Pause Power Teacher Plan Pause Power
Teacher Lesson Plan
Grade Level
9th Grade
Duration
45 Minutes
Learning Objective
Students will learn and apply the three-step pause strategy (Notice–Breathe–Choose ) in workplace contexts to manage emotional impulses and strengthen professional communication skills.
The "Why"
Developing self-regulation in simulated work scenarios builds thoughtful decision-making, improves collaboration, and equips teens with skills employers value.
Prep Checklist
Review Emotional Remote Slide Deck .
Print & cut Respond vs React Question Cards .
Prepare workplace scenario slips from Role-Plays Guide .
Stack Reflection Prompts & Exit Notes at the front.
Lesson Flow
5 MIN
Warm-Up
Fast Reaction Reflection
Display the prompt: "Think of a time you reacted quickly in a team or job-like situation—what happened?"
Students write independently for 1 minute on the Reflection Prompt sheet.
Quick share: Turn to a partner and share insights on what triggered the reaction.
10 MIN
Direct Inst.
Vocabulary Dive & "The Remote"
Use the Slide Deck to introduce impulse, trigger, regulation, and reflection.
Emoji Match: Ask students to pair terms to emojis (🏃, ⚡, 🧘, 💭).Work Context: Discuss definitions through a professional lens (e.g., an urgent deadline as a "trigger").Introduce the Notice-Breathe-Choose strategy.
10 MIN
Discussion
Discussion Circles
Groups of four; distribute Respond vs React Question Cards .
One student reads; the group discusses physical cues, the difference between reacting and responding, and outcome changes.
Rotate cards every 2–3 minutes until all 4 cards are covered.
15 MIN
Interactive
Pause-Play Role-Plays
In groups of 3–4, students act out workplace scenarios from the Guide .
Round 1: Impulsive Reaction (No pause).
Round 2: Apply Notice-Breathe-Choose (The "Remote" in action).
Debrief Questions:
What changed in tone or body language?
How did relationships/outcomes differ?
Which step was hardest to implement?
5 MIN
Cool-Down
Power to Choose Exit Note
Individual reflection on future application.
Students describe a situation this week where they will use the strategy.
Collect as students leave.
Unit: Emotional Intelligence Topic: Self-Regulation Lesson: Pause Power
Emotional Remote Slide Deck Pause Power
Mastering Your
Emotional Remote
Take control of your reactions with the three-step pause strategy.
Objectives & Agenda
Learning Objectives
Learn the 3-step strategy:Notice – Breathe – Choose
Master key vocabulary terms
Practice responses in role-plays
Today's Agenda
1 Vocabulary Dive
2 Discussion Circles
3 Interactive Role-Plays
4 Closing Thought
Emoji Vocabulary Match
🏃
Term ?
⚡
Term ?
🧘
Term ?
💭
Term ?
Impulse Trigger Regulation Reflection
🏃
Impulse
A sudden urge to do something without thinking first.
Quick, automatic reaction
Often driven by strong emotion
Think of it like an "Instant Play" button with no stop sign.
⚡
Trigger
Something that sparks an emotional response.
Person, event, or thought
Activates your impulse system
Common Work Triggers:
Urgent deadlines
Critical feedback
Being interrupted
🧘
Regulation
Managing and controlling your emotional responses.
Helps you stay calm under stress
Includes self-calming strategies
Hit the Pause Button
💭
Reflection
Thinking about how and why you reacted.
Learn from past experiences
Builds stronger self-control
Ask Yourself:
What triggered me?
What did I feel in my body?
Would a pause have changed things?
The Pause Strategy
1
Notice
Recognize the impulse rising in your body.
2
Breathe
Take a slow, deep breath to calm your mind.
3
Choose
Decide on a thoughtful response.
Fast Reaction Reflection Prompt Fast Reaction Reflection
Name
Date
The Challenge
Think of a recent time you reacted quickly—maybe in a team project, a conversation with a teacher, or at a job. What happened?
1 Describe the situation in a few sentences. What was the "trigger"?
2 What sensations or signals did you notice in your body at that moment? (e.g., racing heart, tight shoulders, face flushing)
3 If you had taken a 5-second pause, how might your response have been different?
"Reflection is thinking about how and why you reacted. It helps you build stronger self-control over time."
Time: 1 Minute to write, then share
Respond vs React Question Cards Respond vs React Cards
Discussion Circle Activity • Rotate every 2–3 minutes
1
Physical Signs
What physical signs or body signals do you notice when an impulse is about to take over?
Describe a time you felt these cues. Did your heart race? Did your hands clench?
Pause Power Discussion
2
React vs Respond
How is a reaction different from a response ?
Share an example from a professional setting (like a job or a school project) that illustrates each.
Pause Power Discussion
3
The Pivot Moment
Think of a moment when a 5-second pause could have changed the outcome of a situation.
What happened, and what might you have done differently if you hit "Pause"?
Pause Power Discussion
4
Calm Under Pressure
Which self-calming strategy works best for you?
Deep Breathing Counting Self-Talk
Why do you think that specific strategy is effective for your personality?
Pause Power Discussion
Teacher Tip: Print on cardstock and cut along the center lines for durability.
Pause-Play Role-Plays Guide Pause-Play Role-Plays
Interactive Strategy Activity
Apply the
How to Play
Round 1: Impulsive Reaction
Act out the scene as it would happen if you were triggered and didn't think first. Show the tension, the frustration, or the quick retort.
Round 2: Notice-Breathe-Choose
Replay the same scene. This time, visibly pause . Notice the physical cue, take a deep breath together, and choose a professional response.
Scenario 1
The Idea Thief
A coworker takes credit for your idea during a team meeting. You feel your face flush and your hands clench under the table.
Cut along dotted line
Scenario 2
The Curt Email
Your supervisor emails a curt critique of your report with no prior feedback. You read it on your phone while standing with peers.
Cut along dotted line
Scenario 3
The Public Complaint
A client loudly complains about a minor mistake in your project presentation, embarrassing you in front of the whole department.
Cut along dotted line
Scenario 4
The Missing Deadline
A teammate misses a critical deadline, delaying the whole project and drawing frustration from management toward your entire group.
Cut along dotted line
Scenario 5
The Interruption
A colleague interrupts and talks over you during a presentation, dismissing your data and ideas as if they weren't important.
Cut along dotted line
Scenario 6
The Vendor Pivot
A vendor sends a last-minute change request that jeopardizes your delivery timeline, and your project manager is visibly upset.
Cut along dotted line
Group Debrief Questions
TONE
What changed in your body language or voice?
RELATIONSHIPS
How did the outcome affect the group's future?
DIFFICULTY
Which of the 3 steps was hardest to remember?
Power to Choose Exit Note Final Task
Power to Choose
Exit Note • Pause Power Strategy
Student Name
Date
1 Describe a real situation this week where you anticipate feeling triggered and will practice your pause.
2 What is your early warning signal? How will you know it's time to "Notice"?
RACING HEART
TENSE SHOULDERS
FACE FLUSHING
3 How will you remind yourself to Breathe & Choose? (e.g., a mental mantra, a physical anchor, a sticky note)
“Between stimulus and response lies your power to choose.”
— Viktor E. Frankl
