Lesson Plan | Socioemotional Learning | Life at night

Objectives

Duration: (10 minutes)

The purpose of the objectives section is to clearly outline what students are expected to learn and achieve during the lesson on 'Life at Night.' By establishing specific goals, the teacher sets a framework for student engagement and helps them understand the importance of both the content and their emotional responses. This section prepares students to explore their own experiences and feelings related to nighttime, while also considering the roles of others in their community and the natural world.

Main Objectives

1. Students will identify and describe activities that occur at night, including personal bedtime routines and nocturnal animals.

2. Students will explore the emotions associated with nighttime routines and the work of people who operate during the night, fostering empathy and understanding.

Introduction

Duration: (15 minutes)

Emotional Warmup Activity

Breathe in the Night

Guided Breathing Exercise

1. Ask students to sit comfortably in their chairs, feet flat on the ground, and hands resting in their laps.

2. Guide students to close their eyes gently or lower their gaze to a neutral point.

3. Instruct them to take a deep breath in through their nose for a count of four, filling their bellies like balloons.

4. Pause for a moment and then have them exhale slowly through their mouths for a count of six, releasing all the air as if they are blowing out a candle.

5. Repeat this breathing pattern five times, encouraging students to focus on the rhythm of their breath.

6. After the fifth breath, invite students to slowly open their eyes and bring their awareness back to the classroom.

Content Contextualization

Nighttime is special for many reasons. It's a time when families come together to wind down from a busy day, share stories, and prepare for sleep. Did you know that many people work while we are sleeping, keeping our streets safe or helping others, like doctors and security officers? Furthermore, the night is alive with the sounds of animals that thrive in darkness, like owls hooting or leopards prowling. By exploring life at night, students can understand the importance of these routines and roles in our community, while also recognising their own feelings about bedtime and the calming rituals it encompasses. This is a journey of discovering not just activities that happen after sunset, but also the emotions that come with them, such as comfort, security, and curiosity.

Development

Duration: (60 minutes)

Theory Guide

Duration: (25 minutes)

1. Life at night encompasses various activities, routines, and phenomena that are often overlooked during the day. This includes bedtime routines such as bathing, brushing teeth, reading stories, and snuggling into bed, all of which help create a sense of comfort and security for children as they wind down from their day.

2. Many individuals work during the night, providing essential services that keep our communities safe and functioning. For instance, security officers ensure the safety of our streets, doctors care for patients in hospitals, pilots fly planes that travel to different cities, and truck drivers transport goods. Each of these professions plays a crucial role in the social fabric of our lives, even while we sleep.

3. Nighttime also showcases fascinating wildlife, with nocturnal animals that thrive in darkness. These creatures, such as owls, hamsters, leopards, and jackals, have unique adaptations that allow them to hunt, navigate, and survive in low light. Discussing these animals can ignite curiosity and deepen children's understanding of nature.

4. Emotional experiences associated with nighttime include feelings of comfort, fear, curiosity, and excitement. By recognising these emotions, students can learn to express their feelings about night and sleep effectively, fostering emotional intelligence.

Activity with Socioemotional Feedback

Duration: (30 minutes)

Noite de Histórias

In 'Noite de Histórias,' students will share their personal bedtime stories or create imaginative stories about nocturnal animals and people who work at night. They will work in small groups to foster collaboration and develop their storytelling skills while connecting their emotions and experiences with the topic.

1. Divide students into small groups of 4-5.

2. Provide each group with paper and markers to illustrate their stories.

3. Instruct students to take turns sharing either their own bedtime routines or inventing a story about a nocturnal animal or a night worker.

4. Encourage students to use expressive language and incorporate emotions they feel about nighttime in their stories.

5. After all groups have shared their stories, bring the class back together for a brief discussion.

Discussion and Group Feedback

Encourage students to express how sharing stories in groups made them feel, highlighting the importance of connection and empathy. Conclude by reinforcing that sharing experiences can help them understand their own feelings better and feel less alone in their nighttime routines.

Conclusion

Duration: (15 minutes)

Reflection and Emotional Regulation

In this reflection activity, students will gather in a circle and take turns sharing one challenge they faced during the lesson related to emotions or sharing their stories. The teacher will guide the discussion by prompting them to think about how they managed those emotions and what helped them feel better. Students will also be encouraged to identify any strategies they used to cope, such as talking to a friend or taking deep breaths. After sharing, students will write down their thoughts in a journal, focusing on what they learned about their emotions and how they can apply these strategies in the future.

Objective: The objective of this subsection is to encourage self-assessment and emotional regulation among students. By reflecting on their experiences, students will identify effective strategies to handle challenging emotions, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves and enhancing their emotional intelligence within the context of nighttime routines and their personal feelings.

Glimpse into the Future

To conclude the lesson, the teacher will lead a discussion about the importance of setting personal and academic goals related to nighttime routines and emotional well-being. Students will be encouraged to think about one thing they can do to improve their bedtime routine or one way they can express their feelings when they feel anxious at night. This goal-setting will help students connect their learning to their daily lives and provide them with a focused path to improve their self-management skills.

Setting Goals:

1. Create a calming bedtime routine that helps manage feelings of anxiety about sleeping.

2. Share emotions with family members about nighttime activities and how they feel about them.

3. Identify and explore the role of a night worker in their community to enhance social awareness.

4. Observe and learn more about nocturnal animals to expand their curiosity and knowledge.

5. Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing every night before bed. Objective: The objective of this subsection is to strengthen students' autonomy and the practical application of their learning. By setting personal and academic goals, students will be empowered to take charge of their emotional well-being and academic progress, ensuring continuity in their development related to the lessons on emotional intelligence and life skills.