-Down
4 minutes

Slide Deck
Mental Health Matters
What Is Mental Health?
Why Mental Health Matters
Understanding Stigma
Common Emotions We Experience

Worksheet


Worksheet


Worksheet


Worksheet

