1. Anger rules
2. What your anger looks like
3. Identifying triggers
4. Coping skills
I then used a science activity to symbolize what our anger looks like when we don't use our coping skills. I poured vinegar in a water bottle and baking soda in a balloon. I then wrapped the balloon over the top of the water bottle, tipped the baking soda in, and voila! The balloon "blew up."
The kids enjoyed this activity. The anger packet is available here.
In grades 3-6, the focus was honesty. I began the lesson discussing, integrity, doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. We spoke about what their behavior should look like if I were to walk out of the room. I did just that and moved myself away from the window for 10 seconds, listening for any noises. The students took this task seriously, and were quiet and exhibiting positive behavior. I also gave my purse to a student, and asked "if this student has integrity, what will he/she do with my purse?" Answers were "nothing, watched it, held onto it, it should look like it did before you left it." Then we spoke about honesty and telling the truth. I created a pros and cons list to lying. I asked the first question, "how can lying help you?" and "how can lying hurt you?" Answers were, getting out of trouble, getting someone else into trouble" and the cons were "getting into more trouble, getting someone into trouble that shouldn't, causing an emergency" The trick, there are no PROS to lying. I asked students the first thing you might think of doing when you get caught in a lie, and they stated "lie again!" So I used an activity that I found on pinterest called Water you covering up. I filled the pan with water, and held up a quarter which represents a lie. I dropped the quarter in and had a student observe the movement of the water. The water moved throughout the pan and splashed up. This represents that a lie effects everyone!
Next, I told the students they would have a chance to drop a penny into the pan with the goal to cover the quarter. The penny represents a lie to cover up another lie. The first time I did this, the first student came up and actually told a story of a time when he lied. This became an addition to the lesson throughout the classrooms, and it appeared to be a therapeutic moment for them. The stories were pretty interesting too!
As the lesson completes, it is apparent that the pennies are unable to cover the quarter, thus coming to the conclusion that you can NEVER cover a lie with another lie.
We shouted "honesty is the best policy" and about having the courage to tell the truth. I asked students how they feel when they have to be honest about something that could get them into trouble, and common answers are "scared, nervous." I left reminding them that the consequences are less harsh then if caught in a lie!
