Mood Lab Experiment

In this inquiry-driven sequence, students explore behavioral activation, investigating how their actions influence their emotions. They learn to distinguish between pleasure and mastery activities, conduct personal experiments to track mood changes, and create a personalized evidence-based plan for mood regulation.

The Loop of Life

Students participate in a discussion and mapping activity to visualize the cycle between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They identify how doing nothing often leads to feeling worse (the downward spiral) and how small actions can reverse this.

The Fuel of Fun and Pride

Students distinguish between activities that feel good in the moment (Pleasure) and those that make us feel accomplished (Mastery). Through a sorting workshop, they brainstorm examples for both categories, understanding that a balanced diet of experiences includes both fun and achievement.

The Do It Anyway Experiment

This lesson introduces the concept of 'acting opposite' to an emotion. Students design a short experiment to test the hypothesis that engaging in a positive activity—even when they don't feel like it—can improve their mood rating on a 1-10 scale. They prepare a data collection sheet for a homework experiment.

Mood Pattern Detectives

Students review the results of their personal experiments or case study data to identify patterns in how specific activities impact mood. They discuss the variability of results (what works for one person may not work for another) and begin curating their personal 'top hits' for mood improvement.

Mood Mastery Lab

Synthesizing their learning, students create a 'Break the Glass' emergency plan for days when they feel low or anxious. They select their most effective pleasure and mastery activities and write specific implementation intentions (If I feel X, then I will do Y).