Anger Busters! Script

Introduction & Warm-Up: What Makes You Grumpy? (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important: our feelings! Can someone tell me one feeling they've had today?"

(Allow a few students to share. Validate all feelings.)

Teacher: "That's wonderful! We all have so many different feelings every day – happy, sad, excited, silly. And sometimes, we might feel a little... grumpy, or even angry. Take a look at our first slide! Anger Busters! Slide Deck"

(Display Slide 1: Anger Busters: Managing Our Feelings)

Teacher: "Today, we're going to become 'Anger Busters!' That means we'll learn how to understand anger and find smart ways to deal with it, so we can feel better faster!"

"Let's start with a quick chat. I want you to think about something that sometimes makes you feel a little grumpy or angry. It could be anything, like when your tower falls down, or someone takes your toy without asking, or maybe you don't get to go first. We're going to use our "What Makes You Grumpy?" Discussion Guide for this."

Understanding Anger (8 minutes)

(Display Slide 2: What is Anger?)

Teacher: "Look at this slide. Anger Busters! Slide Deck Anger is a really normal feeling. Everyone, even grown-ups, feels angry sometimes. It's like a signal that something isn't right. It's okay to feel angry, just like it's okay to feel happy or sad. But, it's really important that when we feel angry, we learn ways to handle it that don't hurt ourselves or others. We want to be safe and kind, even when we're upset."

(Display Slide 3: What Does Anger Feel Like?)

Teacher: "How does anger feel in your body? Does your tummy get a little achey? Does your heart beat super fast? Maybe your face gets hot, or your fists clench up tight, or you feel like stomping your feet or yelling?"

(Allow students to share physical sensations they notice when angry.)

Teacher: "Those are all normal ways our bodies tell us we're feeling angry! It's good to notice these feelings. When we notice them, we can start to use our 'Anger Buster' tools!"

(Display Slide 4: Anger Busters!)

Teacher: "This slide says 'Anger Busters!' These are special tricks and tools we can use to calm down when we start to feel angry. Instead of yelling or hitting, which can hurt feelings and bodies, we can choose an 'Anger Buster' to help us feel better without causing problems."

Calm-Down Toolbox Activity (12 minutes)

(Display Slide 5: My Calm-Down Toolbox)

Teacher: "Now, it's time to build our very own 'Calm-Down Toolbox'! Just like a builder has tools to fix things, we can have tools to help us fix our angry feelings. For this, we'll do the "Calm Down Toolbox" Activity."

"I want you to think about different things you can do when you feel angry to help yourself calm down. It could be taking three deep breaths, counting to ten, getting a drink of water, talking to a grown-up, drawing a picture, reading a book, or even squeezing a stress ball. There are so many ideas!"

"You're each going to get a "My Calm-Down Choices" Worksheet. On this worksheet, I want you to draw or write about at least three different 'Anger Busters' you can use when you feel angry. These are YOUR special tools!"

(Distribute worksheets and art supplies. Circulate and assist students as they work.)

Wrap-Up & Review (5 minutes)

(Display Slide 6: You're an Anger Buster!)

Teacher: "Wow, you've all created amazing Calm-Down Toolboxes! Who would like to share one 'Anger Buster' they put in their toolbox?"

(Call on a few students to share their strategies.)

Teacher: "Remember, everyone feels angry sometimes, and that's okay. But now you have super powers – your 'Anger Busters!' You can choose to use your tools to calm down and make good choices, even when you're really mad. You are all amazing Anger Busters!"

"What Makes You Grumpy?" Discussion Guide

Objective: To help students identify common triggers for their angry feelings in a safe and supportive environment.

Instructions:

1. Introduce the Topic (2 minutes):

   • Teacher: "Sometimes, things happen that make us feel a little bit grumpy or even angry. It's helpful to know what kinds of things can make us feel this way, so we can be ready with our 'Anger Buster' tools!"
   • "We're going to think about things that might make us feel angry. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, and it's okay to have these feelings."

2. Brainstorming Triggers (3 minutes):

   • Teacher: "I'll start with an example. Sometimes, I feel grumpy if I'm really tired and I can't finish my coffee in the morning! What about you? What are some things that make you feel grumpy or angry?"
   • Encourage students to share in a respectful manner. You can prompt them with examples if they are hesitant:
     • "What if someone takes your toy without asking?"
     • "How do you feel if your tower of blocks falls down?"
     • "What if you really want to go outside, but it starts raining?"
     • "How about when you have to stop playing a fun game?"
   • Record student responses on the board or chart paper (e.g., "sharing toys," "not getting their way," "losing a game," "being told no").

3. Validate and Generalize (1 minute):

   • Teacher: "Thank you for sharing! Look at all these different things that can make us feel angry. It's clear that many different things can make us feel that way, and we all have different triggers."
   • "Now that we know some of the things that can make us feel angry, we can start to think about how to handle those feelings when they come up. That's what our 'Anger Busters' are all about!"

"Calm Down Toolbox" Activity

Objective: Students will identify and illustrate at least three personal calm-down strategies.

Materials:

• "My Calm-Down Choices" Worksheet
• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils

Instructions:

1. Introduce the "Calm-Down Toolbox" (2 minutes):

   • Teacher: "We've talked about what anger feels like and what makes us grumpy. Now, it's time to become super-smart 'Anger Busters' by building our own 'Calm-Down Toolbox'!"
   • "Imagine you have a special box filled with tools that help you feel better when you're angry. What kind of tools would you put in it?"

2. Brainstorm Calm-Down Strategies (5 minutes):

   • Teacher: "Let's brainstorm some ideas together. What are some things you can do when you feel angry to help yourself calm down?"
   • Guide students to think about various strategies:
     • Physical actions: Taking deep breaths (belly breaths), counting to ten, squeezing a stress ball, getting a drink of water, stretching.
     • Distraction/Focus: Drawing a picture, looking at a book, listening to music, playing quietly.
     • Seeking help: Talking to a trusted grown-up (teacher, parent), asking for a hug.
     • Sensory: Splashing water on your face, going to a quiet corner.
   • Write student ideas on the board or chart paper. Encourage a wide range of ideas.

3. Create Your Personal Toolbox (15 minutes):

   • Teacher: "Now, you each get to make your very own Calm-Down Toolbox on your worksheet! You'll use your "My Calm-Down Choices" Worksheet for this."
   • "I want you to pick at least three ideas from our brainstorm list, or come up with your own, that YOU think will help you calm down when you feel angry. Draw a picture for each idea in the boxes on your worksheet. If you can, you can also write the name of your calm-down choice next to your drawing."
   • "For example, if taking deep breaths helps you, you might draw someone taking a big breath. If drawing makes you feel better, you might draw crayons and paper."
   • Circulate around the classroom, offering support, encouragement, and clarification as needed. Ask students to explain their choices.

4. Share and Discuss (Optional - can be done in Wrap-Up):

   • If time permits, have a few students share their favorite calm-down tool from their worksheet and explain why they chose it. This reinforces learning and provides peer examples.

My Calm-Down Choices

Name: ____________________________

When I feel angry, I can choose to use my "Anger Buster" tools to help me calm down and feel better!

Draw or write about three (or more!) different calm-down choices you can use.

My Calm-Down Choice 1:

My Calm-Down Choice 2:

My Calm-Down Choice 3:

My Calm-Down Choice 4 (Optional):

 
 
Bonus Question: Who is one grown-up you can talk to when you feel angry?