Lesson Plan

Thought Detectives Plan

Students will discover how thoughts influence their feelings and actions and practice turning unhelpful thoughts into helpful ones.

Helping 4th–5th graders spot and change negative thoughts boosts their confidence, mood, and problem-solving skills.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Detective Hats On

5 minutes

Step 2

Teach the Thought→Feeling→Action Cycle

10 minutes

Step 3

Small-Group Case Talks

15 minutes

Step 4

Practice Rewriting Thoughts

10 minutes

Step 5

Reflection & Closing

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Thought Detectives

Welcome to our “Thought Detectives” session! Invite students to be curious as we explore how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect.

What We’ll Learn

Read each goal aloud. Encourage simple examples from students (e.g., “I’m cold” → ask how that feels).

Thought → Feeling → Action

Show or draw the cycle: Thought → Feeling → Action. Use the example on the slide and invite another.

Example Scenario

Read the scenario aloud. Have students call out ideas and jot them on the board or chart.

Group Talk Prompts

Prompt groups to use these questions as they discuss their case cards.

Changing Unhelpful Thoughts

Explain each step with friendly language and model with a new example: “I can never do this” → “I’ll try my best.”

Reflection Time

Have students write or draw in their journals. Invite a few to share aloud.

Lesson Plan

Thought Detectives Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

Step 1

Warm-Up: Detective Hats On

Step 2

Teach the Thought→Feeling→Action Cycle

Step 3

Small-Group Case Talks

Step 4

Practice Rewriting Thoughts

Step 5

Reflection & Closing

Slide Deck

Thought Detectives

What We’ll Learn

Thought → Feeling → Action

Example Scenario

Group Talk Prompts

Changing Unhelpful Thoughts

Reflection Time

Warm Up

Discussion

Thought Detectives

Allan Cuellar