Lesson #T5A: Amygdala— the Emotional Elephant Time: 50 minutes Overview This lesson covers Session One of Emotional Competence—an indicator of thriving. Young people begin the lesson thinking about this emotional elephant called the Amygdala. The Amygdala connects the brain with the senses and is the brain’s center for emotions. It is commonly in a tug-of-war with the Pre-Frontal Cortex of the brain, which is the zone of reason or judgment. In the lesson, youth start out by watching a tug-of-war video of an Emotional Elephant and it’s rider, in Sri-Lanka. As the session progresses, each young person draws a cartoon of a recent scenario where his/her own Elephant won the Tug-Of-War with the Rider. These cartoons are shared anonymously and form the basis for Freeze Drama in Session Two of Emotional Competence. The lesson concludes with a short clip of Dan Heath, author of Switch: Change When Change Is Hard, talking about the Chocolate Chip Cookie and Radish Experiment that demonstrates self-control is an exhaustible resource. Goal Youth learn that regulating one’s emotions is fundamentally tied to life success, and they form the intention to grow that skill during the adolescent opportunity of vast brain growth. Objectives By participating in this lesson, young people will: Learn scientific research about the emotional region of the brain (Amygdala) and common tug-of-wars with the judgment center (Pre-frontal Cortex). Reflect upon their own experiences when their emotions overcame reasoning. Unpack the meaning of emotional competence as an indicator of thriving. Identify personal growth opportunities and research-based tips for growing emotional competence.
So, scientists have studied human beings to learn tips or tricks for how some human beings control their emotional elephants to get their life goals. There are ways to help that emotional elephant want to go in the direction you set. We call it: “Smoothing the path for the elephant.” DEMONSTRATE (20 min) Draw Cartoons of (15 min) (5 min) Slide #4: When is it hard to control your emotions? Cartoon Time Facilitator gives instructions for making a cartoon drawing, similar to a storyboard. Say: Now let’s make cartoons. I want each of you to think about Emotional Competence and draw a cartoon of some exact scenario that happened recently, where you were in a Tug-Of-War between your Emotional Elephant and your reasoning Rider. Think of a scenario where your Elephant won the war and the Rider lost. Make 3 frames of the cartoon: Frame #1: Pre-Elephant Rampage; Frame #2: Elephant Rampage Frame #3: Post-Elephant Rampage. Label your cartoon with cartoon labels so someone else can understand the cartoon. Every frame must show what the Elephant said in your head and what the Rider said in your head. Keep it anonymous. I will be collecting them and using them tomorrow for our Freeze Drama. Say: Sharing of Cartoons (if time allows; can also be shuffled and repeated several times.) Now, I’ll collect all the cartoons, shuffle them and pass them out again. Everyone read a cartoon that you didn’t do. EXPERIENCE (8 min) Video: Self-Control is Exhausting! (4 min. video; 4 min. discussion) Slide #5: Self-Control is Exhausting! Say: These cartoons might have stirred something up in terms of how hard it is to resist that chocolate cake or how easy it is to get angry at your Mom when she gives you advice. Let’s watch this clip we call: Self-Control is Exhausting!
Ask (Post-clip): What interests or surprises you about this chocolate chip and radish experiment? Can you relate this challenge of self-control to your cartoons or your own life? Say: Self-control takes lots of practice and effort to become less draining. And, there are some tips that we’ll begin talking about now and in the next session. LEARN & LABEL (3 min) Share Tip #1: Ask for Help! Slide #6: Ask for Help When Pulling on Elephant’s Reins Say: As a first trick, The Rider asks for help when he is pulling on his Elephant’s reins. It’s okay to acknowledge it’s hard. The Rider doesn’t let his ego get in the way of asking for help. Those who meet their life dreams combine effort, with seeking help from others. Ask: So, what’s Tip #1? (Group chorus: Ask for help.) REFLECTION (3 min) Partners reflect on what was learned. Slide #7: Find a partner. Together, discover facts you will use from today… Facilitator might distribute the article: Elephant Inside Us, and have elbow partners highlight what was new, interesting or useful in today’s discussions. Thank young people for participating.