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Anxiety Avengers Assemble!

Lesson Plan

Week 1: Recognizing My Feelings

Students will be able to identify and name common feelings (happy, sad, mad, scared). Students will understand that all feelings are okay to have.

Learning to identify feelings is the first step in managing them. When students can name what they feel, they gain a sense of control and can begin to communicate their needs effectively.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, visual aids, and a matching activity.

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: How Do I Feel Right Now?

5 minutes

  • Greet students and ask them to show with a facial expression how they are feeling right now (no words needed). Briefly acknowledge their expressions.
  • Introduce the day's topic: learning about our feelings.

Step 2

Introduce Feeling Faces (Slides & Discussion)

10 minutes

  • Use the My Feeling Faces Slide Deck to introduce different feeling words (happy, sad, mad, scared) and their corresponding facial expressions.
  • Follow the Talking About Feelings Script to guide a brief discussion about each feeling.
  • Ask students: "When do you feel happy? When do you feel sad?" etc. Emphasize that all feelings are okay.

Step 3

Activity: Feeling Faces Match

10 minutes

  • Distribute the cards for the Feeling Faces Match Activity.
  • Instruct students to match the feeling words to the correct facial expressions.
  • Circulate to provide support and encourage students to verbalize the feelings as they match them.

Step 4

Cool Down: My Feeling Check-Out

5 minutes

  • Conclude the session with the My Feeling Check-Out Cool Down.
  • Have students draw or write one feeling they feel confident in identifying now. Collect their responses as an exit ticket.
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Slide Deck

Welcome, Feeling Detectives! / ¡Bienvenidos, Detectives de Sentimientos!

Today, we're going to explore our amazing feelings! / ¡Hoy vamos a explorar nuestros increíbles sentimientos!

Welcome students and introduce the concept of feelings. Explain that everyone has feelings and they are all okay.

Happy! / ¡Feliz!

When you feel good, joyful, or excited! / Cuando te sientes bien, alegre o emocionado(a)!

What makes you feel happy? / ¿Qué te hace sentir feliz?

Introduce 'Happy'. Ask students: "What makes you feel happy?" Encourage a few shares.

Sad / Triste

When you feel down, upset, or disappointed. / Cuando te sientes desanimado(a), molesto(a) o decepcionado(a).

What might make someone feel sad? / ¿Qué podría hacer que alguien se sienta triste?

Introduce 'Sad'. Ask students: "What might make someone feel sad?" Validate feelings of sadness.

Mad / Enojado(a)

When you feel angry, frustrated, or annoyed. / Cuando te sientes enojado(a), frustrado(a) o molesto(a).

What makes you feel mad? / ¿Qué te hace sentir enojado(a)?

Introduce 'Mad'. Discuss appropriate ways to show anger (e.g., not hurting others or self). Ask: "What makes you feel mad?"

Scared / Asustado(a)

When you feel afraid, worried, or nervous. / Cuando sientes miedo, preocupación o nerviosismo.

What makes you feel scared? / ¿Qué te hace sentir asustado(a)?

Introduce 'Scared'. Reassure students it's normal to feel scared sometimes. Ask: "What makes you feel scared?"

All Feelings Are Okay! / ¡Todos los Sentimientos Están Bien!

It's okay to feel happy, sad, mad, or scared. / Está bien sentirse feliz, triste, enojado(a) o asustado(a).

All your feelings are important! / ¡Todos tus sentimientos son importantes!

Emphasize that all feelings are okay and important. Encourage students to think about how they show different feelings with their faces and bodies.

Time for an Activity! / ¡Es Hora de una Actividad!

Let's practice matching feeling words to faces! / ¡Vamos a practicar emparejando palabras de sentimientos con caras!

Get ready for the Feeling Faces Match Activity! / ¡Prepárense para la Actividad de Emparejar Caras de Sentimientos!

Transition to the activity. Explain they will be matching feeling words to faces.

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Script

Talking About Feelings Script

Introduction (Warm-Up)

"Hello, feeling detectives! I'm so glad you're here today. We're going to explore something super important: our feelings! Before we start talking, can you show me with your face how you're feeling right now? No words, just faces!"

(Pause and observe students' facial expressions. Acknowledge a few without judgment, e.g., "I see some happy faces, some calm faces, maybe a little sleepy face! That's perfectly fine! All feelings are welcome here.")

"Today, we're going to become 'Anxiety Avengers' and learn how to recognize our feelings. This is the first superpower we'll develop!"

Introducing Feeling Faces (Using My Feeling Faces Slide Deck)

"Look at our first slide! It says 'Happy!'. When we feel happy, our faces often look like this: a big smile, maybe sparkly eyes. Think about a time you felt really happy. What made you feel that way?"

(Allow a few students to share brief examples.)

"Next, we have 'Sad'. When we're sad, our mouths might turn down, and maybe a tear comes to our eye. It's okay to feel sad sometimes. What might make someone feel sad?"

(Allow a few students to share. Validate their feelings. "Yes, it's sad when...".)

"Here's 'Mad'. When we're mad, our eyebrows might scrunch up, and our muscles might feel tight. It's important to know that feeling mad is okay, but we need to learn safe ways to show it. What makes you feel mad?"

(Allow a few students to share. Briefly mention that hitting or yelling are not safe ways to show anger, but we'll learn more about that later.)

"And finally, 'Scared'. When we're scared, our eyes might get wide, and we might feel a little jumpy. It's totally normal to feel scared sometimes. What makes you feel scared?"

(Allow a few students to share. Reassure them that many things can feel scary, and that's okay.)

Discussion: All Feelings Are Okay

"See? We have so many different feelings! And guess what? All of them are okay. It's important to know what we're feeling so we can figure out what we need. If you're happy, maybe you want to celebrate! If you're sad, maybe you need a hug or a quiet moment."

"Does anyone have a question about feelings? Or want to share something about how they recognize a feeling in themselves?"

(Facilitate a short discussion, answering questions and encouraging sharing.)

Transition to Activity

"Now that we've talked about these feelings, we're going to play a game to help us remember them! We'll do the Feeling Faces Match Activity. You'll get some cards with feeling words and some cards with feeling faces, and your job is to match them up!"

