Lesson Plan
Session 1 Plan
In this session, students will learn to identify negative thoughts by examining examples and reflecting on personal experiences, and will practice recognizing such thoughts using a worksheet.
Recognizing negative thoughts is the first step in challenging them, fostering self-awareness and supporting emotional well-being for students with diverse needs.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Review
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
Step 2
Group Discussion
8 minutes
Step 3
Interactive Activity
12 minutes
Step 4
Worksheet Completion
4 minutes
Step 5
Closing Reflection
1 minute
Slide Deck
Thought Transformers – Session 1
Objectives
What Are Thoughts & Feelings?
Scenario Example
Interactive Activity
Closing Reflection
Script
Worksheet
Discussion
Activity
Lesson Plan
Session 2 Plan
Students will explore the connection between thoughts and feelings, learn to challenge a negative thought by reframing it, and practice this skill through discussion, an interactive activity, and a worksheet.
Helping students see how thoughts influence emotions and teaching them to reframe negative thoughts builds resilience and improves emotional regulation, especially for learners with diverse needs.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Review
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
Step 2
Discussion: Thought-Feeling Link
8 minutes
Step 3
Interactive Reframing Activity
12 minutes
Step 4
Worksheet Practice
4 minutes
Step 5
Closing Reflection
1 minute
Slide Deck
Thought Transformers – Session 2
Objectives
Common Cognitive Distortions
Examples of Distortions
Interactive Activity: Role-Play
Takeaways
Script
Worksheet
Lesson Plan
Session 3 Plan
Students will learn to identify common cognitive distortions in their thoughts and practice gathering evidence to challenge and balance unhelpful thinking.
Understanding cognitive distortions and using evidence helps students break rigid negative thinking patterns, fostering emotional resilience and self-awareness.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Review
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction to Distortions
5 minutes
Step 2
Discussion: Identify Distortions
8 minutes
Step 3
Sorting Activity
12 minutes
Step 4
Worksheet Practice
4 minutes
Step 5
Closing Reflection
1 minute
Lesson Plan
Session 1 Lesson Plan
Students will learn to distinguish between thoughts and feelings, understand how thoughts influence emotions, and practice spotting negative thoughts through discussion and activities.
Building self‐awareness of thoughts and their emotional impact helps special education students develop skills in mood regulation and positive self-talk.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Review
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
Step 2
Discussion: Thought–Feeling Link
8 minutes
Step 3
Interactive Activity
12 minutes
Step 4
Worksheet Completion
4 minutes
Step 5
Closing Reflection
1 minute
Lesson Plan
Session 2 Lesson Plan
Students will identify common cognitive distortions in their negative thoughts and gather evidence to challenge and balance these thoughts.
Recognizing distortions and using evidence disrupts rigid negative patterns, promotes resilient thinking, and supports emotional regulation.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Review
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction to Distortions
5 minutes
Step 2
Discussion: Identify Distortions
8 minutes
Step 3
Sorting Activity
12 minutes
Step 4
Worksheet Practice
4 minutes
Step 5
Closing Reflection
1 minute
Lesson Plan
Session 1 Lesson Plan
Students will learn to distinguish between thoughts and feelings, identify negative thoughts in common scenarios, and practice spotting unhelpful thoughts in themselves and others.
Recognizing negative thoughts builds self‐awareness and lays the foundation for challenging unhelpful thinking, promoting emotional resilience for special education learners.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Review
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
Step 2
Discussion: Thought–Feeling Link
8 minutes
Step 3
Interactive Activity
12 minutes
Step 4
Worksheet Completion
4 minutes
Step 5
Closing Reflection
1 minute
Lesson Plan
Session 2 Lesson Plan
Students will learn to identify thinking traps (cognitive distortions) and practice reframing negative thoughts into kinder, more realistic alternatives to improve emotional resilience.
Challenging unhelpful thinking reduces distress and builds self‐confidence, supporting emotional regulation and positive self‐talk for special education learners.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Review
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
Step 2
Discussion: Thought–Feeling–Reframe
8 minutes
Step 3
Interactive Role-Play
12 minutes
Step 4
Worksheet Practice
4 minutes
Step 5
Closing Reflection
1 minute
Discussion
Activity
