Lesson Plan
Balance Buddies Lesson Plan
Students will learn to identify emotions and practice self-regulation strategies through the metaphor of balance, aiming to recognize when they feel “off-balance” and use simple calming techniques to restore equilibrium.
Building self-regulation skills early supports emotional wellness, improves focus, and helps students manage stress in the classroom and beyond by giving them concrete tools for staying balanced.
Audience
2nd Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on activities using emotion cards, spinner tools, and worksheets to practice balance metaphors.
Materials
Feeling Faces Emotion Cards, Scenario Situation Cards, Calm-Down Spinner, Balance Scale Worksheet, and Classroom Timer
Prep
Teacher Preparation
20 minutes
- Print and cut out Feeling Faces Emotion Cards and Scenario Situation Cards
- Assemble the Calm-Down Spinner and test spin
- Make enough copies of the Balance Scale Worksheet for each student
- Place the Classroom Timer within view and set for 30 minutes
Step 1
Introduction to Balance
5 minutes
- Gather students in a circle and introduce the idea that our feelings need balance like a scale or seesaw
- Show a simple balance scale visual and ask: “What happens if one side is heavy?”
- Explain that big emotions can tip us off balance and we’ll learn ways to keep even
Step 2
Emotion Recognition Activity
7 minutes
- Distribute Feeling Faces Emotion Cards and spread Scenario Situation Cards on a table
- In pairs, students match scenario cards to an emotion card and explain their reasoning
- Ask a few pairs to share one matching they found and how that emotion feels “heavy”
Step 3
Calm-Down Strategy Spinner
7 minutes
- Introduce the Calm-Down Spinner with strategies (deep breaths, count to 5, stretch)
- Model one spin and practice the chosen strategy as a class
- Have students take turns spinning and demonstrating the strategy they land on
Step 4
Balance Scale Worksheet Activity
7 minutes
- Hand out the Balance Scale Worksheet
- Students draw an upsetting scenario on one side and a calming strategy from the spinner on the other to balance the scale
- Circulate to support and prompt deeper thinking
Step 5
Reflection and Wrap-Up
4 minutes
- Bring class back together and use the Classroom Timer to keep time
- Invite 3–4 students to share one strategy that helps them stay balanced
- Remind them they can use these tools anytime they feel off-balance
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Balance Buddies
Self-Regulation Skills Through Balance
2nd Grade | 30 Minutes
Welcome everyone! Today we’re going to learn about self-regulation through balance. In this 30-minute lesson, we'll recognize our emotions, learn calming strategies, and practice keeping ourselves balanced!
What Is Balance?
Our feelings need balance like a seesaw or scale.
If one side is too heavy (big feelings), we tip over.
Show an image of a seesaw or scale. Ask: “What happens if one side is heavy?” Elicit responses about tipping. Explain that big emotions are like heavy items on one side of a scale.
Why Balance Matters
• Helps us focus in class
• Keeps us calm
• Lets us learn and play better
Explain that by balancing our feelings we can focus, stay calm, and learn better. Ask students for examples when they felt calm or out of balance.
Emotion Recognition Activity
In pairs, match Feeling Faces Emotion Cards
with Scenario Situation Cards.
Explain why you chose that emotion.
Explain the emotion recognition activity. Distribute the cards and remind students to work in pairs. Walk around, listen to their reasoning, and prompt deeper thinking.
Calm-Down Strategy Spinner
Spin the Calm-Down Spinner
and practice the strategy you land on.
Introduce the Calm-Down Spinner. Model one spin and practice the chosen strategy with the whole class. Then invite students to take turns spinning and demonstrating.
Calming Strategies
• Deep breaths
• Count to 5
• Stretch
Review each strategy briefly: show how to take deep breaths, count slowly to five, and stretch to release tension. Encourage students to try each.
Balance Scale Worksheet
Draw an upsetting scenario on one side of the scale
and a calming strategy on the other
to keep it balanced.
Distribute the Balance Scale Worksheets. Explain: draw an upsetting scenario on one side of the scale and a calming strategy on the other to keep it balanced. Circulate to support and prompt deeper thinking.
Reflection & Wrap-Up
Who can share one strategy that helps you stay balanced?
Remember, you can use these tools any time you feel off-balance.
Invite 3–4 volunteers to share one strategy that helps them stay balanced. Praise all contributions and remind them they can use these tools any time they feel off-balance.
Materials & Links
Quickly review the materials and links for future use. Encourage students to revisit these tools whenever they need to feel balanced.