"Remember, being an Anxiety Avenger means knowing your feelings first! Let's get to it!"

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Activity

Feeling Faces Match Activity / Actividad de Emparejar Caras de Sentimientos

Instructions (English): Cut out the feeling words and feeling faces below. Match each feeling word to the correct feeling face.

Instrucciones (Español): Recorta las palabras de sentimientos y las caras de sentimientos a continuación. Empareja cada palabra de sentimiento con la cara de sentimiento correcta.


Feeling Words / Palabras de Sentimientos

Happy / Feliz

Sad / Triste

Mad / Enojado(a)

Scared / Asustado(a)


Feeling Faces (Drawings/Pictures - Teacher will provide) / Caras de Sentimientos (Dibujos/Imágenes - El maestro(a) proporcionará)

(Teacher will draw or print simple cartoon faces for each emotion. For example:)

(El maestro(a) dibujará o imprimirá caras de dibujos animados simples para cada emoción. Por ejemplo:)

  • Happy Face / Cara Feliz: Smiling mouth, crescent eyes. / Boca sonriente, ojos en forma de media luna.

  • Sad Face / Cara Triste: Frowning mouth, downward curved eyebrows, perhaps a tear. / Boca fruncida, cejas curvadas hacia abajo, quizás una lágrima.

  • Mad Face / Cara Enojada: Scrunched eyebrows, furrowed brow, tight lips. / Cejas fruncidas, entrecejo fruncido, labios apretados.

  • Scared Face / Cara Asustada: Wide eyes, open mouth (O-shape or slight scream), raised eyebrows. / Ojos abiertos, boca abierta (en forma de O o un ligero grito), cejas levantadas.













(Space for student work / Espacio para el trabajo del estudiante)

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Cool Down

My Feeling Check-Out / Mi Chequeo de Sentimientos

Instructions (English): Today we learned about different feelings like happy, sad, mad, and scared. In the box below, draw a picture of your favorite feeling face we learned today, or write the name of a feeling you feel confident identifying now.

Instrucciones (Español): Hoy aprendimos sobre diferentes sentimientos como feliz, triste, enojado(a) y asustado(a). En el recuadro de abajo, dibuja una imagen de tu cara de sentimiento favorita que aprendimos hoy, o escribe el nombre de un sentimiento que ahora te sientes seguro(a) de identificar.













Bonus (English): What is one thing you learned about feelings today?

Extra (Español): ¿Qué es una cosa que aprendiste sobre los sentimientos hoy?




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Lesson Plan

Week 2: Body Clues: My Alarm System

Students will identify physical sensations in their bodies when they start to feel anxious or worried. Students will understand these sensations are their body's way of sending 'alarm signals'.

Recognizing physical signs of anxiety early allows students to use coping skills before feelings become overwhelming, giving them more control over their emotional responses.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Discussion of body sensations, visual aids, and a hands-on worksheet.

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling Today?

5 minutes

  • Briefly revisit last week's lesson on feelings. Ask students to share one feeling they are good at identifying now.
  • Introduce the idea that our bodies also tell us how we feel.

Step 2

Introduce Body Clues (Slides & Discussion)

10 minutes

  • Use the My Body Alarm Slide Deck to introduce common physical sensations when feeling worried or anxious (e.g., fast heartbeat, tummy ache, shaky hands, tight muscles).
  • Follow the Listening to My Body Script to guide a discussion. Ask students: "Has your tummy ever felt funny when you were nervous?"

Step 3

Activity: Body Clues Worksheet

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Body Clues Worksheet.
  • Instruct students to draw or write about where they feel worries in their bodies.
  • Circulate, offering support and prompting students to describe their sensations.

Step 4

Cool Down: My Body Check-In

5 minutes

  • Conclude the session with the My Body Check-In Cool Down.
  • Students will reflect on one body clue they will try to notice this week. Collect as an exit ticket.
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Slide Deck

Welcome Back, Anxiety Avengers! / ¡Bienvenidos de Nuevo, Vengadores de la Ansiedad!

Last week: Recognizing Feelings / Semana pasada: Reconociendo Sentimientos
Today: Listening to Our Bodies! / Hoy: ¡Escuchando Nuestros Cuerpos!

Welcome back! Briefly review Week 1. "Last week, we talked about different feelings like happy, sad, mad, and scared. Today, we're going to learn about what our bodies do when we feel these big feelings, especially when we start to feel worried or anxious."

My Body's Alarm System / El Sistema de Alarma de Mi Cuerpo

Our bodies tell us how we feel! / ¡Nuestros cuerpos nos dicen cómo nos sentimos!
It's like an alarm going off. / ¡Es como una alarma sonando!

Introduce the concept of a 'body alarm'. "Our bodies are amazing! They have a special alarm system that tells us when something big is happening inside, especially when we start to feel worried or nervous. It's like our body is trying to send us a message!"

Fast Heartbeat / Latido Rápido del Corazón

My heart goes 'thump-thump-thump!' / ¡Mi corazón hace 'bum-bum-bum!'
(It feels like a drum in my chest!) / (¡Se siente como un tambor en mi pecho!)

Discuss a fast heartbeat. "Have you ever felt your heart go 'thump-thump-thump' really fast when you're excited or a little bit scared? That's one body clue!"

Tummy Troubles / Problemas Estomacales

My tummy feels funny or has butterflies. / Mi barriga se siente rara o tiene mariposas.
(Uh oh, my tummy is rumbling!) / (¡Uy, mi barriga está gruñendo!)

Discuss a tummy ache. "Sometimes when we're nervous, our tummies can feel a little bit fluttery or even hurt a little. That's another body clue!"

Shaky Hands or Legs / Manos o Piernas Temblorosas

My hands or legs feel shaky or wobbly. / Mis manos o piernas se sienten temblorosas o tambaleantes.
(I feel like I need to wiggle!) / (¡Siento que necesito moverme!)

Discuss shaky hands or legs. "Have your hands ever felt a little shaky, or your legs felt wobbly when you were about to do something new or a little scary?"

Tight Muscles / Músculos Tensos

My muscles feel tight or tense. / Mis músculos se sienten tensos o rígidos.
(Like I'm a superhero getting ready to fly!) / (¡Como si fuera un superhéroe preparándose para volar!)

