PLEASE Skill Lesson Plan The PLEASE Skill
Your Emotional Foundation
Lesson Plan
Grade 7 • Social Emotional Learning
Time
49 Minutes
Audience
7th Grade Students
Approach
Direct Instruction & Self-Assessment
Why This Matters
Understanding the PLEASE skill empowers students to take control of their emotional well-being by recognizing the crucial link between physical health and emotional stability. By applying these strategies, students can proactively build resilience against negative emotions and improve their overall mental health.
Learning Objective
Students will be able to explain how physical health impacts emotional vulnerability and apply the PLEASE skill to reduce their vulnerability to negative emotions.
Teacher Preparation
• Review the lesson plan and all associated materials.
• Ensure projector/whiteboard is set up for the slide deck.
• Print copies of My PLEASE Skill Tracker for each student.
• Prepare for the Healthy Habits Brainstorm discussion.
Required Materials
Whiteboard or projector
Markers or pens
Slide Deck: The PLEASE Skill
My PLEASE Skill Tracker
Healthy Habits Brainstorm (Optional)
Instructional Sequence
5 min
Start
Mindfulness Moment & Check-in
• Begin with a brief mindfulness exercise (e.g., 1 minute of deep breathing).
• Ask students to do a quick emotional check-in: "On a scale of 1-5, how are you feeling today?" (1=low, 5=high energy/mood).
Refer to Slide 1
15 min
Teach
Introduce the PLEASE Skill
• Introduce the concept of emotional vulnerability and how physical health plays a role.
• Present the PLEASE acronym using the Slide Deck (Slides 2-8):
P-L: Physical Illness (Treat) : Address illness and minor pains.E: Eating (Balanced) : Fuel body for steady energy.A: Avoid substances : Avoid harmful/altering drugs and alcohol.S: Sleep : Aim for 8-10 hours.E: Exercise : Benefits of movement on mood.
• Facilitate a brief discussion: "Why do you think each of these is important for managing emotions?"
Refer to Slides 2-8 and Healthy Habits Brainstorm
15 min
Apply
Personal Self-Assessment
• Distribute the My PLEASE Skill Tracker worksheet.
• Guide students through honest reflection on their current habits for each component.
• Students identify 1-2 areas where they feel they could improve.
Refer to Slide 9
10 min
Goal
Set a PLEASE SMART Goal
• Students choose ONE specific goal to work on this week.
• Guide them through the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
• Students write their goal on their tracker and share with a partner if comfortable.
Refer to Slide 10
4 min
Wrap
Closing & Commitment
• Recap the importance of the PLEASE skill as a foundation.
• Encourage practice of the chosen goal throughout the week.
Refer to Slide 11
PLEASE Skill Slideshow Deck Welcome!
Let's take a moment to center ourselves.
How are you feeling today?
1
Very Low
2
3
Neutral
4
5
High Energy
What Makes Us Vulnerable?
Have you ever felt extra sensitive or easily upset?
This is called Emotional Vulnerability .
It means we are more likely to experience intense emotions that are harder to manage.
Building a Strong Foundation
Our physical health has a HUGE impact on our emotional health .
When we take care of our bodies, we become less vulnerable to intense negative emotions.
Introducing the
PLEASE
Skill!
P
Treat Physical Illness
Take care of your body when it's sick.
Don't ignore aches, pains, or symptoms.
See a doctor or talk to an adult when needed.
Treat Yourself Well
L
Balanced Eating
Fuel Your Body
Eat regular, nutritious meals.
Avoid skipping breakfast or lunch.
Limit high-sugar and processed foods.
A
Avoid Altering Substances
Stay away from illegal drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. Only use prescribed medicine exactly as directed by your doctor and parent.
"These substances change how your brain works and can make your emotions harder to manage."
S
Sleep
The Goal:
8-10 Hours
Every single night.
Create a consistent sleep schedule (even on weekends!).
Lack of sleep makes us:
Irritable Tired Reactive More Emotional
E
Exercise
The Recommendation:
60 Minutes
Most days of the week.
Reduces stress and boosts energy.
Naturally improves your mood.
Find activities YOU actually enjoy!
Time for a Check-in
Now it's your turn to think about your own habits! We're going to use the
My PLEASE Skill Tracker Worksheet My PLEASE Skill Tracker
Building Your Emotional Foundation
Student Name
Date
This tracker will help you reflect on your habits related to the PLEASE skill and set a goal to improve your emotional well-being. Be honest with yourself!
P
Treat Physical Illness
How well do you take care of yourself when sick or in pain? Do you talk to an adult?
One small improvement I could make:
L
Balanced Eating
How often do you eat regular, balanced meals? Do you skip meals or eat mostly snacks?
One positive change I could make:
A
Avoid Altering Drugs
Do you avoid substances like alcohol and nicotine? Why is this important for your emotions?
My reflection on staying healthy:
S
Sleep
How much sleep do you get? Do you have a consistent schedule (even on weekends)?
One thing to improve my sleep:
E
Exercise
How often are you active? What kind of activities do you actually enjoy?
One way to increase activity this week:
My PLEASE Goal for the Week!
Choose ONE area from PLEASE to focus on. Make it SMART : Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
My SMART Goal:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
Healthy Habits Brainstorm Discussion Guide Healthy Habits Brainstorm
Classroom Discussion & Reflection Guide
Discussion
How do our daily habits impact how we feel? Use these prompts to discuss in your group or as a class. Take notes on the most interesting ideas shared!
P
Physical Illness
How does feeling sick (even just a cold) affect your mood, patience, or ability to focus in class?
Why is it important to listen to your body and address physical discomforts right away?
Discussion Notes:
L
Balanced Eating
How do you feel emotionally when you skip a meal or eat a lot of sugary snacks? What about after a balanced meal?
What are some easy ways to make sure you're eating more balanced meals throughout the day?
Discussion Notes:
A
Avoid Altering Drugs
Why might people be tempted to use substances, and what are the potential emotional risks?
What are healthier ways to cope with difficult emotions or stress?
Discussion Notes:
S
Sleep
How does sleep (or lack of it) impact your patience and ability to handle stress?
What are some strategies you use, or could try, to get better sleep?
Discussion Notes:
E
Exercise
How do you feel after you've been physically active? Does it change your outlook or energy levels?
What are some fun ways you can incorporate more exercise into your week without it feeling like "work"?
Discussion Notes:
Key Takeaway
"Our physical body is the container for our emotions. When the container is strong and well-maintained, our emotions are easier to carry."
