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Bubble Breathing Fun

Lesson Plan

Bubble Breathing Lesson Plan

Students will learn to recognize big feelings and use bubble breathing to calm down and refocus by practicing slow, deep breaths, movement, and reflection.

Early self-regulation helps Pre-K learners manage emotions, reduce stress, and build focus, fostering a happier, more engaged classroom.

Audience

Pre-K

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Storytelling, guided breaths, movement, and reflection.

Materials

Bubble Wands and Bubble Solution, Chime or Timer, Bubble Breathing Story Script, Bubble Breathing Instruction Poster, Emotion Meter Chart, and Calm-Down Visual Cards

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Welcome and Emotion Check

5 minutes

  • Invite children to sit in a circle on the floor.
  • Show the Emotion Meter Chart and ask each child to point to how they feel.
  • Encourage 2–3 volunteers to name their feeling and explain why briefly.

Step 2

Storytime: Bubble Breathing

5 minutes

  • Introduce breathing as a tool for calm: “We’re going to learn how to blow gentle bubbles with our breath.”
  • Read the Bubble Breathing Story Script.
  • Model a slow inhale by placing a hand on your belly and exhale while showing bubble motions with your hands.

Step 3

Guided Bubble Breathing Practice

10 minutes

  • Hand out bubble wands and solution to each student.
  • Guide: “Breathe in slowly through your nose… now blow gentle bubbles.”
  • Use the Bubble Breathing Instruction Poster to cue inhale/exhale.
  • Ring the chime or timer to mark each breath cycle.

Step 4

Movement Break: Bubble Dance

5 minutes

  • Play soft, upbeat music.
  • Prompt children to dance and pretend to catch bubbles in the air.
  • After 1–2 minutes of dancing, pause music and lead three big bubble breaths together.

Step 5

Cool-Down and Reflection

5 minutes

  • Gather in the circle again and take three slow bubble breaths.
  • Review strategies using the Calm-Down Visual Cards.
  • Ask: “How do you feel now? Did bubble breathing help?”
  • Praise children for their effort and calm participation.
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Slide Deck

Bubble Breathing Fun

In this 30-minute lesson, we’ll use stories, breathing, movement, and reflection to manage big emotions and find calm.

Welcome everyone! Today we’ll learn a fun way to calm our big feelings by pretending to blow gentle bubbles with our breath. Invite kids to settle and get excited.

How Are You Feeling?

Let’s check in!

• Use the Emotion Meter to show how you feel.

Emotion Meter Chart

Ask each child to point to how they feel on the chart. Encourage 2–3 volunteers to name their feeling and why, modeling openness.

Storytime: Bubble Breathing

We’re going to learn how to blow gentle bubbles with our breath.

Bubble Breathing Story Script

Read the Bubble Breathing Story Script with expression. Pause to model a slow inhale (hand on belly) and exhale (hands making bubble motions).

Practice Bubble Breathing

  1. Breathe in slowly through your nose…
  2. Blow gentle bubbles out through your mouth.

Follow the steps here:
Bubble Breathing Instruction Poster

Distribute bubble wands and solution. Guide children through each inhale/exhale cycle. Use a chime or timer to mark each breath.

Movement Break: Bubble Dance

• Dance and catch bubbles in the air!
• Then pause for 3 big bubble breaths together.

Play soft, upbeat music and invite kids to dance and pretend to catch bubbles. After 1–2 minutes, pause the music and lead three big bubble breaths.

Cool-Down & Reflection

Let’s take three gentle bubble breaths together.

How do you feel now? Did bubble breathing help?

Calm-Down Visual Cards

Gather back in a circle. Lead three slow bubble breaths. Show the Calm-Down Visual Cards and ask reflection questions. Praise each child’s effort.

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Script

Bubble Breathing Story Script

Teacher (warmly): “Hello, friends! Let’s get comfy and sit nice and tall. Place one hand on your belly and one hand on your chest. Can you wiggle your fingers to say ‘hello’ to our story?”

Teacher (softly): “Once upon a time, high up in the sky, there lived a little cloud named Cotton. Cotton had the fluffiest, whitest shape you’ve ever seen. But today, Cotton felt very, very sad. His puffy edges drooped, and he couldn’t float as happily as before. He tried and tried to blow a bubbly cloud, but—pssshh—nothing happened.”

