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Breathe and Play: Self-Management Fun

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Lesson Plan

Breathe and Play: Self-Management Fun

Teach self-management strategies

This lesson introduces young students to self-management strategies through a fun and engaging game-based approach. Using the 'Song: Calm Body Calm Mind' video, students will learn the importance of self-regulation and practice deep breathing exercises. The lesson includes an interactive game to reinforce these skills, helping students manage their energy and impulsive behaviors effectively. This lesson is crucial for developing foundational self-regulation skills, which are essential for emotional well-being and academic success.

Audience

Kindergarten and First Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Game-Based Learning, Active Learning

Materials

Song: Calm Body Calm Mind video, Soft balls or bean bags, Music player, Printable breathing cards, and Book: A Little Spot of Calm

Step 1

Brain Builder

3 mins

  • Start with a simple stretching exercise to get the students moving and focused.
  • Lead the students in a quick 'Simon Says' game using movements like touching toes, reaching for the sky, and gentle twists.
  • Encourage students to listen carefully and follow the instructions to warm up their bodies and minds.

Step 2

Introduction

5 mins

  • Gather students in a circle.
  • Explain the importance of self-regulation and how it helps us feel calm and focused.
  • Introduce the 'Song: Calm Body Calm Mind' video and explain that it will teach them a fun way to calm down.

Step 3

Video Viewing

3 mins

  • Play the Song: Calm Body Calm Mind video.
  • Encourage students to follow along with the actions in the video, such as breathing in and out and listening to the sounds.

Step 4

Story Time

5 mins

  • Read 'A Little Spot of Calm' to the students.
  • Emphasize the parts of the story that illustrate how the character finds calmness in different situations.

Step 5

Discussion

5 mins

  • Discuss with the students how the character in the story used calmness to handle their emotions.
  • Ask them to share times when they felt calm or needed to find calmness.
  • Relate the story back to the breathing exercises and techniques they've learned.

Step 6

Calm Down Relay

12 mins

  • Divide students into small teams and have them line up at a starting point.
  • Explain that each team member will take turns running to a designated spot, performing a calming breathing exercise, and then returning to tag the next teammate.
  • At the designated spot, students can perform a simple breathing exercise like "smell the flower, blow out the candle."
  • Encourage students to focus on calm and controlled breathing, emphasizing relaxation over speed.
  • After the relay, gather the students to discuss how they felt during the exercise and the importance of taking time to calm down.

Step 7

Closure

5 mins

  • Gather students back in a circle.
  • Review the breathing techniques learned and ask students to share their favorite part of the lesson.
  • Encourage students to practice these techniques at home or whenever they need to calm down.
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Worksheet

Printable Breathing Cards

These cards feature simple breathing exercises from the lesson for students to practice at home.




Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth.







Raise your hands up high, stretch your fingers to the sky.







Take a deep breath and count to three.







Imagine you're blowing up a big balloon.







Pretend you're smelling a flower, then blowing out a candle.




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