NCJ Number
202199
Date Published
2003
Length
79 pages
Annotation
This curriculum is designed to help elementary and middle-school students better understand their anger, so they can make positive choices in their behavior and build constructive relationships.
Abstract
This 12-week curriculum is intended for a small group (six to eight participants) of elementary or middle-school children. The group should convene weekly with the same group members and facilitators attending each session. The curriculum is designed to be used in consecutive order to build upon skills learned from previous lessons. The material provided in this manual includes objectives for each lesson, a list of supplies needed for the various activities, descriptions of tasks to be done prior to the start of the lesson, background notes for the leader, a warm-up activity, an explanation of the various learning activities, and a closing activity. The key concepts that underlie the lessons include the identification of common triggers of anger; taking responsibility for mistakes; identifying positive and healthy ways to keep from losing control; exploring how participants mask painful feelings with anger; discerning how people provoke participants as a means of control; empowering group members as peacemakers; recognizing how family members express anger and how this can influence how participants express their anger; and a better understanding of the motivation and harm of bullying. The primary objectives of the lesson activities are to establish trust within the group; to practice the stating of feelings and the positive results being sought from the other person; to develop positive and realistic problem solving skills; to learn and practice five key steps in controlling anger; to generate ideas for creating peace in the world; to explore the natural consequences of choices; and to practice diffusing situations through the content and style of communication.