Objective: To help students recognize early signs of anger and practice a quick pause before reacting, supporting better communication and relationships.
Instructions:
1. Start with a short explanation: “Anger is normal, but if we react too quickly, it can hurt relationships. Today we’ll learn to spot anger signals and pause.”
2. Give each student two sticky notes:
3. On the first, write one physical sign that shows you’re getting angry (e.g., clenched fists, tense jaw).
4. On the second, write one thing you can do to pause (e.g., take a breath, count to five).
5. Collect the notes and place them on two posters: “Anger Signals” and “Pause Strategies.”
6. Briefly discuss patterns and highlight helpful strategies.
Reflection Questions:
1. What signs tell you anger is building?
2. Which pause strategy would you try first?
3. How could pausing change the outcome of an argument?
4. How could pausing help you protect your boundaries without hurting others?