Introductory Lesson for Class Catalyst: Grades 3-5

Materials Needed

Devices for each student to check in at the end of the lesson
Intro Lesson for Class Catalyst Slide Deck Grades 3-5

Learning Targets

I can log in to Class Catalyst and complete a check-in.
I can understand what Class Catalyst is and how it will benefit me.

Agenda (20-25 Minutes)

Introduce Class Catalyst: What’s a Check-in? (2 minutes)
Why Are We Using This? (5-8 minutes)
How Does a Check-in Work? (5-10 minutes)
Check-in Practice (5 minutes)

Key Vocabulary

Self-awareness:

Understanding how you feel – including your emotions and how your body feels. This includes knowing your strengths and weaknesses and being proud of who you are.

Teachers’ Guide

(Note: You will need to use the Slide Deck Grades 3-5 to guide you through this lesson.)

1. Introduce Class Catalyst: What’s a Check-in? (2 minutes): Slides 1-3

Explain that students will use an online tool called Class Catalyst daily to check in with themselves, see how they feel, connect with their teachers, and complete a mindful activity to prepare for the day.

Option to use the following script:

This year we will be using the Class Catalyst tool which gives you a chance to notice how you feel, helps you get ready for a day of learning, and lets you communicate privately and safely with your teacher.

2. Why Are We Using This? (5-7 minutes): Slides 4-6

Ask students to think about a time when they felt mad, sad, worried, or another feeling and they had to come to school.

Did you feel ready to learn? Why or why not?

Were you focused and calm?

Invite a few volunteers to share their thoughts with the class.

Share that it is difficult to focus and learn when feeling angry, upset, anxious, or any other strong feeling.

Option to use the following script:

When you have other things on your mind and don’t feel relaxed or calm, it is hard to pay attention to lessons and learn new things.

Explain that a daily check-in using Class Catalyst gives them the power to manage their feelings, learn strategies to get ready to learn, and allows them to write a note to their teacher and share anything they’d like.

Option to use the following script:

Class Catalyst helps you pay attention to how you feel and gives you strategies to relax and focus so you can be ready to learn and take on the day. Using Class Catalyst every day will give you the power and confidence to manage your feelings and safely share your needs, thoughts, or concerns with your teacher so you can concentrate on learning.

3. How Does a Check-in Work? (5-10 minutes): Slides 7-13

Share that you will walk students through a check-in.

Slide 7: Explain that they will first log on to Class Catalyst via whichever platform the school uses.*

Slide 7: Share that the first thing they’ll see when they start their check-in is their name and a greeting. Communicate that they will click the next button, choose their class, and click next again.

Slide 8: Explain that the check-in begins with a moment to pause and breathe.

Let’s all try it now. Match your breath to the clouds’s movement. In and out, in and out. You may be wondering why you need to pause and breathe. What’s the point of that?

Share that taking a moment to do nothing but breathe allows their bodies and minds to focus on the present moment and start to calm down and focus.

Slides 9-10: Explain that the first part of the check-in is to notice their energy level.

If you’re feeling tired or moving slowly, you might click on one bar of the battery. It’s really hard to learn when you just want to sleep!

If you’re not sleepy, but just want to sit and relax, you might click on two bars of the battery. You’re ready to learn!

If you’re feeling pretty good and can sit or move your body, then you might click on three bars of battery. This is a prime energy level for learning!

If you can’t sit still and feel like you need to move your body, you might click on all four bars of the battery. It’s really hard to learn when you want to run and jump!

Share that their energy level affects their readiness to learn, so it’s important to be honest and true to themselves.

Invite students to think about their current energy level and share what it is with a partner if they feel comfortable.

Slides 11-12: Share that the next prompt will ask students to think about how they feel. Discuss each emoji and the feeling(s) it matches. Share other similar emotions that could match each emoji and give examples of when they might feel that way.

Angry-also mad, frustrated, or annoyed. You might feel this way if someone teases you or you don’t understand a class assignment.

Sad-also overwhelmed, exhausted, or disappointed. You might feel this way if you’ve been left out of an activity or lost something or someone important.

Gloomy-also worried or nervous. You might feel this way if you have an upcoming test or performance and feel uncertain about it.

Okay-also fine or good. This one is not quite happy but doing alright. You might feel this way if you’re a little tired or a little annoyed about your favorite shirt being dirty.

Happy-also calm or cheerful. You might feel this way if you got to school on time, had a good breakfast, or had fun with a friend or family member.

Overjoyed-also super excited or energetic. You might feel this way if you’re really looking forward to something or just received exciting news and cannot think about anything else.

Explain that being aware and recognizing their feelings helps them understand whether or not they’re ready to learn. This awareness also helps them find the strategy or tool that will help them calm down, focus, and shift their mindset so they can learn.

Slide 12: Point to the white space and explain that students can share anything with their teacher here. Communicate that this could be sharing something that happened to them at home, letting their teacher know why they’re feeling the way they are, asking them a question, or simply sharing a story.

This part isn’t required, but it is a fantastic way to tell your teacher something if it feels weird or uncomfortable for you to say it in person or in front of other kids. Your teacher will get your message and can write one back to you.

Slide 13: Share that the last part of the check-in is choosing an activity to help them relax, focus, and prepare for the rest of the day. Explain that there are a variety of activities from writing and yoga to breathing and movement.

You won’t see the same activities every day. The activities are based on your mood and energy level.

If you’re feeling energetic and can’t stop moving, your activity choices would be centered on calming your body down so you’re ready to learn.

If you’re feeling tired and sad, your activity choices would be based on moving your body and calming your mind so you’re ready to learn.

If you’re feeling happy and focused then you would just pick an activity to practice for when you need it or as a way to transition to the next part of your day.