Discuss tight muscles. "When we're worried, sometimes our bodies get really tight, like our shoulders go up to our ears, or we clench our fists. It's like our muscles are getting ready for something."

My Body's Secret Signals / Las Señales Secretas de Mi Cuerpo

These are clues that a big feeling might be coming. / Estas son pistas de que un gran sentimiento podría estar llegando.
Listen to your body! / ¡Escucha a tu cuerpo!

Summarize that these are signals. "These are all signals from our body's alarm system. They're not bad! They're just telling us to pay attention. The good news is, once we know our body's clues, we can use our Anxiety Avenger superpowers to help ourselves!"

Time for an Activity! / ¡Es Hora de una Actividad!

Let's draw our body clues on the Body Clues Worksheet! / ¡Vamos a dibujar nuestras pistas corporales en la Hoja de Trabajo de Pistas de Mi Cuerpo!

Transition to the activity. "Now, we're going to draw or write about where your body feels these clues on our Body Clues Worksheet."

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Script

Listening to My Body Script

Warm-Up: Feeling Check-In (5 minutes)

"Hello, Anxiety Avengers! Welcome back! Last week, we became feeling detectives and learned to recognize different feelings like happy, sad, mad, and scared. Can anyone remind me of one feeling they are good at identifying now?"

(Allow a few students to share.)

"Fantastic! Today, we're going to add another superpower to our Avenger toolkit: listening to our bodies! Our bodies are super smart and they send us secret messages about how we're feeling, even before we use words."

Introducing Body Clues (Using My Body Alarm Slide Deck) (10 minutes)

"Look at this slide: My Body's Alarm System. Our bodies have their own alarm system, just like a fire alarm or an alarm clock. This alarm goes off when a big feeling, like worry or nervousness, starts to visit us. It's not a scary alarm, it's just a signal to pay attention."

"Let's look at some of the messages our bodies send us."

(Go through each body clue slide, pausing for discussion as follows:)

Slide: Fast Heartbeat
"Our heart goes 'thump-thump-thump' really fast! Sometimes it feels like a little drum beating inside our chest. Have you ever felt your heart beat fast when you were excited, or maybe a little bit nervous about something? Like before a race, or when you're about to open a present?"

(Allow a few students to share.)

Slide: Tummy Troubles
"Sometimes our tummies start to feel funny. Maybe like butterflies are fluttering inside, or a little bit of an ache. Has anyone ever had a 'tummy ache' when they were nervous about going to school, or trying something new?"

(Allow a few students to share.)

Slide: Shaky Hands or Legs
"Our hands or legs might feel a little shaky or wobbly. Like they want to wiggle around! Have you ever felt your hands shake when you were trying to hold something very carefully, or your legs felt wobbly before you had to stand up in front of the class?"

(Allow a few students to share.)

Slide: Tight Muscles
"Our muscles might feel tight or tense. We might shrug our shoulders up to our ears, or squeeze our hands into fists without even realizing it. It's like our body is getting ready for something important. Can you try to make your shoulders go all the way up to your ears and then let them drop? That's what it can feel like when our muscles get tight."

(Demonstrate and have students try.)

"All these signals are just our body's way of telling us, 'Hey, something's happening! Pay attention!' They're not bad feelings, they're just clues. And the sooner we notice these clues, the sooner we can use our superpowers to help ourselves feel better."

Activity Transition (10 minutes)

"Now, you're going to become body clue experts! I'm going to give you a Body Clues Worksheet. On this worksheet, you'll see a picture of a body. I want you to draw or write where your body feels these clues when you start to feel worried or nervous. Does your heart beat fast? Does your tummy feel funny? Do your hands get shaky?"

"Think about a time you felt worried, and what your body told you. This is a super important step in being an Anxiety Avenger!"

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Worksheet

My Body Clues Worksheet / Hoja de Trabajo de Pistas de Mi Cuerpo

Instructions (English): When you start to feel worried or nervous, where do you feel it in your body? Draw or write about your body clues on the person below. You can draw butterflies in the tummy, a fast-beating heart, shaky lines on hands, or tight lines on shoulders!

Instrucciones (Español): Cuando empiezas a sentirte preocupado(a) o nervioso(a), ¿dónde lo sientes en tu cuerpo? Dibuja o escribe sobre las pistas de tu cuerpo en la persona de abajo. ¡Puedes dibujar mariposas en el estómago, un corazón que late rápido, líneas temblorosas en las manos o líneas tensas en los hombros!


My Body Clues / Pistas de Mi Cuerpo

    O
   /|\
  / | \
 /  |  \
    |
   / \
  /   \

(This is a simplified representation. A teacher could print an actual body outline or have students draw one.)

(Esta es una representación simplificada. Un maestro(a) podría imprimir un esquema corporal real o hacer que los estudiantes dibujen uno.)













My Body Clues I Noticed (English):

Pistas de Mi Cuerpo Que Noté (Español):




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Cool Down

My Body Check-In / Mi Chequeo Corporal

Instructions (English): Today we learned about body clues that tell us how we feel. Think about one body clue you will try to notice this week when you start to feel worried. Draw or write about it below.

Instrucciones (Español): Hoy aprendimos sobre las pistas corporales que nos dicen cómo nos sentimos. Piensa en una pista corporal que intentarás notar esta semana cuando empieces a sentirte preocupado(a). Dibújala o escribe sobre ella a continuación.







What does your body tell you? (English):

¿Qué te dice tu cuerpo? (Español):




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Lesson Plan

Week 3: Breathing Buddies: Calm Your Dragon

Students will learn and practice belly breathing as a coping skill to manage anxious feelings. Students will understand that deep breaths can help calm their bodies and minds.

Deep breathing is a foundational self-regulation skill that students can use independently to reduce anxiety symptoms and regain control when feeling overwhelmed.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive instruction on belly breathing, visual aids, and hands-on practice.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Body Clue Review

5 minutes

  • Briefly review body clues from last week. Ask students to share one body clue they noticed this week when they felt worried.
  • Introduce today's topic: a secret superpower for calming our bodies - breathing!

