Thought Monsters Lesson Plan Taming Thought Monsters
Tier 3 Individual Support Session
Duration 30 MIN
Learning Objective
Student will identify catastrophic "Thought Monsters" and practice a 3-step process (Notice, Question, Reframe) to shift towards realistic and helpful perspectives.
Individualized Support
Note: This 9th-grade student presents younger developmentally. Use concrete metaphors (monsters, blasting, detectives) and keep language clear and literal. Focus on immediate, relatable examples (tests, social interactions).
Materials
Slide Deck
Challenge Worksheet
Reframing Game
Discussion Guide
Session Facilitation Guide
5m
Part 1: The Monster Hook
Build rapport and introduce the metaphor.
Key Prompts:
"Ever had a tiny worry grow into a giant, scary monster in your head?"
"Thought Monsters are tricky. They lie to us to make us feel scared."
10m
Part 2: Case File Analysis
Use the **Thought Challenge Worksheet** to identify a specific "Monster."
Help the student pin down the exact words the monster says.
Identify physical sensations (stomach ache, tight chest) to help with "noticing" in the future.
Model "interrogating" the thought—treating it as a suspect in a case.
10m
Part 3: The Blaster Zone
Interactive practice with the **Thought Reframing Game**.
Student picks a pre-written monster card.
Teacher helps "blast" it by finding one piece of evidence against it.
Student rewrites the card into a "Tamed Thought" and physically tosses it to the Blaster Zone.
5m
Part 4: Mission Debrief
Closing reflection with the **Discussion Guide**.
Self-assessment of confidence using the visual scale.
Identify one real-life "Monster" to watch out for this week.
Thought Monsters Slides Welcome, Thought Tamers!
Ever had a thought that just felt... huge and scary?
Today, we're going to learn how to tame those 'Thought Monsters'!
Meet the Monsters
Thought Monsters are tricky thoughts that:
Make small problems seem like GIANT disasters.
Jump straight to the worst possible outcome.
Tell you things are impossible to fix.
1
Spot the Monster!
The first step is to NOTICE when a Monster appears.
What is the exact thought?
Where do you feel it in your body?
How does it make you feel?
Thought Detective
2
Ask Questions
Interrogation Checklist:
Is this thought 100% true?
What is the FACT?
What is most likely?
"Are you really as scary as you say?"
3
Tame & Reframe!
The Monster Thought
"I'm going to fail everything and my life is over!"
The Tamed Thought
"This is hard, but I can study and try my best."
Monster Master!
Taming Thought Monsters is a SKILL you can build every day!
NOTICE
Spot Them
QUESTION
Find Facts
REFRAME
Tame It
Thought Challenge Worksheet Monster Case File
Classified: Thought Detective Agency
Agent Name
Date
1
Spotting the Suspect
What exactly was the Thought Monster saying?
Example: "I'm going to fail this test and then I'll fail the whole year!"
Where did you feel it in your body?
Stomach, Chest, Head, Shoulders?
When did this happen?
How did it make you feel? (Circle your feelings)
Worried Scared Angry Sad Helpless
2
The Interrogation
Is this thought 100% true? Is there ANY other possibility?
Evidence FOR it
Evidence AGAINST it
3
Taming & Reframing
The New "Tamed" Thought:
New Feeling:
Calmer Braver Ready
Thought Reframing Game Thought Monster Blaster!
Official Training Manual
Mission Objective
Tame scary "Thought Monsters" by reframing them! Once a thought is tamed, it loses its power. Blast them into the zone!
Your Equipment
Monster Thought Cards
The Case File Worksheet
The Blaster Zone Mat
How to Play
1 Pick a **Monster Card** and read it aloud.
2 Use your detective skills to find the **Truth**.
3 Write a **Tamed Thought** on the back of the card.
4 **BLAST IT!** Toss the card into the Blaster Zone.
The Blaster Zone
Place Tamed Monsters Here to Deactivate
Monster Target Cards
Target identified by Detective Agency
✂️ Cut along dashed lines
Target #01: "The Fail-Whale"
"If I get one question wrong on the homework, I'm dumb and will fail everything."
Write Reframing on Back
Target #02: "The Loner-Goner"
"Nobody wants to play with me at recess; I'm always going to be alone."
Write Reframing on Back
Target #03: "The Disaster-Master"
"This presentation is going to be a total disaster; everyone will laugh at me."
Write Reframing on Back
Target #04: "The Math-Moth"
"I can't do this one math problem, so I'm just bad at math forever."
Write Reframing on Back
My Thought Journey Discussion Guide Mission Debrief
Final Case Reflection: Thought Journey
01 What was one thing you learned today about your thoughts?
02 What was the hardest part about spotting or blasting a monster?
03 Which tool helped you the most today?
The Case File
The Blaster Game
How ready do you feel to handle monsters this week?
Not Ready I'm a Master!
1
2
3
4
5
04 Final Question: What's one real monster you'll watch for?
Mission Accomplished!
Remember, every time you challenge a thought, you get stronger.
