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Lesson 1: Independent Activities

  1. Write on the chalkboard the steps from the COLD, HOT, and COOL responses. Ask students to form small groups of three or four students. Ask each student to act out either COLD, HOT or COOL responses and to discuss the benefits or drawbacks. Instruct them to coach each other.
  2. Have students keep a journal and record instances of how they react to unclear criticism. Instruct them to record the LOOKING, THINKING, AND ACTING elements of their responses.
    • Have students bring their journals to class to discuss the negative consequences or benefits of their COLD, HOT, and COOL responses and to roleplay these responses.
    • In cases where they reacted in a COLD or HOT way, have students roleplay the alternative COOL response and identify its benefits. This will help them learn from their experiences and become effective in consistently using the COOL response.
    • When students report successfully using the COOL response in a real-life situation, you may want to reward these students in some fun, creative way-for instance, with an "I'm COOL" certificate, badge, book cover, stick-on insignia, T-shirt, etc. Or you may wish to order BeCool sunglasses, which are available through the publisher.
  3. Have students discuss TV shows, movies or real-life situations they've witnessed where people reacted to unclear criticism with a COLD, HOT or COOL response. Have students:
    • Identify the LOOKING, THINKING AND ACTING elements of these responses.
    • Roleplay these situations.
    • Identify the negative consequences or benefits in each case.
  4. Have students form small groups and make up a rap song about real-life or fictional unclear criticism with the theme of BeCool. If possible, have them try to compose separate verses about the COLD response, the HOT response, and finally, the COOL response.

For students with special needs:

  1. Match these students with the higher-functioning students in the above exercises so they can benefit from peer tutoring. Have the students practice breathing deeply, calming down and asking to clarify information when they do not understand it and accepting criticism when it is fair.
  2. Have students cut out pictures from magazines, newspapers or comic books of people who look COLD, HOT or COOL. Have students create three classroom collages of these pictures. Use these collages as a reference during discussion and roleplay of COLD, HOT, and COOL responses.
  3. Have students cut out pictures from magazines, newspapers or comic books of people who look as if they're being criticized. Have students make up stories about why these people are being criticized, then have students discuss and roleplay how these people use a BeCool response to deal with the unclear criticism.