Lesson Plan
Balloon Breathing Plan
Students will learn and practice deep belly breathing by imagining inflating a balloon in their abdomen, then use this technique to calm their bodies and notice their emotions.
Teaching belly breathing helps Pre-K learners develop self-control, emotional awareness, and a foundational mind-body skill that supports focus and calm.
Audience
Pre-K
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided modeling, movement, storytelling, and reflection.
Prep
Prepare Materials and Space
5 minutes
- Review all digital resources: Breathing Visuals Slides, Breathing Story Script, Inflate-Deflate Song, and Quiet Balloon Rest.
- Queue the song and any audio files on your device.
- Clear a safe open area for students to move with personal space.
- Print or display any additional visual cue cards as needed.
Step 1
Warm-Up with Inflate-Deflate Song
5 minutes
- Gather students in a circle or open space.
- Play the Inflate-Deflate Song.
- Lead students to stretch arms wide on “inflate,” then bring arms in on “deflate,” matching their breath to the music.
- Encourage big, slow “inflations” as if filling a giant balloon.
Step 2
Teacher Modeling
5 minutes
- Sit on a chair or the floor holding a stuffed animal on your belly.
- Display the first slide from Breathing Visuals Slides.
- Demonstrate a deep inhale—watch the animal rise as your belly inflates—then exhale slowly, letting the animal lower.
- Use simple language: “Breathe in…my balloon is filling!” “Breathe out…my balloon is resting.”
Step 3
Student Practice
10 minutes
- Have students find their own personal space.
- Display additional slides from Breathing Visuals Slides as prompts.
- Guide students to place hands on their bellies, inhale for a count of three, then exhale for a count of three.
- Circulate, offering individual feedback and praise for steady, deep breathing.
Step 4
Pair Share
5 minutes
- Invite students to pair up with a friend.
- Prompt each pair: “Talk about how you felt before we breathed and how you feel now.”
- Provide sentence stems if needed: “Before, I felt ___,” “After, I feel ___.”
- Encourage listening and turn-taking.
Step 5
Quiet Reflection Cool-Down
5 minutes
- Have students lie down or sit quietly with eyes closed.
- Play the Quiet Balloon Rest audio or soft music.
- Guide them through one final belly breath: inflate on an inhale, deflate on an exhale.
- End with a gentle chime or bell, then invite students to slowly open their eyes.
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Slide Deck
Balloon Belly Breath
Use deep belly breaths to fill and empty your balloon.
Welcome students and introduce the session: “Today we’ll learn how to use our belly balloons to help us feel calm and happy!”
Imagine Your Balloon
Picture a big, colorful balloon in your tummy, ready to fill with air.
Ask children to close their eyes and picture a balloon tucked inside their tummy.
Inflate
Breathe in… watch your balloon grow big!
Demonstrate a slow inhale, showing how the balloon grows. Place hands on your belly.
Count to Three (Inhale)
1 … 2 … 3
Count aloud with students as they inhale, showing fingers to match counts.
Deflate
Breathe out… watch your balloon shrink.
Demonstrate a slow exhale, showing how the balloon shrinks. Encourage soft, steady breath.
Count to Three (Exhale)
1 … 2 … 3
Count aloud with students as they exhale, modeling calm voices.
Let’s Practice Together!
Hands on your belly: Inhale 1-2-3, Exhale 1-2-3.
Invite everyone to stand or sit with hands on belly. Guide a full practice inhale and exhale cycle together.
Great Job!
You calmed your body with your balloon breath!
Celebrate their effort and encourage them to use belly breaths whenever they feel big feelings.
Script
Breathing Story Script
Teacher: “Okay, friends, snuggle down on your tummies or sit with your backs straight. Place your hands gently on your bellies. Today we’re going on a magical adventure to meet our friend, Benny the Belly Balloon!”
Teacher (smiling, eyes wide): “Once upon a time, inside each of our bellies lived a tiny balloon named Benny. When Benny was empty, he felt squishy and sleepy. When Benny was filled with air, he felt proud, tall, and happy!”
Teacher: “Shall we help Benny get big and strong? Let’s breathe in slowly to fill him up. Ready?”
(Pause, inhale count 1…2…3…)
Teacher (softly): “Feel your belly grow as you breathe in… 1...2...3… Great job!”
Teacher: “Now Benny is full and stretchy! He whispers, ‘Thank you for helping me grow!’ But now he needs a rest.”
Teacher: “Let’s help Benny let the air out. Breathe out slowly…
(Pause, exhale count 1…2…3…)
Teacher: “Watch his tummy balloon shrink back down… 1…2…3… Wonderful!”
Teacher (gentle): “Benny feels cozy and calm when he’s rested. But when we’re ready, we can fill him up again anytime we have big feelings—like excitement, sadness, or when we need to calm down.”
Teacher: “Let’s help Benny two more times. Breathe in…
(Inhale 1…2…3…)
Teacher: “And breathe out…
(Exhale 1…2…3…)”
Teacher: “One last time! Fill Benny up…
(Inhale 1…2…3…)
Teacher: “And let him rest…
(Exhale 1…2…3…)”
Teacher (softly): “Now Benny is calm and happy. He thanks you for taking care of him.”
Teacher (pause): “How did your belly feel when we breathed in? How did it feel when we breathed out?”
Teacher: “You did a wonderful job helping Benny the Belly Balloon. Whenever you feel upset, nervous, or excited, remember you can always help Benny get big—or rest—just by using your breath.”
Teacher (smiling): “Great work, friends!”
Warm Up
Warm-Up: Inflate-Deflate Song
Duration: 5 minutes
Description: A fun call-and-response breathing song with matching arm movements to help Pre-K students practice deep belly breathing.
Lyrics & Actions:
-
Teacher: “Ready to inflate?”
Students: “Ready to inflate!” -
Teacher: “Breathe in…inflate, inflate, big and small!”
Students repeat, stretching arms wide above their heads as if filling a giant balloon. -
Teacher: “Breathe out…deflate, deflate, soft and slow!”
Students repeat, bringing arms down gently to their sides as the balloon rests.
Structure & Repetitions:
- Call and response to engage attention.
- “Inflate” verse with inhale + arms up.
- “Deflate” verse with exhale + arms down.
- Repeat the inflate/deflate cycle 3–4 times.
- End with students placing hands on bellies and taking one final deep belly breath together.
Teacher Tips:
- Use clear, exaggerated arm movements so students can mirror you easily.
- Encourage big slow breaths, watching bellies rise and fall.
- Keep the melody simple—feel free to use a familiar tune (e.g., “Twinkle, Twinkle”) or speak in rhythmic chant.
Balloon Breathing Plan | Breathing Visuals Slides | Quiet Balloon Rest
Cool Down
Quiet Balloon Rest
Duration: 5 minutes
Atmosphere: Soft instrumental music or gentle chime in the background.
Teacher: “Lie down or sit comfortably with your hands on your belly. Close your eyes and take a moment to feel your body resting.”
(Pause briefly as soft music plays)
Teacher: “Breathe in… feel your balloon gently inflate… breathe out… feel it softly deflate.”
(Pause and allow 3 slow breaths)
Teacher: “Now, think of one thing from today that made you feel calm or happy.”
Teacher: “Let’s take two more belly breaths together. Breathe in… and breathe out.”
(Pause)
Teacher: “When you’re ready, wiggle your fingers and toes, stretch your arms like you’re waking up a big balloon, and gently open your eyes.”
Teacher (softly): “Great job everyone. Carry this calm balloon feeling with you as you move through your day.”