Step 2

Introduce Belly Breathing (Slides & Demonstration)

10 minutes

Step 3

Activity: Breathing Ball Practice

10 minutes

  • Use breathing balls (if available) or simply guide students through several rounds of belly breathing.
  • Play calm music if desired. Encourage students to focus on the rise and fall of their bellies.
  • Provide positive reinforcement and gentle reminders for proper technique.

Step 4

Cool Down: My Breathing Buddy Pledge

5 minutes

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Slide Deck

Welcome Back, Anxiety Avengers! / ¡Bienvenidos de Nuevo, Vengadores de la Ansiedad!

Last week: My Body Alarms / Semana pasada: Mis Alarmas Corporales
Today: My Breathing Superpower! / Hoy: ¡Mi Superpoder de Respiración!

Welcome back and quickly recap Week 2. "Last week, we learned to listen to our amazing bodies and the clues they send us when we start to feel worried. Who remembers a body clue they noticed?" (Allow a few shares.) "Today, we're going to learn a SUPER special superpower to help calm those body alarms! It's called 'Belly Breathing' or 'Dragon Breathing'!

My Secret Breathing Superpower / Mi Superpoder Secreto de Respiración

Did you know your breath can help you feel calm? / ¿Sabías que tu respiración puede ayudarte a sentirte tranquilo(a)?
It's like a superpower! / ¡Es como un superpoder!

Introduce the idea of breathing to calm down. "Sometimes when our body alarm goes off, we can take charge! Our breath is like a secret remote control for our feelings. When we breathe deeply, we tell our body to calm down."

What is Belly Breathing? / ¿Qué es la Respiración Abdominal?

Breathe in, belly grows BIG! / ¡Inhala, la barriga se pone GRANDE!
Breathe out, belly gets small. / Exhala, la barriga se hace pequeña.

Explain belly breathing. "We're going to learn 'Belly Breathing'. It's like your belly is a balloon! When you breathe in, your belly gets big like a balloon. When you breathe out, your belly gets small." Demonstrate by placing your hand on your belly.

Breathing Buddies! / ¡Compañeros de Respiración!

Put your breathing buddy on your tummy. / Pon a tu compañero de respiración en tu barriga.
Watch it go up and down! / ¡Mira cómo sube y baja!

Demonstrate using a stuffed animal. "Grab your breathing buddy (stuffed animal). Place it on your tummy. When you breathe in, make your buddy go up to the sky. When you breathe out, watch your buddy gently float down. This helps us see our breath moving our bellies."

Let's Practice! / ¡Vamos a Practicar!

Breathe in slowly through your nose. / Inhala lentamente por la nariz.
Breathe out slowly through your mouth. / Exhala lentamente por la boca.

Guide a short practice. "Let's try it together. Breathe in... (count slowly to 3). Breathe out... (count slowly to 4). In through your nose, out through your mouth like you're blowing out a candle. Remember, slow and steady wins the calm race!"

Calm Your Dragon! / ¡Calma a Tu Dragón!

Reinforce the benefit. "When you feel that tummy alarm or worried feeling, remember your breathing buddy! Taking a few deep belly breaths can help your body and mind feel calm again. You are in charge of your breath!"

Time to Practice! / ¡Es Hora de Practicar!

Let's use our breathing superpowers! / ¡Vamos a usar nuestros superpoderes de respiración!

Transition to the activity. "Now we're going to do some more practice with our breathing. We'll continue our Breathing Ball Practice Activity or just practice together."

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Script

Belly Breathing for Calm Script

Warm-Up: Body Clue Review (5 minutes)

"Hello, Anxiety Avengers! Last week, we became body clue experts, listening to what our amazing bodies tell us when big feelings start to visit. Can anyone share a body clue they noticed this week? Maybe a fast heartbeat, a tummy flutter, or tight muscles?"

(Allow a few students to share their observations. Validate their experiences.)

"That's wonderful! Noticing those clues is the first step to being a true Avenger! Today, we're going to learn a super important superpower that helps us calm those body alarms down. It's all about how we breathe!"

Introducing Belly Breathing (Using Belly Breathing Buddies Slide Deck) (10 minutes)

"Look at our slide: My Secret Breathing Superpower! Did you know your breath can help you feel calm? It's like a secret remote control for your body. When we get worried or anxious, our breathing often gets fast and shallow, like tiny sips of air. But when we breathe deeply, we send a message to our brain and body that everything is okay."

"Today, we're going to learn a special way to breathe called Belly Breathing or sometimes I like to call it Dragon Breathing because your belly gets big like a dragon's!"

(Direct students to the slide: What is Belly Breathing?)

"See this picture? When we belly breathe, our belly grows BIG like a balloon when we breathe in, and gets small when we breathe out. It's not just our chest moving, but our whole belly!"

"Let's try putting one hand on our belly right now. Take a normal breath. Do you feel your hand move up and down? Or mostly your chest?"

(Guide them to notice.)

"Now, here's a fun way to practice: Breathing Buddies! If you have a small stuffed animal, you can place it on your tummy. If not, just your hand works great!"

(Distribute stuffed animals or scarves if you have them. Have students lie down or sit comfortably.)

"Place your breathing buddy on your tummy. Now, when you breathe in through your nose, try to make your belly push your buddy UP towards the ceiling. Make your belly big!"

"Then, when you breathe out slowly through your mouth, make your belly get small, and your buddy gently floats down. Like your belly is deflating a balloon!"

(Demonstrate with your own breathing buddy or hand. Guide them with clear, calm instructions.)

"Remember the slide: Let's Practice!. We want to breathe in slowly through our nose, and out slowly through our mouth, like we're blowing out a candle or blowing bubbles."

Guided Practice (Activity Transition) (10 minutes)

"Alright, my Belly Breathing Buddies! Let's practice this superpower. We're going to do the Breathing Ball Practice Activity."

"Close your eyes gently if you feel comfortable, or just soften your gaze. Place your breathing buddy on your tummy. I'll count for us."

"Breathe in slowly through your nose... 1... 2... 3... Feel your belly get big. Your buddy goes up."

"Now, breathe out slowly through your mouth... 1... 2... 3... 4... Feel your belly get small. Your buddy floats down."

(Repeat 5-7 times, providing gentle reminders about nose in, mouth out, big belly, small belly. Offer encouraging words like, "You're doing great!" or "Feel how calm your body is getting?")