Teacher (concerned): “Oh, dear! Cotton wanted to share gentle bubbles with the birds and the sun, but his breaths felt too small. He sighed and whispered, ‘I wish I could blow big, happy bubbles again.’”

Teacher (inviting): “Do you think you can help Cotton? Let’s practice a magic bubble breath together. Watch me: breathe in slowly through your nose… (pause) and now blow out gently through your mouth, like you’re making a bubble—whoosh…pop!”

Teacher (encouraging): “Great job! Cotton felt that breeze, too. He took a deep breath just like you—breathe in…breathe out…—and suddenly, POP! A perfect soft bubble floated from his puffy cloud body.”

Teacher (animated): “Cotton was so happy! He giggled as one bubble after another drifted across the sky, tickling the birds and dancing with the sunlight. His sadness floated away with each gentle bubble.”

Teacher (reflective): “Friends, Cotton discovered that when he felt droopy, he could breathe slowly and blow kind little bubbles to help him feel better. Let’s try one more magic bubble breath together: breathe in… (pause) now blow out—bubbles away!”

Teacher (cheerful): “Wonderful! Cotton is smiling again, and so are you. Whenever you feel big feelings—like Cotton—you can always use your bubble breath. Are you ready to play with real bubbles now?”

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lenny

Activity

Emotion Meter Chart

Use this chart to help children identify and share their feelings at the start and end of the lesson. Children can point to or place a token under the face that matches their current emotion.

Feeling LevelFaceLabel
5 – Very Happy😊“I feel very happy!”
4 – Happy🙂“I feel happy.”
3 – Okay😐“I feel okay.”
2 – Sad🙁“I feel sad.”
1 – Very Sad😢“I feel very sad.”

Instructions:

  • Display this chart in a visible area of the classroom.
  • At Welcome and Emotion Check, invite each child to point to or place a small class token (e.g., a button or sticker) under the face that best shows how they feel.
  • Use the chart again during Cool-Down and Reflection to see how children’s feelings have changed.
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lenny

Activity

Bubble Breathing Instruction Poster

Follow these steps to blow gentle bubbles with your breath!

  1. Get Ready
    • Sit or stand tall with your shoulders relaxed.
    • Hold your bubble wand gently in front of your mouth.
  2. Breathe In
    • Take a slow, deep breath through your nose—count to 3 in your head: 1…2…3…
    • Feel your belly fill up like a big balloon.
  3. Bubble Out
    • Pucker your lips around the wand.
    • Blow out slowly through your mouth—say “whooooosh” softly.
    • Watch a bubble float away! 🫧
  4. Pause and Feel
    • Rest for a moment. Notice how calm your body feels.
    • Smile at your bubble and say “ahhh.”
  5. Repeat
    • Ready for another? Take another slow breath in through your nose…
    • …and blow out gentle bubbles again! 🫧🫧🫧

Tips:

  • Keep breaths slow and steady—no big, fast blows.
  • Imagine your breath is as soft as a floating bubble.
  • If you feel big feelings, use your bubble breath to help you calm down.

💭 “Breathe in… whoosh out… bubbles away!”

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lenny

Activity

Calm-Down Visual Cards

Use these cards to remind children of simple, self-soothing strategies when they feel upset or overwhelmed. Print, cut out, and laminate each card. Display them in your calm-down corner or hold them up during reflection.

Breathe Slowly 😮‍💨

• Take 3 deep breaths:
1…2…3… inhale
1…2…3… exhale

Count to 5 5️⃣

• Slowly count from 1 to 5 on your fingers.
• Helps your mind focus and quiet down.

Give a Hug 🤗

• Wrap your arms around yourself or a favorite soft toy.
• Squeeze gently and feel safe and calm.

Sit Quietly 🪑

• Find a cozy spot and sit with a calm body.
• Notice each breath and let your thoughts rest.

How to use:

  • When a child feels big emotions, invite them to choose one card.
  • Model each strategy by holding up the card and guiding the action.
  • Encourage students to try the technique until they feel ready to rejoin the group.
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