Stop Think Choose Plan Document
Stop, Think, Choose!
Lesson Plan • Kindergarten Small Group
Why This Matters
Learning to control impulses helps students navigate social situations, follow directions, and manage feelings when things get tough. This skill is crucial for success in school and everyday life.
Preparation
- • Review script and slides.
- • Print/cut Choice Cards.
- • Prepare Voting Signs (included).
Time: 10 Minutes
Objective
Students will identify impulses, pause before reacting, and make thoughtful decisions, improving frustration response and social actions.
Materials
- • Smartboard/Projector (Slide Deck)
- • Instructional Script
- • Good Choice/Poor Choice Cards
- • Voting Signs (Thumbs Up/Down)
- • "How Did I Choose?" Worksheet
Instructional Flow Total Time: 30 Minutes
1. Warm-Up: Big Feelings
5 Min
Goal: Define "Impulse" through shared experiences.
- Ask: "What are big feelings we have?" (mad, excited).
- Introduce "Impulse": Acting fast without thinking.
- Show Slide 1 of the Slide Deck.
2. Introduce "Stop, Think, Choose"
7 Min
Goal: Learn the 3-step strategy with motions.
Stop
Hands up, breathe
Think
Tap head, options
Choose
Point, best path
- Use Slides 2-4 to model each step.
- Practice physical motions for each step.
3. Activity: Voting Game
12 Min
Goal: Apply the strategy to real-world scenarios.
- Distribute voting signs (or use thumbs up/down).
- Read Choice Cards aloud.
- Ask: "Why is this good?" or "What's a better way?"
- Link back to the 3-step strategy for hard ones.
4. Wrap-Up & Review
4 Min
- Review: "Why do we Stop, Think, Choose?"
- Distribute the "How Did I Choose?" reflection sheet.
- Students draw one way they'll use it today.
Impulse Control
Social Skills
Decision Making
Stop Think Choose Script Facilitation
Stop, Think, Choose!
Instructional Script
Key
Teacher Says Motion
1
Warm-Up: Big Feelings (5 min)
"Hello everyone! I'm so happy to see you all today. We're going to talk about some really important things that help us in school and at home."
"Raise your hand if you've ever felt a big feeling. What are some big feelings we sometimes have? Like when you're super excited, or really mad, or maybe even a little frustrated when something is hard?"
Wait for Student Responses
"Great answers! When we have these big feelings, sometimes our bodies want to do things really fast without thinking. Like wanting to grab a toy or yelling. Does anyone know what that's called when we do something really fast without thinking first? ... It's called an impulse!"
2
The Strategy (7 min)
"Our first step is STOP! Everyone show me your stop sign hands!"
Demonstrate putting hands up like a stop sign.
Explain that STOP means pausing, taking a breath, or counting to three.
"Our next step is THINK! Everyone tap your heads like you're thinking hard!"
Demonstrate tapping your head.
"What might happen next? What are my choices? Is this a good choice or a poor choice?"
"And our last step is CHOOSE! Everyone point to an imaginary choice!"
Demonstrate pointing to a choice.
"When we CHOOSE, we pick the best option. We make a good choice!"
3
Activity: Voting (12 min)
Scenario 1: Grabbing
"You really want to play with the red truck, but your friend is playing with it. You grab it out of their hands."
ASK: "How could you Stop, Think, Choose here?"
Scenario 2: Directions
"Your teacher asks everyone to line up quietly. You walk to the line and wait for your turn."
ASK: "Why is this a good choice?"
Scenario 3: Frustration
"You are building a tall tower, and it falls over. You feel frustrated, but you take a deep breath and decide to try building it again."
Scenario 4: Helping
"You see your friend drop their crayons. You help them pick them up."
Teaching Note: Emphasize the physical motions during every transition.
Stop Think Choose Scenario Cards Activity
Scenario Cards
Stop, Think, Choose Activity
Cut along dotted lines
CARD 1
1
You really want to play with the red truck, but your friend is playing with it. You grab it out of their hands.
Impulse
CARD 2
2
Your teacher asks everyone to line up quietly. You walk to the line and wait for your turn.
Social Skills
CARD 3
3
You are building a tall tower, and it falls over. You feel frustrated, but you take a deep breath and decide to try building it again.
Frustration
CARD 4
4
You see your friend drop their crayons. You help them pick them up.
Kindness
CARD 5
5
You are playing tag and someone tags you. You get mad and push them.
Anger
CARD 6
6
Your mom says it's time to clean up. You say "No!" and keep playing with your toys.
Following Directions