Techniques Kids Can Use to Take Charge of Their Moods

This unit introduces mood. Students will learn that their feelings and emotions put them in a mood and that their mood influences their choices. Four essential concepts form an understanding of mood:

1. Mood (along with recharge) is a key influencer of fit choices.
2. Mood is your motivation. Mood can be "I will make a healthy choice," or "I won't make a healthy choice."
3. Self-motivation strategies can help you motivate your mood.
4. Your mood can change throughout the day.

Negative thoughts, or negative self-talk, can be troubling and influence your mood. Download the Conversation Hearts Posters to provide examples of positive self-talk. Additionally, you will find the My Calming Choices poster set a useful visual reminder of calming choices for kids when big feelings arise.

This lesson will help kids understand how to recognize and manage their moods. Begin by reading the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. Give kids time to really think about the book and share their thoughts.

Follow along with the slideshow as you continue the lesson.

To use this with your students click here.

Read to Find out a Character's Mood

Read aloud the excerpt from Judith Viorist's book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

Ask students to supply words from your classroom's Feelings and Emotions Chart that describe Alexander's feelings.

Think About Moods

Explain that when Alexander says, “I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day,” he's letting his feelings put him in an “I won’t” mood. Discuss how Alexander’s mood influences his choices. He needs to recognize his mood so he can manage it! Read aloud the examples of how to manage an “I won’t” mood.

Check for understanding: How does your mood impact your willingness to make healthy choices?

Discover Moods

Point out that to “know your mood” is to recognize that feelings and emotions influence your willingness to make healthy choices.

Display the Managing Emotions poster and discuss ways to manage some common emotions. Give each student a Feelings Check-In printable so they can identify choices they can make to manage their mood.

Get your kids ready to investigate what influences our moods by asking them how to think about the value of mistakes, using Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day as common background.

• Why does Alexander get upset when his teacher tells him he is making mistakes?
• Is it bad to make a mistake?
• How do we know when we are making mistakes?
• Can mistakes be good sometimes?
• Is it possible to fix mistakes? How?