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. For example, feeling bored or grumpy can lead to an “I won’t” mood, while feeling cheerful or content can lead to an "I will" mood. An "I will" mood can make it easier to make a fit choice; however, an “I won’t” mood needs to be motivated (turned around) for someone to make a fit choice.

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 is either "I will" (I will make a fit choice) or "I won't" (I won't make a fit choice).
3. You can motivate an “I won’t” mood to an “I will” mood and make a fit choice.
4. Your mood can change throughout the day.

Negative thinking is something that troubles everyone, but it can be hardest on kids who don’t have as much experience. Kids simply don’t realize that they have a choice in how they internalize these thoughts. Instead, they start to see negative thinking as absolute truths. This lesson can help them see how to take charge of mood instead. 

Read 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 "I Won't" and "I Will" Moods

Point out that to “know your mood” is to recognize that feelings and emotions influence your willingness to make healthy choices. Mood is either “I won’t make a fit choice,” or “I will make a fit choice.”

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?