Helping middle school students understand self-regulation is essential for their emotional well-being and decision-making.

This blog post includes an engaging, easy-to-implement lesson plan centered around a printable PDF activity, “What I Can Control” Interactive Worksheet. This resource is tailored to help students differentiate between what is within their control and what is not, fostering a sense of empowerment and self-awareness.

Why Teach Self-Regulation?

Self-regulation is the ability to manage emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations. Teaching students to recognize what is within their control helps them:

• Reduce stress and anxiety by focusing on actionable steps.
• Improve emotional resilience and adaptability.
• Develop problem-solving skills and a positive mindset.

By reinforcing this skill, educators equip students with strategies to navigate challenges and respond to situations constructively.

Related resources: See our full list of social skills lessons.

How to Teach Self-Regulation in Middle School

Teaching self-regulation requires interactive discussions, real-world scenarios, and reflective activities. The following strategies help students build this skill:

• Identifying Controllable vs. Uncontrollable Factors: Teach students how to recognize what they can and cannot control in different situations.
• Emotional Management Techniques: Introduce breathing exercises, mindfulness, and positive reframing to help students manage reactions.
• Hands-On Activities: Use interactive worksheets and group discussions to reinforce self-regulation strategies through practice.

Our free lesson plan provides structured exercises to help students develop and apply these skills.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan: Teaching Self-Regulation

Materials: “What I Can Control” Interactive Worksheet, scissors, glue.

Objective: Students will identify aspects of their lives that they can and cannot control, enhancing their self-regulation skills.

1. Discussion: Introduction to Self-Regulation (5 Minutes)

Begin with a class discussion on self-regulation and explain how recognizing what we can and cannot control helps us react more positively.

Here are some discussion questions:

• Why is it important to recognize what we can and cannot control?
• How can focusing on what we control help us manage emotions?

Use real-life examples to help students connect with the concept.

2. Worksheet Activity: ‘What I Can Control’ (15-20 Minutes)

Introduce students to the “What I Can Control” Interactive Worksheet:

• Distribute the worksheet and explain that it contains different situations.
• Students will cut out and sort items into two categories: ‘What I Can Control’ and ‘What I Can’t Control.’

3. Group Discussion: Applying Self-Regulation (10-15 Minutes)

Have students share their insights. Discuss how focusing on what we can control leads to better emotional well-being.

4. Reflection & Goal-Setting (5 Minutes)

Wrap up with a personal reflection activity to encourage students to think about how they can apply this understanding in their daily lives.

5. Post-Lesson Activities

• Encourage students to keep the worksheet as a reminder.
• Suggest journaling as a way to reflect on daily experiences related to control.

By engaging in the What I Can Control Interactive Worksheet, students gain valuable insights into managing their reactions and emotions, a skill that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Want More? Access Additional Free Resources!

We offer a free 30-day trial where you can use our thousands of video lessons, worksheets, and games to teach social skills like self-regulation. Here’s an example video modeling lesson for teaching self-regulation from our curriculum: