The Neuroscience of Emotion A Unit Plan For Kids ( Grade 4)

1. The Neuroscience of EmotionA Unit Plan For Kids (Grade 4)

2. Rationale for our project • Students benefit personally, socially, and academically when Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is incorporated into the educational framework (CASEL, 2010).

3. Rationale for our project • Explicitly teaching children about their brains and bodies is important so that they can learn how their brains function and thus how they can self regulate emotional and physical responses to better function in a school community and for later adulthood.

4. Rationale for our project • Evidence shows that children who can regulate their emotions are more successful in academics and social relationships (Duckworth and Seligman; 2005; Riggs et al. 2006)

5. Rationale for our project With the rationale in mind, our Unit will integrate the following criteria in each lesson: • Extension for different ability levels and take home assignments • Universal Design Learning approach for students to present outcomes • Gather student feedback • Lessons based on Multiple Intelligence Theory

6. Overview of our Project:7-Lesson, Unit Plan for Grade 4s • Goal:To teach children explicit affective neuroscience/SEL strategies to regulate their emotions • Our Lessons: • Lesson 1: Welcome to your Brain! • Lesson 2: Emotions • Lesson 3: Anger • Lesson 4: Anxiety/Stress/Fear • Lesson 5: Happiness • Lesson 6: Sadness • Lesson 7: Empathy/Compassion

7. Launching the Unit (Hook): • Teacher led activity to introduce topic

9. Lesson 1: Introduction to the Brain

10. Lesson 1: Introduction to the Brain

11. Lesson 1: Introduction to the Brain

12. Lesson 1: Brain Books - Journal

13. Lesson 2: Anger

14. Lesson 3: Fear/Anxiety

15. Lesson 4: Happiness

16. Lesson 5: Sadness

17. Lesson 5: Sadness Activity

18. Lesson 6: Empathy

19. Lesson 7: Review and Jeopardy

20. Closure of the Unit • Emphasize the take-away message: it’s human nature to express our emotions and we now have the skills to respond appropriately to others in a variety of situations.

21. Evaluation Plan: • Students fill out a self-assessment on their learning. There will be ongoing evaluations throughout the year using the BC Quick Scale for Social Responsibility(http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca)

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