Worksheet
Balance Scale Worksheet
Directions:
Think of something that makes you feel upset or “off-balance.” On the left side of the scale, draw that upsetting scenario. Then think of a calm-down strategy that helps you feel balanced, and draw it on the right side.
\ | /
\ | /
\ | /
\|/
● ← Fulcrum of your feelings
__|__ __|__
| | | |
| | | |
|_____| |_____|
| Upsetting Scenario (Left Pan) | Calming Strategy (Right Pan) |
|---|---|
Reflection Questions
- What emotion did you draw on the left side?
- What strategy did you draw on the right side?
- How will this strategy help you feel balanced next time?
Activity
Emotion Recognition Activity
Materials:
Objective:
Students will identify and name emotions by matching real-life scenarios to facial expressions, deepening their awareness of what different feelings look and feel like.
Setup:
- Divide students into pairs or small groups.
- Give each pair a full set of Feeling Faces Emotion Cards and lay out the Scenario Situation Cards face-up on the table.
Instructions:
- Take turns selecting one Scenario Situation Card.
- Look at the Feeling Faces Emotion Cards and choose the face that best matches how you would feel in that scenario.
- Place the chosen emotion card next to the scenario card.
- Discuss with your partner:
- What clues in the scenario helped you pick that emotion?
- Have you ever felt this way? When?
Sharing & Discussion (Whole Class):
- Invite 3–4 pairs to share one scenario and their matched emotion.
- Ask:
- “What made you choose this emotion?”
- “How heavy or big does this emotion feel on our balance scale?”
Extension Questions:
- What are some things you could do if a feeling feels too heavy?
- How quickly can you recognize that feeling in yourself or a friend?
Teacher Tips:
- Encourage students to use feeling words (e.g., happy, frustrated, excited).
- Prompt quieter students with guiding questions: “What would your face look like if you felt ___?”
- Celebrate correct matches and thoughtful reasoning to build confidence.
Activity
Calm-Down Strategy Spinner
Materials:
- Calm-Down Spinner
- Open space or clear desk area
Objective:
Students will practice simple self-regulation strategies by spinning a wheel and demonstrating calming techniques to help them find emotional balance.
Setup:
- Assemble the Calm-Down Spinner so it’s sturdy and spins freely.
- Place it in the center of a circle or on a table where all students can see and reach it.
- Review each strategy label on the spinner before beginning:
- Deep Breaths
- Count to 5
- Gentle Stretch
- Squeeze Hands
- Quiet Listen
- Imaginary Bubble
Instructions:
- Invite one student at a time to spin the Calm-Down Spinner.
- Call out the strategy where the spinner stops.
- Model and lead the class to practice that strategy together:
- Deep Breaths: Inhale slowly for 3 counts, exhale for 3 counts.
- Count to 5: Whisper numbers 1–5, focusing on each digit.
- Gentle Stretch: Reach arms up high, then bend to touch toes.
- Squeeze Hands: Clench fists tightly, hold for 3 seconds, release.
- Quiet Listen: Close eyes and listen for 5 seconds to any room sounds.
- Imaginary Bubble: Pretend to blow a bubble around you, taking slow breaths.
- After the class practices, ask the spinner student: “How did that strategy make you feel?”
- Continue until each student has had a turn or until time allows.
Discussion & Reflection:
- Which strategy felt easiest to do?
- Which one helped you feel more relaxed or balanced?
- When might you use these strategies in the classroom or at home?
Teacher Tips:
- Encourage clear, slow modeling—children learn best by watching and following.
- Praise effort: “I love how quietly everyone tried the Count to 5 strategy.”
- Keep the energy calm and supportive; remind students that any one of these tools can help them stay balanced throughout their day.
Warm Up
Feeling Faces Cards
Instructions:
Print this page and cut along the dotted lines to create individual emotion cards. Use these cards in the Emotion Recognition Activity to help students match scenarios to feelings.
😄 Happy
😢 Sad
😠 Angry
😨 Scared
😃 Excited
😌 Calm
😣 Frustrated
😲 Surprised
😟 Worried
Activity
Scenario Situation Cards
Instructions:
Print this page and cut along the dotted lines to create individual scenario cards. Use these cards in the Emotion Recognition Activity to match each scenario with a Feeling Faces Emotion Card.
You found a $5 bill on the ground.
You lost your favorite toy during playtime.
Someone took your turn on the seesaw.
You heard a loud thunderbolt while alone.
Your class is going on a field trip tomorrow.
You sit quietly and listen to soft music.
You can’t figure out your homework.
Your teacher told you there will be a surprise quiz.
You have to speak in front of the whole class.