Middle school lesson plan: Teaching stress management, empathy, & anger control

There are pivotal events that happen in this country that impacts us all. The Connecticut school shooting that happened on the 14th of December, 2012, is one of those events.

In an effort to bring comfort, understanding, and a way to help us deal with our feelings of stress, empathy, and anger, this series has been created.

This is a combination of a story and a role-play for each aspect of the six-part topic. Some of this is an excerpt from a role-play created about anti-bullying called “Bullies, Victims, and Bystanders at Kennedy Middle School. The last two parts were created solely as a way to help students discuss and process the Connecticut school shooting that happened on the 14th of December, 2012.

Please note: All story characters and Kennedy Middle school are products of the author’s imagination.

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Part 1: The instinct for fight, flight, or freeze and the ‘Wild Boar’ tale

A. Concepts covered in story & role-play #1

* Fight, Flight, or Freeze versus Self-Mentoring

* Ways to deal with stressors such as our back stories (also known as our ‘tiger in the hole’)

* Responsible Reporting versus Tattling or Snitching

B. Click this link for story and PDF download role-play link:

Part 1: The instinct for fight, flight, or freeze and the ‘Wild Boar’ tale

C. Follow-up suggested discussion questions called “Part 1 discussion: The instinct for fight, flight, or freeze and the ‘Wild Boar’ tale.”

Please click: Part 1 discussion: The instinct for fight, flight, or freeze and the ‘Wild Boar’ tale

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Part 2: Mr. Campbell’s class discusses ways to manage your feelings of stress

A. Concepts covered in story & role-play #2

* Stress management methods

* Deep breathing exercises from diaphragm

* Other de-stressing exercises

B. Click this link for story and PDF download role-play link:

Part 2: Mr. Campbell’s class discusses ways to manage your feelings of stress

C. Follow-up suggested discussion questions called “Part 2 discussion: Mr. Campbell’s class discusses ways to manage your feelings of stress.”

Please click: Part 2 discussion: Mr. Campbell’s class discusses ways to manage your feelings of stress

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Part 3: The Monkey and the amazing discovery about Mirror Neurons

A. Concepts covered in story & role-play #3

* Mirror Neurons

* Examples of mirror neurons and empathy

* Balancing too little empathy versus excessive empathy

B. Click this link for story and PDF download role-play link:

Part 3: The Monkey and the Amazing Discovery about Mirror Neurons

C. Follow-up suggested discussion questions called “Part 3 discussion: The monkey and the amazing discovery about mirror neurons.”

Please click: Part 3 discussion: The monkey and the amazing discovery about mirror neurons

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Part 4: Mr. Campbell’s class discusses our nine core empathy skills

A. Concepts covered in story & role-play #4

* Nine core empathy skills developed by Dr. Tony Fiore, licensed psychologist and anger coach

B. Click this link for story and PDF download role-play link:

Part 4: Mr. Campbell’s class discusses our nine core empathy skills

C. Follow-up suggested discussion questions called “Part 4 discussion: Mr. Campbell’s class discusses our nine core empathy skills.”

Please click: Part 4 discussion: Mr. Campbell’s class discusses our nine core empathy skills

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Part 5: Mr. Campbell’s class begins to discuss the Connecticut school shooting

A. Concepts covered in story & role-play #5

* Discussing Connecticut school shooting part 1

a. Violent video games

b. ‘Played Out’ movement developed by Max Goldstein & Jackson Mittleman

c. Heroic acts

d. Possible motivations of school shooter

e. Why others have reacted with so much empathy

B. Click this link for story and PDF download role-play link:

Part 5: Mr. Campbell’s class begins to discuss the Connecticut school shooting

C. Follow-up suggested discussion questions called “Part 5 discussion: Mr. Campbell’s class begins to discuss the Connecticut school shooting.”

Please click: Part 5 discussion: Mr. Campbell’s class begins to discuss the Connecticut school shooting

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Part 6: Mr. Campbell’s class concludes discussion about Connecticut school shooting

A. Concepts covered in story & role-play #6

* Discussing Connecticut school shooting part 2

* Names of 26 victims

* More about why others have reacted with so much empathy

* The nine core empathy skills reviewed

* Mirror Neurons reviewed

* Dealing with getting your buttons pushed – balance between imploding and exploding

* The change begins with us

B. Click this link for story and PDF download role-play link:

Part 6: Mr. Campbell’s class concludes discussion about Connecticut school shooting

C. Follow-up suggested discussion questions called “Part 6 discussion: Mr. Campbell’s class concludes discussion about Connecticut school shooting.”

Please click: Part 6 discussion: Mr. Campbell’s class concludes discussion about Connecticut school shooting

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Click below to read other articles in this series

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Some of this material in this article series is adopted with permission from the programs of The Anger Coach produced by psychologist Dr. Tony Fiore (http://drfiore.com).

For daily anger tips, follow him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/angercoachonline.

For adult anger management online, visit http://www.angercoachonline.com

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Resources for the Teacher and Parents:

The eight (8) tools of anger management and control were developed by Dr. Tony Fiore. Dr. Fiore is also known as the Anger Coach. Among other things, Dr. Fiore is a licensed psychologist, marriage therapist, and certified anger management provider.

URL: http://www.angercoach.com/

The 8 Tools of Anger Control plus much of the other Anger Control material is also adopted with permission from the programs of The Anger Coach produced by psychologist Dr. Tony Fiore.