A two-page worksheet that helps pupils explore new or unfamiliar situations that are making them feel nervous, anxious or scared — and recognise that worry and excitement often overlap more than they think.

Page one introduces the idea that nervousness and excitement can feel similar, and asks pupils to name a situation that’s worrying them before sorting their thoughts into a Venn diagram: things that are purely worrying, purely exciting, or a bit of both.

Page two builds this into a support plan, with space to record:

Things I can do to help me when I’m feeling worried, anxious or scared
People who can help me
Things I can do to help me relax
What’s one thing you have learned from this activity?

This is especially useful ahead of transitions — a new school, new class, exams, trips, or any change to routine — where anxiety and anticipation are genuinely difficult to tell apart. Useful for transition planning, anxiety support plans, 1:1 pastoral or ELSA sessions, or as a take-home resource before a known change.

Print and go — no prep required. Part of the growing Pastoral & Inclusion Toolkit series of practical, trauma-informed resources for SEND, behaviour, and inclusion teams.