"This is your amazing power to Calm Your Dragon!! When you notice those body clues we talked about last week – the fast heart, the fluttery tummy – you can use your belly breathing to help your body feel calm again. You are in charge of your breath!"

Cool Down Transition (5 minutes)

"You all did such a fantastic job learning to calm your dragons with your breath! For our My Breathing Buddy Pledge Cool Down, I want you to draw or write about how you can use your breathing buddy this week. When might you use your belly breathing superpower?"

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Activity

Breathing Ball Practice / Breathing Buddy Practice / Práctica de Respiración con Pelota / Práctica con Compañero de Respiración

Instructions (English): This activity helps us practice our belly breathing. You can use a breathing ball, a small stuffed animal on your tummy, or just your hand on your tummy.

Instrucciones (Español): Esta actividad nos ayuda a practicar nuestra respiración abdominal. Puedes usar una pelota de respiración, un pequeño animal de peluche en tu barriga, o simplemente tu mano en tu barriga.

  1. Find a Comfy Spot / Encuentra un Lugar Cómodo: Sit or lie down in a way that feels comfortable for you. You can close your eyes gently or look at your breathing buddy on your tummy. / Siéntate o acuéstate de una manera que te resulte cómoda. Puedes cerrar los ojos suavemente o mirar a tu compañero de respiración en tu barriga.

  2. Place Your Buddy / Coloca a Tu Compañero: Put your small stuffed animal on your belly, or just place your hand there. / Coloca tu pequeño animal de peluche en tu barriga, o simplemente coloca tu mano allí.

  3. Breathe In (Belly Grows Big!) / Inhala (¡La Barriga Crece Grande!): Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose. Imagine your belly is a balloon filling up with air. Watch your breathing buddy (or your hand) rise up! / Toma una respiración lenta y profunda por la nariz. Imagina que tu barriga es un globo que se llena de aire. ¡Mira cómo tu compañero de respiración (o tu mano) se eleva!

  4. Breathe Out (Belly Gets Small!) / Exhala (¡La Barriga se Hace Pequeña!): Slowly breathe out through your mouth. Imagine gently letting the air out of the balloon. Watch your breathing buddy (or your hand) fall back down. / Exhala lentamente por la boca. Imagina que dejas salir el aire suavemente del globo. ¡Mira cómo tu compañero de respiración (o tu mano) baja suavemente!

Let's Practice Together (English):

Practiquemos Juntos (Español):

(Teacher will lead the group through several rounds of breathing, counting slowly:)

(El maestro(a) guiará al grupo a través de varias rondas de respiración, contando lentamente:)

  • Teacher / Maestro(a): "Breathe in... 1... 2... 3... Belly grows big! / Inhala... 1... 2... 3... ¡La barriga crece grande!"
  • Teacher / Maestro(a): "Breathe out... 1... 2... 3... 4... Belly gets small! / Exhala... 1... 2... 3... 4... ¡La barriga se hace pequeña!"

(Repeat 5-7 times. Focus on making the breaths slow and steady.)

(Repite 5-7 veces. Concéntrate en hacer que las respiraciones sean lentas y constantes.)

Remember (English): You can use this breathing superpower whenever you notice your body alarm going off, or whenever you just want to feel calm!

Recuerda (Español): ¡Puedes usar este superpoder de respiración cada vez que notes que tu alarma corporal se activa, o cada vez que simplemente quieras sentirte tranquilo(a)!

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Cool Down

My Breathing Buddy Pledge / Mi Promesa del Compañero de Respiración

Instructions (English): Today you learned a new superpower: belly breathing! How will you use your breathing superpower this week when you feel worried or need to calm your body? Draw a picture or write a sentence about your breathing buddy pledge.

Instrucciones (Español): ¡Hoy aprendiste un nuevo superpoder: la respiración abdominal! ¿Cómo usarás tu superpoder de respiración esta semana cuando te sientas preocupado(a) o necesites calmar tu cuerpo? Dibuja una imagen o escribe una oración sobre tu promesa del compañero de respiración.












I pledge to use my breathing superpower when... (English):

Prometo usar mi superpoder de respiración cuando... (Español):




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Lesson Plan

Week 4: Worry Warriors: Facing Fears

Students will learn to identify specific worries and understand that they can talk back to their worries. Students will practice strategies to challenge anxious thoughts.

By externalizing worries and developing a sense of agency, students can reduce the power anxiety holds over them and build confidence in their ability to cope.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, visualization, and a creative drawing activity.

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Calm Body Check

5 minutes

  • Briefly review belly breathing from last week. Ask students to take one calm belly breath together.
  • Introduce the idea that sometimes worries feel big and scary, like monsters.

Step 2

Introduce Worry Monsters (Slides & Discussion)

10 minutes

  • Use the My Worry Monster Slide Deck to introduce the concept of worries as external 'worry monsters' or 'worry bugs'.
  • Follow the Talking to Our Worries Script to guide a discussion about common worries for 1st graders and how worries try to trick us.
  • Emphasize that worries are just thoughts, not always true.

Step 3

Activity: Worry Monster Drawing

10 minutes

  • Distribute paper and drawing supplies for the Worry Monster Drawing Activity.
  • Instruct students to draw their worry monster – what it looks like, how it acts. Then, draw themselves as an 'Anxiety Avenger' facing the monster.
  • Circulate, prompting students to think about how they can use their superpowers (like breathing) against their worry monster.

Step 4

Cool Down: My Worry Action Plan

5 minutes

  • Conclude the session with the My Worry Action Plan Cool Down.
  • Have students identify one way they can talk back to a worry this week. Collect as an exit ticket.
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Slide Deck

Welcome Back, Anxiety Avengers! / ¡Bienvenidos de Nuevo, Vengadores de la Ansiedad!

Last week: Belly Breathing Superpower! / Semana pasada: ¡Superpoder de Respiración Abdominal!
Today: Facing Our Worries! / Hoy: ¡Enfrentando Nuestras Preocupaciones!

Welcome back! Briefly recap Week 3. "Last week, we learned about our amazing belly breathing superpower. Let's all take one slow, calm belly breath together right now." (Lead one breath). "Today, we're going to talk about something that sometimes makes our body alarms go off: worries!"

