Anxiety Thermometer & Action Plan

Anxiety can be terrifying for young people, especially for those that don’t understand the feelings and emotions related to this experience. Increased awareness of feelings and symptoms related to anxiety can be powerful in tackling its impact. The more we’re able to support our kids in their understanding, the more we can diffuse the power of their anxiety.


Elementary Lesson

Handouts for this lesson:

  1. Anxiety Cheat Sheet
  2. Anxiety Thermometer & Action Plan

Instructions: Provide and review the handouts with students.

  1. Explain various common symptoms related to anxiety.

  2. Normalize anxiety and the ways it might look different for each person.

  3. Assist and support students in identifying how their anxiety looks.

  4. Assist and support students in identifying ways of coping to minimize anxiety responses at the various anxiety ratings.

  5. Practice using the anxiety scale with students on a daily basis, while anxiety is at its different ratings to support their understanding.


Secondary Lesson

Handouts for this lesson:

  1. Anxiety Cheat Sheet
  2. Anxiety Thermometer & Action Plan

Instructions: Provide and review the handouts with students.

  1. Explain various common symptoms related to anxiety.

  2. Normalize anxiety and the ways it might look different for each person.

  3. Assist and support students in identifying how their anxiety looks.

  4. Assist and support students in identifying ways of coping to minimize anxiety responses at the various anxiety ratings.

  5. Practice using the anxiety scale with students on a daily basis, while anxiety is at its different ratings to support their understanding.