Circle Facilitator Guide
Navigating Your Feelings
Circle Facilitator Guide
30 Minutes
Middle School (Tier 1)
Objective
Students will utilize restorative circle practices to identify, rate, and discuss their emotions, learning to respond to internal experiences in healthy and rational ways.
Materials Needed
- Managing Emotions Video
- Post-it Notes
- Pens / Markers
- Whiteboard or Chart Paper
Lesson Flow
5
Mins
Introduction & Set-Up
- Welcome students to the circle and establish a supportive tone.
- Introduce the topic: Managing emotions effectively is a skill we all need.
- Explain the structure: Watch a video, group discussion, and partner practice.
2
Mins
Video Viewing
Show the video "Tools for Managing Your Emotions".
"Pay close attention to the three specific tools mentioned; we'll be practicing them shortly."
10
Mins
Guided Circle Discussion
- Post-it Activity: Students write 1-2 recent emotions on notes.
- Sharing: Invite students to share their notes in the circle.
- Prompts: Focus on triggers and responses.
- Key Concept: Review Naming/Rating, Talking, and Reflecting.
10
Mins
Practical Partner Practice
Pair students up to use the Emotion Toolbelt Activity Sheet.
- Student A names and rates an emotion (1-10).
- Student B listens and asks about the trigger.
- Swap roles and reflect on how naming the emotion changed their feeling.
3
Mins
Circle Closure
Recap the tools. Encourage students to "Name and Rate" an emotion before they go to sleep tonight.
Facilitator Tips for Middle School
Create Safety
Remind students that they only have to share what they are comfortable with. Use the "Pass" rule if someone isn't ready to speak.
Normalize All Emotions
Emphasize that there are no "bad" emotions, only healthy and unhealthy ways of responding to them.
The Power of Rating
Middle schoolers often feel emotions at an "11". Helping them find where a feeling actually lands on a 1-10 scale helps build rational perspective.
Restorative Approach
Focus on the impact of emotional responses on relationships within the classroom community.
Emotion Toolbelt Activity Sheet
Emotion Toolbelt
Partner Activity Guide
Name
Date
Instructions
- Find a partner and take turns sharing an emotion you've experienced recently.
- Follow the steps below to practice your Emotion Tools.
- Be a respectful listener while your partner is sharing.
1
Name & Rate It
What is the emotion?
Rate the intensity (1-10)
Mild
Intense
2
The Trigger & Response
What event or situation triggered this emotion?
How did you respond at the time?
3
Future Reflection
Reflect together: How could you use the video techniques to manage this better next time?
Managing Emotions Slides
Navigating Your Feelings
Tools for Managing Your Emotions Circle
Welcome to the Circle
Our Goal
Today we're learning how to identify, rate, and discuss our emotions in a healthy way.
Agreements
- Respect each voice
- Safe sharing
- Listen with purpose
Tools for Managing Your Emotions
Insert Video Link Here
Watch closely for the three tools: Naming, Talking, and Reflecting.
Circle Talk
Sharing our experiences
10 Mins
"Can you name an emotion you felt recently?
What triggered it?"
Write it down
Share it out
Partner Practice
The Emotion Toolbelt
10 Mins
1
Name & Rate
Share the emotion and rate it from 1 to 10.
2
Talk Trigger
Discuss what caused the feeling and how you responded.
3
Reflect
Think about how you'll manage it next time.
Before You Go...
Tonight, try to Name & Rate one emotion you feel before you fall asleep.
See you next time!