What Are Worries? / ¿Qué Son las Preocupaciones?

Worries are like little bugs in our brain. / Las preocupaciones son como pequeños bichos en nuestro cerebro.
They try to make us feel scared! / ¡Intentan asustarnos!

Introduce worries as something separate from us. "Sometimes, worries feel really big and try to trick us. It's like they're little 'worry monsters' or 'worry bugs' buzzing around in our heads. But here's the secret: worries are just thoughts, and we are in charge of our thoughts!"

Worry Monster Tricks / Trucos del Monstruo de la Preocupación

Worries might say things like: / Las preocupaciones pueden decir cosas como:
"What if I make a mistake?" / "¿Y si cometo un error?"
"What if no one likes me?" / "¿Y si no le agrado a nadie?"

Give examples of common worries. "What kind of things do worry monsters tell us? Maybe 'You'll forget your homework!' or 'No one will play with you!' Have you ever had a worry monster whisper something in your ear?" (Allow brief shares, validating the feeling but not the worry's truth).

Worries Are Not Always True! / ¡Las Preocupaciones No Siempre Son Verdaderas!

Worry monsters like to trick us. / A los monstruos de la preocupación les gusta engañarnos.
They make things seem scarier than they are. / Hacen que las cosas parezcan más aterradoras de lo que son.

Explain that worries aren't always true. "Worry monsters are tricky! They like to tell us things that might happen, not things that will happen. Sometimes they try to make small things seem really big and scary. But we are smarter than worry monsters!"

Talk Back To Your Worries! / ¡Responde a Tus Preocupaciones!

What can you say to a worry monster? / ¿Qué le puedes decir a un monstruo de la preocupación?
"Stop! I am brave!" / "¡Alto! ¡Soy valiente!"
"I can do it!" / "¡Yo puedo hacerlo!"

Introduce the idea of talking back to worries. "As Anxiety Avengers, we have superpowers to fight back! One superpower is talking back to our worry monster. We can say, 'Stop, Worry Monster! That's not true!' or 'I can handle this!'"

Use Your Superpowers! / ¡Usa Tus Superpoderes!

Belly breathing helps your body feel strong. / La respiración abdominal ayuda a tu cuerpo a sentirse fuerte.
Talking back helps your brain feel strong! / ¡Responder ayuda a tu cerebro a sentirse fuerte!

Connect to belly breathing. "And remember our belly breathing superpower? When that worry monster tries to make your body alarm go off, you can take a few big belly breaths to calm your body down!"

Time for an Activity! / ¡Es Hora de una Actividad!

Let's draw our worry monsters! / ¡Vamos a dibujar nuestros monstruos de la preocupación!

Transition to the activity. "Now, we're going to draw our own worry monsters and then draw ourselves as brave Anxiety Avengers ready to face them! We'll use our Worry Monster Drawing Activity!"

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Script

Talking to Our Worries Script

Warm-Up: Calm Body Check (5 minutes)

"Hello, Anxiety Avengers! Let's start today with a quick calm body check. Everyone sit up tall, put a hand on your belly, and let's take one big, slow belly breath together. Breathe in... (1, 2, 3), and breathe out... (1, 2, 3, 4)."

(Lead one or two calm breaths.)

"Great job! Today, we're going to talk about something that sometimes makes our body alarms go off, even when there's no real danger. We're going to talk about worries!"

Introducing Worry Monsters (Using My Worry Monster Slide Deck) (10 minutes)

"Look at this slide: What Are Worries?. Worries are like little bugs in our brain, or sometimes I like to think of them as sneaky little Worry Monsters! They try to make us feel scared, even when we don't need to be. It's like they whisper tricky things in our ears."

(Direct students to the slide: Worry Monster Tricks)

"Worry monsters might say things like, 'What if I make a mistake?' or 'What if no one likes me?' They try to make us think bad things will happen. Has anyone ever had a worry monster whisper something like that to them?"

(Allow a few students to share brief, age-appropriate examples of worries. Validate their feelings, e.g., "That sounds like a tricky worry.")

"Worry monsters are very good at their jobs: Worries Are Not Always True!. They like to trick us! They make things seem much scarier or bigger than they really are. But here's the secret: worries are just thoughts. They are not always true! And we, as Anxiety Avengers, are in charge of our thoughts, not the worry monsters!"

Talking Back to Worries (Using My Worry Monster Slide Deck) (10 minutes)

"So, what can we do when a worry monster tries to trick us? We can use another superpower: we can talk back to our worries! Look at this slide: Talk Back To Your Worries!. We can tell that worry monster, 'Stop! That's not true!' or 'I am brave, and I can do this!'"

"It's like you're a superhero, and the worry monster is the villain. You tell the villain, 'You can't trick me!'"

"Let's practice! If I say a worry, you say a brave sentence back. Ready?"

  • Teacher: "Worry monster says: 'You're going to fall down on the playground!'"

  • Students: (Encourage responses like: 'No, I'm careful!' or 'I'll try my best!')

  • Teacher: "Worry monster says: 'No one will play with you at recess!'"

  • Students: (Encourage responses like: 'I'll ask someone to play!' or 'I'll find a friend!')

  • Teacher: "Worry monster says: 'You won't know the answer in class!'"

  • Students: (Encourage responses like: 'I can ask for help!' or 'It's okay to try!')

"Fantastic, Anxiety Avengers! You are so good at talking back to those tricky worry monsters! Remember, you also have your Belly Breathing Superpower to help your body feel strong and calm when worries visit."

Activity Transition (5 minutes)

"Now, for our Worry Monster Drawing Activity! You get to draw your own worry monster! What does it look like? Is it big or small? Does it have fangs or silly eyes? Then, on the same paper, I want you to draw yourself as an Anxiety Avenger, standing bravely and ready to tell that worry monster, 'No!'"

"This will help you remember that you are stronger than your worries!"

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Activity

Worry Monster Drawing Activity / Actividad de Dibujar al Monstruo de la Preocupación

Instructions (English):

  1. Draw Your Worry Monster / Dibuja a Tu Monstruo de la Preocupación: On one side of your paper, draw what your worry monster looks like. What size is it? What color? Does it have big teeth or silly eyes? How does it try to make you feel worried? / En un lado de tu papel, dibuja cómo se ve tu monstruo de la preocupación. ¿Qué tamaño tiene? ¿De qué color? ¿Tiene dientes grandes u ojos graciosos? ¿Cómo intenta hacerte sentir preocupado(a)?

