Energy Mapping Worksheet Energy Mapping
Investigation 1.1: The Saturday Snapshot
Investigator
Date
The Saturday Hypothesis
Think back to your last Saturday. We often think our energy levels are just random, but they are usually tied directly to what we are doing.
"I felt tired at 2:00 PM because I hadn't moved from the couch in three hours." vs. "I felt tired at 2:00 PM because I just finished a basketball game." Both are "tired," but they feel very different.
Mapping Your Energy
Energy Level (0-10)
8 AM 10 AM 12 PM 2 PM 4 PM 6 PM 8 PM 10 PM
Draw a line showing how your energy fluctuated. Mark an "X" at your highest and lowest points.
The Investigation Analysis
1. What were you doing during your "Peak" energy point?
2. What were you doing during your "Valley" energy point?
3. HYPOTHESIS: How did your actions influence your mood that day?
Loop Slides THE ACTION LOOP
How doing changes feeling
The Motivation Myth
Most people think it works like this:
"I'll wait until I feel like it before I do it."
Spoiler Alert: Feelings are slow. Actions are fast.
The "Outside-In" Strategy
Inside-Out
Waiting for your mood to change so you have the energy to act.
Status: Very Difficult
Outside-In
Using an action to create a spark that changes your mood .
Status: Science-Backed
The Downward Spiral
Feel Tired / Low
Less Activity
Stay Home / Isolate
Mood Drops Lower
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➶
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It's a loop. But loops can be broken.
THE BIG QUESTION
If you feel like staying in bed all day, what is one small thing that could break the cycle?
Action Loop Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Lesson 1: The Action Mood Loop
Behavioral Activation Unit
Objective
Students will define the "outside-in" approach to mood regulation and identify how specific behaviors reinforce positive or negative emotional cycles.
Pacing
Hook 10 min
Instruction 15 min
Activity 15 min
Debrief 10 min
1. The Hook: Saturday Snapshot
Hand out the Energy Mapping Worksheet . Ask students to reflect on their last Saturday without judging their mood. The goal is to see the "shape" of their energy.
"Look for the peaks and valleys. Don't just think about how you felt—think about what was happening right before that feeling. Were you scrolling on your phone for 2 hours? Were you outside? Did you just have a meal?"
2. The Motivation Myth
Use the Loop Slides to challenge the idea that we need to wait for motivation. Introduce the concept of "Action First."
Discussion Prompt:
"How many of you have ever felt like you didn't want to go to practice or a rehearsal, but once you got there and started moving, you felt better? That's behavioral activation in a nutshell."
3. Mapping the Loop
Explain the "Downward Spiral" vs. the "Upward Spiral." Have students look at their Saturday graph again and try to identify a 3-step loop they experienced.
Example: Boredom → Scrolling phone → Feeling more lethargic.
Key Terminology
Outside-In
Changing feelings by changing physical behaviors first.
The Motivation Trap
The false belief that we must "feel like it" before we can do it.
Common Misconceptions
"Is this just 'fake it till you make it'?"
No. It's not about pretending to be happy. It's about recognizing that activity provides physiological shifts that eventually pull mood along with it. It's biology, not just "positivity."
Mystery Log Activity The Mystery Log
Investigation 2.1: Case of the Hidden Mood
Agent Name
Secret File
The Briefing
"We found this activity log in a student's locker. There are no names and no mood ratings, but the activities tell a story. Your job: piece together the emotional puzzle."
Time Activity Recorded 7:30 AM Slept through alarm. Missed breakfast. 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM Sat in back of Science and Math. Didn't turn in homework. 12:00 PM Sat alone in library. Ate a bag of chips. 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Doodled on notebook. Avoided eye contact with group partners. 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM Went straight home. Played video games in dark room. 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Ignored 3 texts from friends. Watched YouTube until phone died.
Evidence Report
Estimated Mood (0-10)
(0 = Lowest, 10 = Best Day Ever)
Top 3 "Clues" for this rating:
The Detective's Theory
If you could go back to 12:00 PM and change ONE action in this log to improve the student's mood, what would it be?
Why would that specific change help?
Activity Mood Log Template Activity & Mood Log
The Data Collection Phase
Student
Date
How to Log Objectively
Record what you actually did in that hour. Avoid judging it as "good" or "bad." Just the facts! Use the mood scale to rate how you felt overall during that block.
The Mood Scale
0 - 10
0 = Miserable | 10 = Amazing
Time Block Primary Activity Mood (0-10) 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
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| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM |
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| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
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| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
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| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM |
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| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
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| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
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| 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
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| 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
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| 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM |
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| 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
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Honesty > Perfection. If you miss an hour, just pick back up as soon as you can.
Habit Tracking Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Lesson 2: Tracking Daily Habits
Facilitating the Mystery Log
Students act as detectives. The goal isn't just to guess the mood, but to evidence-base their guess.
The "Reveal"
"This character is 'Jordan.' Jordan isn't just lazy. They are stuck in a loop. Notice how the activity log shows almost zero social interaction and zero physical movement. Every action on that list is a 'Depletor' (which we will learn about next lesson)."
The Logging Workshop
Key Instruction: Objective Data
Remind students that they are scientists observing their own lives. Instead of writing "Felt gross," write "Sat on phone for 60 mins." The feeling goes in the mood column; the action goes in the activity column.
