Care For All Lesson Plan Care For All?
Lesson Planning Guide
40 Minutes
High School (Sub-Separate)
Why this matters
Understanding and practicing self-care and community care provides students with essential tools to manage stress, improve emotional well-being, and foster resilience, directly impacting their mental health and academic success.
Prep Work
Time Estimate: 15 minutes
• Review Slide Deck, Warm-Up, Activity, Card Game, and Worksheet.
• Set up projector or Smartboard.
• Print copies of My Care Plan Worksheet for each student.
• Cut out 'Care Cards' from the game material or prepare digital display.
Learning Objective
Students will define self-care and community care , explain their importance, and identify how these practices can positively influence automatic thoughts .
Materials
• Smartboard or projector
• Markers or pens
• Care For All? Slide Deck
• Start Strong Warm-Up
• Care Connections Activity
• Care Card Game
• My Care Plan Worksheet
Instructional Flow
5 min
Warm-Up: Start Strong
Begin with the Start Strong Warm-Up . Ask students to share their initial thoughts on the prompt: “What helps you feel good when things are tough?” Connect responses to the core idea of 'care'.
5 min
Introduction: What is Care?
Use the Slide Deck (Slides 1-2) . Define self-care and community care. Briefly explain 'automatic thoughts' and how care practices can reduce negative blips and promote positive ones.
15 min
Activity: Care Connections
Transition to the Care Connections Activity (Slides 3-4) . Facilitate a whole-class or small-group brainstorm. Guide the discussion on why certain actions are self-care vs. community care and their impact on mindset.
10 min
Game: Care Card Game
Introduce the Care Card Game (Slide 5) . Students draw cards and categorize actions as self-care, community care, or both. Focus on the reasoning and the benefits of each practice.
5 min
Wrap-Up: Personal Care Plan
Distribute the My Care Plan Worksheet (Slide 6) . Students jot down one self-care and one community care strategy. Review main concepts and end with a "Cool-Down" share of one new idea.
Teacher Notes & Approach
For students in a sub-separate setting, prioritize visual aids and concrete examples. Some students may struggle with abstract concepts like "automatic thoughts"—use the "Brain Blips" analogy to make it more tangible. Ensure the environment feels safe and non-judgmental.
Care For All Slides Care For All?
How do we keep our cups full?
Why does it matter?
What's the 'Care' Here?
Self-Care
Actions we take to maintain our own physical, mental, and emotional health.
What makes YOU feel refreshed?
Community Care
Actions we take to support the well-being of those around us and our environment.
How do we lift each other up?
Automatic Thoughts
The quick "Brain Blips" that pop into our minds quickly without us trying.
How does care impact these thoughts?
Care Connections Activity!
Let's brainstorm together!
Brainstorm
Examples of Self-Care ?
Brainstorm
Examples of Community Care ?
Connect
How do these change Thoughts ?
Care Card Game
Your Turn to Decide!
1 Draw a Card
2 Describe the Care
Is it Self-Care?
Is it Community Care?
Is it Both?
Explain Your Reasoning!
Why does it fit into that category? How does it help our brain blips?
Your Personal Care Plan
What will you try this week?
Self-Care
One action for yourself...
Community Care
One action for others...
Care helps us all thrive! Start Strong Warm-Up Name:
Date:
Start Strong Warm-Up
Your Inner Recharge
Inner Recharge!
Finding what works for you.
Sometimes life throws us curveballs, and it can be tough to feel our best. Take a moment to think about this question:
"What helps you feel good, even when things are tough or you're feeling stressed?"
Think about things you do for yourself, or things that happen when you're with others.
My Thoughts:
Next Step: Share one thing that comes to mind with a partner or the class when your teacher asks!
Care Connections Activity Care Connections
Brainstorming Our Well-being
Name:
Date:
How to play:
Think about actions that help people feel better. Brainstorm examples for both categories. Then, discuss how these actions impact your automatic thoughts (those quick brain blips!).
Self-Care Examples
Things you do for yourself to recharge.
Community Care Examples
Things you do with or for others.
Discussion Points
Preference: Which type of care do you find easier to practice in your daily life?
Overlap: Can one act of care be both? Give an example of a "Double Win"!
Impact: How does practicing care help us when we have negative "brain blips"?
Care Card Game Care Card Game
What Kind of Care Is It?
Print & Cut
How to Play
Draw a Card: Each student or team draws one card.
Identify: Decide if it's Self-Care , Community Care , or Both .
Explain: Share why it fits that category.
Connect: Discuss how it helps your "Brain Blips" (thoughts).
Card 01
Taking a 10-minute break to listen to your favorite music when you feel overwhelmed.
Card 02
Helping a classmate understand a difficult problem during group work.
Card 03
Spending time alone to write in a journal about your feelings.
Card 04
Organizing a clean-up day for the school playground with friends.
Card 05
Making sure you eat a healthy meal before a big test.
Card 06
Listening actively when a friend shares a problem, offering support without judgment.
Card 07
Practicing deep breathing exercises when you feel anxious.
Card 08
Volunteering to help younger students with their reading after school.
Card 09
Setting a boundary by saying "no" to an extra commitment when you feel stretched thin.
Card 10
Cheering on your school sports team or performing arts group at an event.
Card 11
Taking a walk outside to clear your head.
Card 12
Sharing your art supplies or notes with a classmate who forgot theirs.
Discussion Questions
• Was it ever difficult to decide if something was self-care, community care, or both? Why?
• Which cards made you think about your automatic thoughts ? How?
• Why is it important to have a balance of both self-care and community care in our lives?
My Care Plan Worksheet Name:
Date:
My Care Plan
Steps Towards Well-being
Remember, even small acts of care can make a big difference in how you feel and the kinds of automatic thoughts (brain blips) you have. Let's make a plan!
1
My Self-Care Goal
What is ONE thing you will do specifically for yourself to recharge?
How do you think this will help your "brain blips"?
2
My Community Care Goal
What is ONE thing you will do to support others or your classroom?
How do you think this will change the mood around you?
Extra Challenge
Who could you talk to if you need more ideas or extra support with your well-being?