  2. Draw Yourself as an Anxiety Avenger / Dibújate como un Vengador de la Ansiedad: On the other side of your paper, draw yourself as a brave Anxiety Avenger! What superpowers do you have (like belly breathing or talking back)? What do you look like when you are being brave and facing your worries? / ¡En el otro lado de tu papel, dibújate como un valiente Vengador de la Ansiedad! ¿Qué superpoderes tienes (como la respiración abdominal o el responder a las preocupaciones)? ¿Cómo te ves cuando eres valiente y te enfrentas a tus preocupaciones?

  3. Show Them Together / Muéstralos Juntos: You can draw your Avenger self facing your worry monster, showing how you are stronger than your worries! / ¡Puedes dibujar a tu yo Vengador(a) enfrentándose a tu monstruo de la preocupación, mostrando cómo eres más fuerte que tus preocupaciones!





























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Cool Down

My Worry Action Plan / Mi Plan de Acción para la Preocupación

Instructions (English): Today we learned that we can talk back to our worries and that worries are not always true. What is one thing you can say or do this week when a worry monster tries to trick you?

Instrucciones (Español): Hoy aprendimos que podemos responder a nuestras preocupaciones y que las preocupaciones no siempre son verdaderas. ¿Qué es una cosa que puedes decir o hacer esta semana cuando un monstruo de la preocupación intente engañarte?







My plan to be a Worry Warrior is (English):

Mi plan para ser un Guerrero/a de la Preocupación es (Español):




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Lesson Plan

Week 5: Anxiety Avenger Super-Skills

Students will review and apply all learned coping skills (identifying feelings, body clues, belly breathing, talking back to worries). Students will create a personal 'super-skills toolkit' for managing anxiety.

Integrating all learned skills into a personal toolkit empowers students to independently access and utilize strategies when facing anxiety, fostering long-term self-regulation.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Review of all learned skills, interactive discussion, and a creative toolkit creation activity.

Materials

Whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, My Super-Skills Toolkit Slide Deck, Using All My Super-Skills Script, Anxiety Avenger Toolkit Creation Activity, My Super-Skills Reflection Cool Down, Construction paper, Crayons/markers, and Stickers (optional)

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Super-Skills Recall

5 minutes

  • Ask students to recall one coping skill they remember from the past weeks (e.g., identifying feelings, body clues, belly breathing, talking back to worries). Write them on the board.

Step 2

Review All Super-Skills (Slides & Discussion)

10 minutes

Step 3

Activity: Anxiety Avenger Toolkit Creation

10 minutes

  • Distribute materials for the Anxiety Avenger Toolkit Creation Activity.
  • Guide students to create their own personalized toolkit. They can draw pictures or write words for each skill they want to remember.
  • Circulate, offering support and encouraging students to verbalize how they will use their toolkit.

Step 4

Cool Down: My Super-Skills Reflection

5 minutes

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Slide Deck

Anxiety Avengers: My Super-Skills Toolkit! / Vengadores de la Ansiedad: ¡Mi Kit de Superhabilidades!

We've learned so many ways to be brave! / ¡Hemos aprendido muchas maneras de ser valientes!

Welcome back, Anxiety Avengers! Today is a special day where we look back at all the amazing superpowers we've learned to manage our feelings and worries.

Super-Skill 1: Feeling Faces / Superhabilidad 1: Caras de Sentimientos

I can name my feelings! (Happy, Sad, Mad, Scared) / ¡Puedo nombrar mis sentimientos! (Feliz, Triste, Enojado, Asustado)

Review Week 1: Recognizing Feelings. "Remember how we learned about different feelings like happy, sad, mad, and scared? Being able to name our feelings is our first superpower!"

Super-Skill 2: Body Clues / Superhabilidad 2: Pistas Corporales

I know what my body tells me! (Fast heart, tummy ache, shaky hands) / ¡Sé lo que mi cuerpo me dice! (Corazón acelerado, dolor de barriga, manos temblorosas)

Review Week 2: Body Clues. "Then, we learned to listen to our amazing body alarms! Our heart beating fast, a tummy flutter, or tight muscles are clues!"

Super-Skill 3: Belly Breathing / Superhabilidad 3: Respiración Abdominal

I can calm my body with deep breaths! / ¡Puedo calmar mi cuerpo con respiraciones profundas!

Review Week 3: Belly Breathing. "And our awesome belly breathing! When we breathe in and our belly gets big, and breathe out and our belly gets small, it helps our body calm down."

Super-Skill 4: Talk Back to Worries / Superhabilidad 4: Responder a las Preocupaciones

I can tell my worries: "Stop! That's not true!" / ¡Puedo decirles a mis preocupaciones: "¡Alto! ¡Eso no es verdad!"!

Review Week 4: Talking Back to Worries. "And just last week, we learned how to be Worry Warriors and talk back to those tricky worry monsters! We tell them they're not always true!"

My Super-Skills Toolkit / Mi Kit de Superhabilidades

I have many superpowers to choose from! / ¡Tengo muchos superpoderes para elegir!

Introduce the idea of combining skills. "Now, we have a whole toolbox of superpowers! When a big feeling comes, you can choose which super-skill you want to use. You might use one, or you might use a few together!"

Create Your Toolkit! / ¡Crea Tu Kit de Herramientas!

Let's make a special toolkit for our superpowers! / ¡Vamos a hacer un kit de herramientas especial para nuestros superpoderes!

Transition to the activity. "Today, we're going to make our very own Anxiety Avenger Toolkit! You'll create a special place to remember all your superpowers." Explain the Anxiety Avenger Toolkit Creation Activity.

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Script

Using All My Super-Skills Script

Warm-Up: Super-Skills Recall (5 minutes)

"Hello, amazing Anxiety Avengers! Today is our very last session, and it's a special one. We're going to celebrate all the incredible superpowers you've learned to manage your feelings and worries over the past five weeks!"

"Let's see if we can remember some of our superpowers. Who can name one skill or idea we've talked about that helps them feel brave or calm?"