The "Shame-Free" Zone
Explicitly state that no log is "bad." A day full of sleep and YouTube is still valid data. We cannot change what we don't honestly track.
The Assignment
Students should track their activities for the next 2-3 days (including at least one weekend day if possible). They will bring this data to Lesson 3.
Teacher Tip:
Set a daily 2-minute "check-in" time in class where students can back-fill their logs while the memory is fresh.
Mood Detective Activity Mood Detective Agency
Case #104: The Mystery of the Perpetual Nap
Status ACTIVE INVESTIGATION
The Client Profile
Leo, 8th Grade
Reports feeling "exhausted" and "meh" all day, every day.
Evidence: Leo's Typical Sunday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Slept / Laid in bed
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Sat on couch watching Netflix
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Took a 2-hour nap
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Ate dinner in room / Scrolled TikTok
TOTAL SLEEP 13 HOURS
Investigator's Findings
Leo thinks he is tired because he needs more sleep. As a mood detective, what is your alternative theory?
Leo has zero "Nourishing" activities in his log. What is ONE activity he could add that might actually give him energy?
Nourisher vs. Depletor Sort
Label each activity as N (Nourisher) or D (Depletor).
Walking the dog
Scrolling Comments
Finishing a project
Avoiding a phone call
Texting a good friend
Staying in pajamas
Personal Data Analysis Worksheet My Data Analysis
Phase 3: Connecting the Dots
Analyst
Step 1: Sorting My Log
Look at your completed Activity Mood Logs . Identify the three activities that were associated with your highest mood ratings and the three associated with your lowest .
High Mood (Nourishers)
Activity 1
Rate
Activity 2
Rate
Activity 3
Rate
Low Mood (Depletors)
Activity 1
Rate
Activity 2
Rate
Activity 3
Rate
Step 2: My Analysis
1. Look for patterns. Is there a specific TIME OF DAY when your mood is usually lower?
2. Did any "Depletor" activities actually feel good in the moment but leave you feeling worse later?
3. HYPOTHESIS: If you swapped ONE Depletor for ONE Nourisher tomorrow, what would it be?
Avoidance Slides The Avoidance Trap
Short-term Relief, Long-term Trouble
Why do we Avoid?
The Trade-Off
Short Term
RELIEF
"Ahhh... I don't have to do it."
Long Term
PRESSURE
"Oh no... now it's late AND I feel worse."
Rest or Avoidance?
Rest
Choosing to stop because you need energy. You feel recharged afterward.
Avoidance
Choosing to stop because you are anxious or overwhelmed. You feel heavier afterward.
Choose Your Path
Avoidance is like a credit card: You get the relief now, but you have to pay it back with interest later.
Let's Play: The Avoidance Adventure
Avoidance Adventure Worksheet Choose Your Path
Case Study: The Science Project
Name
The Situation
"It's 4:00 PM on a Tuesday. You have a Science project due tomorrow that you haven't started. You feel a heavy weight in your chest, your energy is a 2/10, and the couch looks very inviting. What do you do?"
Path A: Avoidance
"I'll just do it later tonight."
Short-Term Outcome
You watch 3 hours of YouTube. The anxiety disappears for a moment. You feel relaxed .
Immediate Reward: +4 Mood
Long-Term Outcome (9:00 PM)
The project is still there. Now you have less time. You feel guilty and even more exhausted.
Final Mood: 1/10
Path B: Action
"I'll just work for 10 minutes."
Short-Term Outcome
Starting is hard . You feel frustrated and want to quit. It doesn't feel good yet.
Immediate Cost: -2 Mood
Long-Term Outcome (5:00 PM)
You finished the outline. You feel a sense of accomplishment and the 'weight' is gone.
Final Mood: 7/10
The Verdict
Which path felt better in the first 30 minutes? Why?
Which path felt better at the end of the night? Why?
Life Pie Chart Worksheet The Life Pie
Activity 5.1: Values vs. Reality
Name
Behavioral Activation isn't just about being "busy." It's about doing things that matter to you . When our actions align with our values, our mood goes up. When they don't, we feel empty or drained.
How I Spend My Time Now
Draw slices for: School, Sleep, Phone/Social, Hobbies, Friends, Family.
My Ideal "Values" Pie
If you were living your best life, what would these slices look like?
The Comparison Report
1. What is the BIGGEST difference between your two pie charts?
2. Which slice in your "Current" pie is a Depletor for you?
3. What is ONE value (like Friendship, Creativity, or Health) that needs a bigger slice?
Values Interests Brainstorm Worksheet The Fuel List
Activity 5.2: Matching Values to Actions
Name
Turning Values into Actions
A value is something you believe is important (e.g., "Friendship"). An action is how you live that value (e.g., "Calling a friend"). Brainstorm at least 3 actions for each value category below.
Health & Movement
Example: Walking the dog for 15 mins
Creativity & Mastery
Example: Practicing guitar for 10 mins
Connection & Social
Example: Texting a friend a meme
Small Wins (Chores/School)
Example: Clearing my desk
One Small Step
Of everything on this page, which ONE action feels most possible to do today?
Write it here and commit...