Anger Busters! Staying Cool

adittman

Tier 2

Lesson Plan

Anger Busters! Staying Cool

Students will be able to identify personal anger triggers and apply at least two calming strategies to manage their anger effectively.

Understanding and managing anger is a crucial life skill that helps students navigate social situations, express themselves constructively, and maintain positive relationships. This lesson provides practical tools for emotional regulation.

Audience

3rd Grade Small Group

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, visual aids, and hands-on practice.

Materials

Small Group Slide Deck, Anger Busters Warm-Up, Anger Triggers Worksheet, Calming Strategies Poster (for display), and Cool Down Exit Ticket

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Review the Small Group Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
Print copies of the Anger Triggers Worksheet (one per student).
Prepare or print a simple poster listing calming strategies (e.g., deep breaths, counting, walking away, talking it out).
Print copies of the Cool Down Exit Ticket (one per student).
Ensure a whiteboard or chart paper is available for group brainstorming.

Step 1

Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling?

5 minutes

Display the first slide of the Small Group Slide Deck.
Lead the Anger Busters Warm-Up activity. Ask students to share one feeling they are currently experiencing and a brief reason why. (e.g., 'I'm feeling excited because it's almost the weekend!').
Briefly explain that all feelings are okay, and today we'll focus on understanding anger.

Step 2

Introduction: What is Anger?

5 minutes

Display the 'What is Anger?' slide from the Small Group Slide Deck.
Using the Small Group Slide Deck as a guide, discuss what anger feels like in our bodies and minds.
Ask: 'What are some things that make you feel angry?' Brainstorm ideas as a group, writing them on the board. Emphasize that different things make different people angry.

Step 3

Activity: Anger Triggers & Calming Strategies

10 minutes

Distribute the Anger Triggers Worksheet.
Display the 'Anger Triggers' slide from the Small Group Slide Deck.
Explain that an 'anger trigger' is something specific that makes us feel angry.
Have students complete the 'My Anger Triggers' section of the worksheet, listing 2-3 personal triggers. Offer examples like 'when someone takes my toy' or 'when I lose a game'.
Display the 'Calming Strategies' slide from the Small Group Slide Deck and the Calming Strategies Poster.
Brainstorm calming strategies as a group (e.g., deep breaths, counting to 10, walking away, talking to an adult, drawing). Add to the poster.
Have students choose 2-3 strategies to add to their worksheet under 'My Calming Strategies'. Practice one or two together (e.g., a few deep breaths).

Step 4

Discussion: Why Use Calming Strategies?

5 minutes

Lead a brief discussion using the 'Why Calm Down?' slide from the Small Group Slide Deck.
Ask: 'Why is it important to have ways to calm down when we feel angry?' (e.g., so we don't say or do things we regret, to solve problems better, to feel better).
Reinforce that choosing to use calming strategies is a sign of strength and self-control.

Step 5

Cool Down: Exit Ticket

5 minutes

Distribute the Cool Down Exit Ticket.
Have students complete the exit ticket independently.
Collect the tickets to assess understanding of anger triggers and calming strategies.

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Slide Deck

Welcome, Anger Busters!

Today, we're learning to be 'Anger Busters'!

We all feel angry sometimes, and that's okay.

We're going to learn how to understand our anger and choose ways to calm down.

Welcome students and introduce the topic of feelings. Emphasize that all feelings are okay to have.

What is Anger?

Anger is a strong feeling.

It tells us something might be wrong or unfair.

How does anger feel in your body?

Hot face?
Tight fists?
Fast heartbeat?

How does anger feel in your mind?

Frustrated thoughts?
Wanting to shout?

Ask students to describe what anger feels like in their bodies (e.g., hot, shaky, tight muscles) and minds (e.g., frustrated thoughts). Validate their experiences.

Anger Triggers

What makes your anger start to grow?

These are called Anger Triggers.

When someone takes your toy?
When you lose a game?
When you feel misunderstood?

What are some of your anger triggers?

Introduce the concept of 'anger triggers'. Give a couple of age-appropriate examples and then open it up for group brainstorming. Reassure students that it's normal to have different triggers.

Calming Strategies

Once we know we're getting angry, we can choose to calm down!

These are our Anger Buster Tools!

Take 3 deep breaths (smell the flower, blow out the candle)
Count to 10 slowly
Walk away for a moment
Talk to a trusted adult
Draw or write how you feel
Think happy thoughts

What are your favorite calming strategies?

Explain that once we know our triggers, we can choose strategies to calm down. Brainstorm a variety of calming strategies with the students. Demonstrate one or two simple ones like deep breathing.

Why Calm Down?

Why is it important to use our Calming Strategies?

To feel better faster!
To make good choices, not angry choices.
To solve problems more easily.
To be a good friend and classmate.

Being an Anger Buster means you are strong and smart!

Reinforce the importance of using calming strategies. Discuss how calming down helps us think more clearly and make better choices, preventing bigger problems.

You are Anger Busters!

You now have tools to understand your anger and calm down.

Keep practicing your Anger Buster skills!

Remember: It's okay to feel angry, it's not okay to hurt yourself or others.

You've got this!

Conclude by encouraging students to practice these skills. Remind them that it takes practice, but they can do it.

Warm Up

Anger Busters Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling?

Instructions: When it's your turn, share one feeling you are experiencing right now and a brief reason why. It's okay to feel many things, and all feelings are valid!

Example: "I'm feeling a little sleepy because I stayed up late reading."

Worksheet

My Anger Triggers & Calming Strategies

Sometimes, things happen that make us start to feel angry. These are called Anger Triggers.

Part 1: My Anger Triggers

Think about what makes you start to feel angry. List 2-3 things that are your anger triggers.

When we start to feel angry, we can use Calming Strategies to help ourselves feel better.

Part 2: My Calming Strategies

Choose 2-3 calming strategies that you think would work best for you when you feel angry. You can use ideas we talked about or your own!

Cool Down

Anger Busters: Cool Down Exit Ticket

Name: ____________________________

What is one thing that can be an anger trigger for you?
What is one calming strategy you can use when you start to feel angry?
Why is it important to have ways to calm down when you feel angry?