Fact Checking Lesson Plan Editorial Guide
Fact-Checking Your Feelings
Confidential / Tier 1 Lesson
The "Why"
This lesson is important because it provides students with practical tools to understand and manage their emotions more effectively. By learning to 'Check the Facts,' they can avoid reacting impulsively to situations based on unjustified feelings. 'Opposite Action' empowers them to choose helpful responses, leading to better outcomes in their relationships and personal well-being.
Press Time
49 Minutes
Audience: 7th Grade
Pre-Production (15m)
• Review the Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Slide Deck, Worksheet, and Role-Play Cards.
• Ensure projector/smartboard is set up for the Slide Deck.
• Print copies of the Check the Facts Worksheet for each student.
• Cut out and prepare the Opposite Action Role-Play Cards.
On-Set Materials
Smartboard or Projector
Markers or Whiteboard
Fact-Checking Your Feelings Slide Deck
Check the Facts Worksheet
Opposite Action Role-Play Cards
Headline Objective
"Students will be able to use the 'Check the Facts' skill to determine if an emotion is justified and apply 'Opposite Action' when the emotion does not fit the facts of the situation."
The News Cycle (Instructions)
05m
Cold Open
Mindfulness Moment & Check-in
Begin with a brief mindfulness exercise (e.g., 1-minute focused breathing) to help students settle and be present.
Ask students to do a quick check-in: On a scale of 1-5, how are they feeling today, and why? Briefly discuss their responses, emphasizing that all emotions are okay.
15m
Investigation
Introduce Checking the Facts
Use the Slide Deck (Slides 1-5) to introduce the concept of justified vs. unjustified emotions.
Explain the 'Check the Facts' skill: identifying the emotion, what triggered it, and if the emotion fits the facts.
Work through an example scenario as a class, using the steps on the slides.
Distribute the Check the Facts Worksheet and have students complete the first section individually or in pairs.
15m
Live Report
Practice Opposite Action for Unjustified Emotions
Transition to the 'Opposite Action' skill using the Slide Deck (Slides 6-9).
Explain that when an emotion doesn't fit the facts, we can choose to act opposite to our urges.
Discuss examples of opposite actions for common emotions (e.g., if you're angry but the facts don't justify it, act kindly instead of yelling).
Divide students into small groups and distribute the Opposite Action Role-Play Cards. Groups role-play an opposite action based on their card.
10m
Fact-Check
Scenario Analysis
Present 2-3 new scenarios. For each, ask students to:
Identify the emotion.
Check the facts: Does the emotion fit the facts?
If not, what would be an opposite action?
04m
Sign-Off
Closing & Skill for the Week
Recap 'Check the Facts' and 'Opposite Action'. Emphasize emotional mastery, not suppression.
Assign 'Check the Facts' as the skill of the week.
Distribute the Cool Down activity as an exit ticket.
Instructional Guide: Fact-Checking Emotions © 2026 Educational Resource Creator
Fact Checking Slide Deck Live: On Air
Welcome! What's Your
Vibe Today?
How are you feeling right now (1-5)?
What's one word to describe it?
Remember, all feelings are okay!
Welcome students and begin with a quick mindfulness exercise (e.g., focused breathing for 1 minute). Ask students to do a brief emotional check-in: 'How are you feeling today, and why?' Emphasize that all feelings are valid.
Breaking News
Are Your Feelings
Fact-Checked?
"Our feelings are powerful guides... but sometimes they can mislead us!"
Today's Investigation:
1. Check the Facts
Does my emotion fit the situation?
2. Opposite Action
What to do when it doesn't.
Justified vs. Unjustified
JUSTIFIED
An emotion that fits the facts.
Feeling sad when something genuinely sad happens.
Feeling happy when you get good news.
UNJUSTIFIED
An emotion that doesn't quite fit the facts.
Feeling furious over a spilled glass of water.
Feeling extreme anxiety about a minor assignment.
The Process
Skill #1: Check the Facts!
"Wait, hold the press..."
When you feel a strong emotion, pause and ask the following 4 investigative questions...
What is the emotion?
(Anger, sadness, fear, joy, shame?)
What was the trigger?
(What event happened right before?)
What are the objective facts?
(Just the video recording! No opinions.)
