Teaching Tool - Connecting Thoughts, Emotions and Actions (Grade 6)
The purpose of these resources is to help educators teach the interconnections between a person's thoughts, emotions and actions. The activities also help to explain the difference between positive and negative thinking and its potential impact on a person's mental health.
Learning goals
- I will gain a clear understanding of the interconnectedness between emotions, managing thoughts and expressing feelings
- I will recognize my emotional reactions to events and learn how to manage my behaviour appropriately when experiencing strong emotions
- I will identify the potential impact of positive and negative thinking on mental health
Core knowledge content
Core knowledge content provides the teacher with the background information needed to prepare and teach this health class.
Ontario curriculum expectations
Grades 1-8: Health and Physical Education (2019)
- D1.5 demonstrates an understanding of the interconnections between a person's thoughts, emotions and actions, and the potential impact of positive and negative thinking on mental health. This specific expectation is also connected with the social emotional learning expectations A1.1 Emotion, A1.5 Self and A1.6 Thinking.
Supplementary resources
- Create a feelings book: This activity encourages children to strengthen their ability to manage their behaviour when they are experiencing strong emotions through creating a 'Feelings Book'.
- Emotional well-being education activities: This resource has a collection of emotional well-being education activities that aim to help educators develop an understanding of strategies for emotional well-being. Refer to the activities 'Your Growing Brain and Spin the Wheel of Emotions'.
- Facing our feelings and stomping on stress: This lesson was created to teach students about recognizing their emotional reactions to events and thoughts.
- Personal power: This lesson was created to teach students how they can choose their emotional reactions to events and thoughts.
Virtual learning
- Identification and Management of Emotions: This resource provides activities that help to identify emotions, ways to manage and express feelings, and model and practise responding to others with compassion while honouring social and cultural identities.
Curriculum connections
Writing - Ontario Language Curriculum (2006): Personal power and mood mixers collage
- 1.2 generate ideas about a potential topic and identify those most appropriate for the purpose
- 1.6 determine whether the ideas and information they have gathered are relevant, appropriate and adequate for the purpose
Visual arts - Ontario Arts Curriculum (2009): Create a feelings book
- D1.3 use elements of design in artwork to communicate ideas, messages and understandings
- D1.4 use a variety of materials, tools, techniques and technologies to determine solutions to design challenges