Heart and Head Teacher Guide Heart & Head
Teacher Facilitation Guide (Express)
40-Minute Workshop
Self-Image & Men's Mental Health
Target Audience
Junior High Girls (Grades 6-8)
Total Duration
40 Minutes (Fast-Paced)
Key Themes
Media Literacy & Empathy
Learning Objectives
The Mirror (Self)
• Identify how social media curation distorts body image.
The Mind (Others)
• Recognize and challenge the "Man Up" stigma in mental health.
Express Schedule (40m)
1. Filter Reality Check
10 MINS
Quick Action: Show "Original vs. Filtered" slides immediately. Use the "Digital Drains/Fuels" brainstorm as a 3-minute lightning round on the handout.
2. Flipping the Script
15 MINS
Discussion: Ask "Why is it hard for boys to talk about feelings?" Transition quickly to Ally Actions . Have students pick ONE action they can take this week.
3. Inner Portrait Launch
15 MINS
Goal: Set the vision for the project. Spend 10 minutes on the "Brainstorming Area" of the activity pack.
Pacing Note:
Project assembly is assigned as a take-home activity or finished in the next session.
40-Minute Prep
Activity Pack (All-in-one handout)
Curated Slide Deck (Shortened)
Project Guide (Sent home)
Emergency contact for school counselor
Mirror and Mind Slides Presentation Express Workshop
Mirror
& Mind
Self-Image, Empathy, and the
Roadmap
Our 40-Minute Sprint
01
The Core
Why mental health is the engine behind how we see ourselves.
5m
02
The Trap
Deconstructing filters and the pressure to be "liked."
10m
03
The Mask
Breaking the script and supporting the boys in our lives.
10m
04
The Portrait
A creative challenge to express your authentic inner self.
15m
Shared Ground
For Girls
Mental health keeps you grounded when the world shouts how you should look.
Resilience
Self-Worth
For Boys
Mental health is the true strength that replaces the mask with honesty.
Honesty
Connection
Human Health is the engine of Human Connection.
The Trap
10 MINS
Social media is a
The Filter Factor
Comparison is the thief of joy.
High-definition filters = Low-def reality.
REALITY
The "Strong" Script
10 MINS
The Cultural Myth:
"Vulnerability is weakness."
The Truth: It's a trap.
Be a Mental Health Ally
Supporting the boys in your life starts with changing the definition of strength.
10+
Join the movement
The Mission: 15 MINS
Challenge
The Inner
Portrait
Create an image that captures your spirit using
Symbol
What represents your spirit?
Color
What is your "energy"?
Quality
What is your invisible power?
Unfiltered.
Unstoppable.
True connection starts when the filters come off.
See you out there
Mirror and Mind Activity Pack Mirror & Mind
Express Activity Pack (40m)
Name:
1
Lightning Round: Filter Check
10 Minutes
Digital Drains
Digital Fuels
ONE trend you'd delete forever?
2
The Empathy Shift
15 Minutes
"Man Up" culture tells boys that strength = silence. Let's flip that script.
The Pressure
How have you seen boys pressured to be "tough"?
The Action
ONE thing you can say to show a male peer support?
3
Portrait Brainstorm
15 Minutes
List 3 qualities that a camera/filter can never see:
Project assignment: Use the "Inner Portrait Project Guide" to finish your artwork at home!
Mirror & Mind • Express Workshop Handout
Inner Portrait Project Guide Inner Portrait
The Unfiltered Project Guide
The Mission
In a world of filters, retouching, and "curated" lives, we often forget that our most valuable parts are invisible in a mirror. Your mission is to create an Inner Portrait : a visual representation of who you are beneath the surface. No faces allowed—only character, soul, and story.
The Creative Process
01
Brainstorm
List 5 qualities about yourself that a camera can't capture. Are you resilient? Kind? A dreamer? Loyal?
02
Symbolize
Pick symbols for those qualities. Resilience might be a mountain; kindness might be a soft light.
03
Assemble
Use collage, sketches, paint, or words to fill your portrait. No generic "selfie" shapes allowed!
What to Include?
Your Roots: What or who shaped you into who you are today?Your Engine: What passion or dream keeps you moving forward?Your Shield: What values protect you from the "Comparison Trap"?Your Spark: What is something you love that most people don't know?
Success Criteria
Depth
Go beyond surface-level traits. Show us your complex, real self.
Creativity
Use unique symbols, textures, or layouts. Make it look like *you*.
Reflection
Include a short (3-5 sentence) description of your symbols on the back.
Mirror & Mind Workshop Series
Junior High Girls Edition
Unfiltered & Authentic
Mirror and Mind Handout Resource Mirror & Mind
Workshop Reference Guide
Core Themes
Media Literacy • Empathy • Vulnerability
The Mirror: Navigating Curation
The Comparison Trap
When we scroll, we see the "Perfected Self." This is a curated version of reality, not reality itself. Algorithms reward images that make us feel like we need to "fix" something.
QUICK TIPS:
• Unfollow accounts that make you feel "less than."
• Set "Digital Sunset" times for social media.
• Remember: Filters are pixels, not people.
Filter Reality Check
Most "perfect" images are modified using:
AI SMOOTHING
BODY RESHAPING
COLOR COLORING
CURATED LIGHTING
The Mind: Beyond the Script
Breaking the "Strong" Stigma
From a young age, many boys are taught that showing emotion or asking for help is a sign of weakness. This "Man Up" culture is dangerous. It leads to higher rates of depression, isolation, and reluctance to seek therapy.
Empathy Matters
Vulnerability = Strength
How to be an Ally:
Listen: Don't try to fix it, just be there.Validate: Say "It makes sense that you feel that way."Speak Up: Challenge jokes that mock male feelings.
You Are Not a Grid.
"Your value isn't measured in likes, pixels, or how well you fit a filter. Your strength is your character, and your power is your empathy."
Mirror & Mind Workshop Series
Self-Image & Mental Health Allyship
Print & Shared
