Lesson Title: Move Your Mood – How Exercise Keeps Us Healthy Inside & Out
Grade(s): K-5
ASCA Standards:
- PS:A1.2 Identify values, attitudes and beliefs
- PS:A1.5 Identify and express feelings
- PS:B1.4 Develop effective coping skills for dealing with problems
Learning Objectives:
- Students will understand what a mood is and what can help put you in a good or bad mood
- Students will understand the benefits of movement to improve mood
Materials:
- Technology to play videos and to read 2 articles online
- Large pieces of paper and writing utensils for group work
- Move Your Mood book by Brenda S. Miles and Colleen A. Patterson
Lesson:
Introduce the lesson. “Have you ever been in a bad mood? I know I have! Sometimes I wake up in a bad mood for no apparent reason, sometimes I am running late and it puts me in a bad mood, or something happens to me that gets me in a bad mood – like being left out or getting a ticket. I have also had good moods for no apparent reason or because I got to eat my favorite type of cereal in the morning or because the weather is nice outside. Moods are similar to feelings or attitudes, it’s the way that we feel because of what is going on around us or inside of us.”
Discussion:
- What gets you in a good mood?
- What gets you in a bad mood?
- Can you control what type of mood you are in?
- Are we responsible for our mood? How about the actions that we take because of our mood?
K-1: “Today we are going to read a book called Move Your Mood! to explore how movement can help us to be in a better move!” Read Move Your Mood by Brenda S. Miles and Colleen A. Patterson.
2-5: “Today we are going to watch a short video that explores how movement or exercise can help us to be in a better mood!”
Read some of the following articles with students to learn about the benefits of movement and mental/emotional health:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/exercise-and-mood
K-5: “One thing that is especially helpful for helping us to get in a better mood is to keep our bodies moving!”
K-1: “We are going to practice moving our bodies to help us get into a good mood!”
Use a Gonoodle.com video to guide students in movement or use the following video (and the videos that follow): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfJZ-RntM2k
At the end of class, poll students on how many of them are in a better mood than when they started class. Ask students to share how they will use movement to get in a better mood this week.
2-5: Group students together in groups of 3-5 and provide each group 1 large piece of paper. Ask students to make a list of things that they can do to help them to get in a better mood. Provide some examples:
- Movement/Exercise
- Art/crafts
- Reading a book
- Talking to a friend
- Journaling
- Getting a hug
- Eating a snack
- Sensory activities (Slime, playdough, pottery, etc.)
- Listening to upbeat music
- Going for a walk outside
- Watching funny videos
Next, ask students to make a list of things of things that can get them in a bad mood that they should try to avoid. For example:
- Too much technology
- Staying inside too much
- Spending time with other people who are in a bad mood
- Getting in trouble
- Eating too much unhealthy food
- Working too much without a break
K-5 Closing Discussion:
- Why is it important that we try to improve our mood?
- What are some ways that we can improve our mood?
- What should we stay away from as it may put us in a bad mood?
- Why are we responsible for the actions we make, even if we are in a bad mood?
Love for the Elementary Counselor 