Lesson Plan 3: In My Control

Knowing what is in and out of our control is an important part of responding well to challenging situations. In this lesson, students will learn how to identify when circumstances are in or out of their control and how this differentiation can help them in their own lives.

Grade level: 3 - 5

Prep time: 10 min

Lesson Duration: 55 min + Optional Extension Activities (30 min)

Learning Outcomes:

It is expected that students will:

• Connect to past experiences of a terrible/horrible day
• Differentiate between circumstances that are in and out of the control of a story character
• Identify things that are in and out of their control in their own lives

Lesson includes:

• Activate, Acquire, and Apply Activities 
• IN or OUT of My Control’ (Printable)

Reading Comprehension Questions include:

• Do you think Alex responded well to all of these situations? How could he have responded differently?
• Why is it important to recognize what things are in our control and what things are out of our control

Materials required (not included)

• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
• Anchor chart or whiteboard for recording ideas as a class

NB: Purchase includes access to downloadable resources for 6 months.