(Write student responses on the board or chart paper. Prompt if needed: "What did we learn about feelings? Or about our bodies?")

"Wow! Look at all these amazing ideas! You've learned so much!"

Review All Super-Skills (Using My Super-Skills Toolkit Slide Deck) (10 minutes)

"Today, we're going to put all these superpowers together in our very own My Super-Skills Toolkit! Think of it like a superhero belt, full of tools you can use whenever you need them."

(Go through each review slide, pausing for discussion as follows:)

Slide: Super-Skill 1: Feeling Faces
"Our first superpower was learning to name our feelings! Feeling Faces. Why is it important to know if we're feeling happy, sad, mad, or scared?"

(Guide discussion towards understanding our needs based on feelings.)

Slide: Super-Skill 2: Body Clues
"Next, we became body clue detectives! My Body Alarm. What does your body tell you when a worry starts to visit? How does your tummy feel? Or your heart?"

(Guide discussion towards recognizing early signs of anxiety.)

Slide: Super-Skill 3: Belly Breathing
"Then, we learned our calming superpower: belly breathing! Belly Breathing Buddies. Let's all take one big belly breath right now, making our bellies big like balloons!"

(Lead one collective belly breath.)

"When can you use your belly breathing?"

(Guide discussion towards using it when body alarms go off or when needing to calm down.)

Slide: Super-Skill 4: Talk Back to Worries
"And last week, we became Worry Warriors and learned to talk back to those tricky worry monsters! My Worry Monster. What can you say to a worry monster when it tries to trick you?"

(Guide discussion towards challenging negative thoughts and focusing on bravery.)

"You have so many wonderful tools in your toolkit now! Remember, My Super-Skills Toolkit means you get to choose! Sometimes one skill might work best, and sometimes you might use a few together. It's like having different tools for different jobs."

Activity Transition (10 minutes)

"Now for a super fun activity! We're going to create our very own Anxiety Avenger Toolkit Creation Activity! You'll get to make a special paper toolkit where you can draw or write about all the superpowers you want to remember to use."

"You can draw a feeling face, a picture of your belly breathing, or even yourself talking back to a worry monster! This toolkit will be your reminder of how strong and brave you are."

"Let's get creative and build our super-skills toolkits!"

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Activity

Anxiety Avenger Toolkit Creation / Creación del Kit de Herramientas del Vengador de la Ansiedad

Instructions (English): Today, you get to create your very own Anxiety Avenger Super-Skills Toolkit! This is a special place to keep all the superpowers you've learned to help you feel calm and brave.

Instrucciones (Español): ¡Hoy, puedes crear tu propio Kit de Herramientas de Súper Habilidades del Vengador de la Ansiedad! Este es un lugar especial para guardar todos los superpoderes que has aprendido para ayudarte a sentirte tranquilo(a) y valiente.

  1. Fold Your Paper / Dobla Tu Papel: Take a piece of construction paper. You can fold it in half like a book, or fold it into three sections like a brochure. This will be your toolkit! / Toma una hoja de papel de construcción. Puedes doblarla por la mitad como un libro, o doblarla en tres secciones como un folleto. ¡Este será tu kit de herramientas!

  2. Decorate the Cover / Decora la Portada: On the front of your folded paper, write "My Anxiety Avenger Super-Skills Toolkit / Mi Kit de Herramientas de Súper Habilidades del Vengador de la Ansiedad" and draw a picture of yourself as an Anxiety Avenger or something that makes you feel strong and brave! / En la parte delantera de tu papel doblado, escribe "My Anxiety Avenger Super-Skills Toolkit / Mi Kit de Herramientas de Súper Habilidades del Vengador de la Ansiedad" y dibuja una imagen de ti mismo(a) como un Vengador de la Ansiedad o algo que te haga sentir fuerte y valiente.

  3. Add Your Super-Skills / Añade Tus Súper Habilidades: Inside your toolkit, draw or write about the different super-skills you've learned. Here are some ideas: / Dentro de tu kit de herramientas, dibuja o escribe sobre las diferentes súper habilidades que has aprendido. Aquí tienes algunas ideas:

    • Feeling Faces / Caras de Sentimientos: Draw happy, sad, mad, scared faces. / Dibuja caras felices, tristes, enojadas, asustadas.
    • Body Clues / Pistas Corporales: Draw a small person and mark where you feel worries (e.g., fast heart, tummy butterflies). / Dibuja una pequeña persona y marca dónde sientes las preocupaciones (por ejemplo, corazón acelerado, mariposas en el estómago).
    • Belly Breathing / Respiración Abdominal: Draw a big balloon or a breathing buddy on a tummy. / Dibuja un gran globo o un compañero de respiración en una barriga.
    • Talk Back to Worries / Responde a las Preocupaciones: Draw a thought bubble with a brave sentence like "I can do it!" or "Stop, Worry Monster!" / Dibuja una burbuja de pensamiento con una frase valiente como "¡Puedo hacerlo!" o "¡Alto, Monstruo de la Preocupación!"
  4. Make it Yours / Hazlo Tuyo: Use crayons, markers, and even stickers (if available) to make your toolkit special. This is your toolkit to remind you of all your amazing superpowers! / Usa crayones, marcadores e incluso pegatinas (si están disponibles) para hacer tu kit de herramientas especial. ¡Este es tu kit de herramientas para recordarte todos tus increíbles superpoderes!





























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Cool Down

My Super-Skills Reflection / Mi Reflexión de Súper Habilidades

Instructions (English): Today we reviewed all the amazing superpowers you have learned to be an Anxiety Avenger! Out of all the skills, what is one superpower you feel most confident using to help yourself when you feel worried or anxious?

Draw a picture or write a sentence about it below.

Instrucciones (Español): ¡Hoy repasamos todos los increíbles superpoderes que has aprendido para ser un Vengador de la Ansiedad! De todas las habilidades, ¿cuál es un superpoder que te sientes más seguro(a) de usar para ayudarte cuando te sientes preocupado(a) o ansioso(a)?

Dibuja una imagen o escribe una oración al respecto a continuación.












My most confident superpower is (English):

Mi superpoder más seguro(a) es (Español):




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Quiz

Anxiety Avenger Confidence Pre/Post-Check

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