Does it fit the facts?
Investigative
Practice
Scenario File: 001
"You accidentally left your lunch at home. You feel overwhelmingly angry and want to yell at your friend."
1. Emotion
?
2. Trigger
?
3. Facts
?
4. Does it Fit?
?
Wait, what if it's NOT justified?
Skill #2:
Opposite Action
"Choosing to act opposite to the urge your emotion is telling you to do."
Field Guide: Unjustified Emotions
Check the Facts Worksheet Investigative Report
Fact-Checking Your Feelings
Reporter:
Date:
Part 1
Personal Case File
Think about a time recently when you felt a strong emotion. It doesn't have to be a big event, just something that made you feel something intensely.
1. What emotion did you feel?
(e.g., Angry, Sad, Scared, Happy, Ashamed, Excited)
2. What happened right before you felt this emotion? What was the trigger?
(Just describe the event, not your thoughts or feelings about it yet.)
3. Now, write down ONLY the objective facts of what happened.
(Imagine a video camera recording the event. What would it see and hear? No opinions, no interpretations!)
4. Looking at the objective facts, does your emotion FIT the facts?
Yes, my emotion fits the facts.
No, my emotion doesn't quite fit the facts.
Part 2
Field Investigation Practice
Incoming Intel
Scenario File
"You were excited to tell your friend about a new video game, but when you started talking, they seemed distracted and kept looking at their phone. You immediately felt a wave of intense anger and thought, 'They don't care about me at all!'"
1. What is the primary emotion described in the scenario?
2. What are the objective facts of the situation? (What can you see and hear?)
3. Based ONLY on the facts, does the intense anger fit the situation? Why or why not?
4. If the anger doesn't fit the facts, what might be a more proportional emotion or another way to interpret the facts?
Fact-Checking Worksheet / Middle School Curriculum Internal Ref: DBT-MS-L1
Opposite Action Role Play Cards Assignment: Opposite Action
Group Briefing
Pick a Card: Choose one scenario card from below.Identify: What is the emotion and the immediate urge?Check Facts: Does the emotion fit? (Hint: Likely not!)Brainstorm: What is the opposite of that urge?Role-Play: Act out the urge, then the opposite action.Discuss: How did the opposite action feel?
Press Pass: Case 01
Scenario
You spent a lot of time on a drawing, and your friend quickly glances at it and says, "That's cool." You feel sadness and want to rip it up and isolate yourself.
Primary Urge
Rip up drawing, isolate self.
Opposite Action Idea
Sit with your friend and ask about their day. Put the drawing away gently.
Press Pass: Case 02
Scenario
Your teacher asks you to read aloud in class, and you feel extreme panic . You have a strong urge to pretend you're sick or hide to avoid reading.
Primary Urge
Avoid reading, hide, pretend sickness.
Opposite Action Idea
Take a breath, read just one paragraph. Approach the situation calmly.
Press Pass: Case 03
Scenario
You're playing a video game and keep losing. You feel intense anger building up, and your urge is to throw your controller and yell.
Primary Urge
Throw controller, yell at the screen.
Opposite Action Idea
Put the controller down gently, take a break, or walk away for a few minutes.
Press Pass: Case 04
Scenario
You accidentally bumped into someone. You feel shame and want to apologize profusely and then hide for the rest of the day.
Primary Urge
Over-apologize, hide, avoid eye contact.
Opposite Action Idea
Acknowledge with a simple "Excuse me," make eye contact, and continue your day.
Press Pass: Case 05
Scenario
You've been invited to a school dance, but you feel extremely anxious . Your urge is to make an excuse and stay home.
Primary Urge
Avoid the dance, make an excuse, stay home.
Opposite Action Idea
Go for just 15 minutes. Engage with others even if you feel uncomfortable.
Fact Checking Cool Down Final Broadcast: Exit Ticket
Sign-Off Report
Fact-Checking Your Feelings
Name:
Date:
1 What was one new thing you learned today about your emotions?
2 Describe in your own words what "Opposite Action" means.
3 Think of one situation you might face this week where you could try to "Check the Facts" or use "Opposite Action." Briefly describe it.
4 How do you think using these skills could help you in your daily life?
Case Closed
"Mastering emotions, one fact at a time."
End of Report
