Teacher Notes
The first lesson of each of the five BeCool Modules introduces the BeCool Process: LOOK COOL, THINK COOL and ACT COOL. If you have purchased more than one module in the BeCool series and have already introduced your students to the BeCool paradigm, you may choose to ignore or spend less time with activities in this lesson related to the process.
Your more capable students will quickly learn the three "styles" of response and the benefits of each. Your more challenged students may have more difficulty. For this group, the goal should be that they become aware that they have a choice in the way they respond to anger other than running away or becoming angry themselves.
Video Synopsis
Eduardo rushes through a door and bumps into Tyler and his girlfriend. Now Tyler is angry. We see Eduardo modeling three ways he can respond to Tyler's anger: being COLD or withdrawn, being HOT or angry and being COOL or assertive. In the BeCool response, Eduardo calms himself and realizes that Tyler's anger is understandable and fair. Eduardo then "accepts" responsibility for bumping into Tyler, "apologizes" to him, and "makes amends by picking up his books.
Introduction
Before viewing the video, discuss the following. Paraphrase and adapt the questions and consent to meet the ability level of your students.
How many of you have had someone be angry with you?
Yes, it's something that happens to all of us. The teacher should share with the cases a time when someone was mad at him/her for something and describe how it felt.
What are some of the reasons people get angry at other people?
Review reasons listed in "Instructional Content."
How do you know when a person's anger is fair?
Sometimes a person can be angry with us for something we did. We say their anger is fair. Sometimes they can be angry at us for something we really didn't do. We say their anger is unfair (See "Instructional Content" for more information on fair and unfair anger).
Who can tell us when somebody was angry at them for something they did (fair anger) and for something they didn't do (unfair anger)?
Ask students not to share anything that would embarrass them.
Video Introduction
Eduardo slams open a door and bumps into Tyler and his girlfriend. Now Tyler is mad. We're going to see three ways Eduardo reacts to Tyier's anger. COLD or withdrawn, HOT or angry, and COOL or assertive.