Balance Challenge Lesson PlanEmotional Blueprint Lesson Facilitation Guide Tier 1 Classroom Duration 40 Minutes Audience 6th Grade Students Objective Identify and balance emotional responses. The Why Middle school is a time of rapid emotional development. Students often feel overwhelmed by the "weight" of different feelings. This lesson uses Jenga as a tactile metaphor for how emotions impact our internal stability and how sharing/regulation strategies help maintain balance. Materials Needed Jenga sets (1 per group of 3-4) Emotion Labels Handout Reflection Worksheets Tape or glue sticks Prep Work Print labels & worksheets Divide students into small groups Clear desk space for Jenga towers Instructional Sequence 5m 1. Intro to Emotions Brief discussion on emotions. Ask: "What are some big feelings you've had this week?" Explain that today we build a "life tower" and see how feelings affect it. 5m 2. Blueprint Setup Distribute Jenga sets and labels. Students attach labels (Happy, Angry, Sad, Nervous, etc.) to the blocks and stack their initial tower. 15m 3. The Jenga Challenge Gameplay Rule: Pull a block → Identify the emotion → Share a time you felt it → Mention one way to handle it. Students take turns. If the tower falls, it's an "emotional overload"—they simply rebuild and keep discussing. 10m 4. Deep Reflection Students work independently on the Reflection Worksheet to process their most challenging "blocks." 5m 5. Site Debrief Reconvene for closing questions. Emphasize that we all have "heavy" blocks, but we can learn to balance them together.
Balance Challenge SlidesThe Jenga Challenge Balancing Emotions How do you stay steady when things get shaky? BUILD BALANCE REFLECT The Life Tower Think of your life like a Jenga tower. Every block is an experience, a memory, or a feeling. When we feel good, our tower feels strong. When we feel "shaky," it's because our emotions need balancing. Challenge Rules 01 Pull a Block Carefully remove one emotion block from the tower. Steady hands! 02 Share a Memory Look at the emotion on your block. Tell your group about a time you felt that way. 03 Balance It Share one thing you did (or could do) to stay steady when feeling that emotion. ⚠️ If the tower falls, everyone says: "Emotions are heavy!" then rebuild together. Our Building Blocks JOY ANGER SADNESS NERVOUS PRIDE BOREDOM EXCITED LOVE Which one is the "shakiest" for you? Reflect & Build Time to record your strategies. Pick the emotion that felt most challenging today and write down your blueprint for balance. 1. Identify the feeling 2. Explain why it's heavy 3. Plan two ways to steady it
Balance Challenge Discussion GuideDiscussion Guide Post-Activity Debrief & Reflection 1 What emotions did you find most challenging to balance during the game? Facilitator Notes: Encourage students to think beyond the labels. Was it the speed of the game? The pressure of the tower? Relate this back to real life—is it the feeling itself that is hard, or the situation that causes it? Keywords: Stress, Pressure, Vulnerability 2 How can understanding your emotions help you in school and at home? Facilitator Notes: Discuss the benefits of emotional awareness. For example: "If I know I'm feeling nervous about a test, I can ask for help instead of getting angry." Focus on how awareness prevents the "tower" from falling in relationships or academics. 3 What strategies can you use to manage difficult emotions? Facilitator Notes: Explore different techniques. Invite students to share what works for them. Deep Breathing Talking to a friend Taking a 5-min break Physical Activity "Emotional intelligence is the ability to sense, understand, and effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions."
Balance Challenge Reflection WorksheetReflection Log Jenga Challenge Name: Date: 1. Describe an emotion you find challenging to manage and why. 2. List two strategies you can use to balance this emotion. A B 3. Reflect on a time you successfully managed a difficult emotion. What did you do? Keep your tower steady!
Balance Challenge Emotion LabelsEmotion Block Labels Cut these out and attach them to your Jenga pieces! Happiness Cut along dotted line Anger Cut along dotted line Sadness Cut along dotted line Nervous Cut along dotted line Excitement Cut along dotted line Loneliness Cut along dotted line Frustration Cut along dotted line Pride Cut along dotted line Jealousy Cut along dotted line Worry Cut along dotted line Confusion Cut along dotted line Calm Cut along dotted line Guilt Cut along dotted line Surprise Cut along dotted line Shame Cut along dotted line Hope Cut along dotted line Game Setup Guide Cut out each box carefully. Use a small piece of tape or glue stick to attach one label to each block. Mix them up and build your tower 3 blocks per layer! Make sure the labels are facing outward so you can see the emotions.
