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Calm Corner

Lesson Plan

Sensory Strategy Map

Students will identify at least three sensory strategies for self-regulation and collaboratively create a visual Sensory Strategy Map to reference during times of stress.

Teaching a variety of sensory tools helps students learn how to self-regulate emotions and gives them a communal resource to use when feeling overwhelmed.

Audience

2nd Grade Small Group

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Interactive mapping and discussion

Materials

  • Chart Paper, - Markers, - Sensory Tool Picture Cards, - Sticky Notes, and - Finding Your Calm

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

  • Print and cut out the Sensory Tool Picture Cards.
  • Set up chart paper on a wall or table, dividing it into sections labeled Visual, Auditory, Tactile, Proprioceptive, Vestibular, and Olfactory.
  • Gather markers and sticky notes.
  • Review the content of Finding Your Calm slide deck to familiarize yourself with each strategy.

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

5 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle and ask: "What senses do you know?"
  • Prompt examples: sight, hearing, touch, smell, movement.

Step 2

Slide Presentation

10 minutes

  • Display Finding Your Calm slides introducing sensory strategies.
  • Discuss each strategy and invite students to share any experiences they’ve had using those strategies.
  • Highlight examples for visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive, vestibular, and olfactory strategies.

Step 3

Group Mapping Activity

8 minutes

  • Divide students into small teams and give each team a set of Sensory Tool Picture Cards.
  • Ask each team to place their cards on the chart paper in the correct sensory category.
  • Use markers and sticky notes to add extra ideas or labels to each section.

Step 4

Reflection and Wrap-Up

2 minutes

  • Invite students to share one sensory strategy they’d like to try this week.
  • Post the completed Sensory Strategy Map in the Calm Corner for future reference.
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Slide Deck

Finding Your Calm: Sensory Strategies

In this deck, we’ll learn six ways our five senses (plus movement) can help us feel calm and in control.

  1. Visual
  2. Auditory
  3. Tactile
  4. Proprioceptive
  5. Vestibular
  6. Olfactory

Let’s explore each one!

Welcome, everyone! Today we’re going to explore different sensory strategies you can use anytime you need to feel calm or focused. Read the slide and guide students to follow along.

Visual Strategies

Definition:
• Using sights, colors, and images to soothe the mind.

Examples:
• Watching fish in an aquarium
• Looking at calming pictures or lava lamps
• Coloring or drawing rainbow patterns

Try It:
• Think of one thing you can look at right now that makes you feel calm.

Explain that our eyes take in information and that certain visuals can help our brain relax. Show real-life examples or quick clip of calming images if available.

Auditory Strategies

Definition:
• Using sounds or music to regulate feelings.

Examples:
• Listening to soft music or nature sounds
• Humming a favorite tune
• Using noise-canceling headphones with white noise

Try It:
• Close your eyes and listen for three different sounds around you.

Discuss how our ears help us notice sounds and how gentle sounds can lower stress. Play a short clip of quiet music or nature sounds if possible.

Tactile Strategies

Definition:
• Using touch and textures to ground yourself.

Examples:
• Squeezing a stress ball or putty
• Running fingers over a smooth rock or fabric
• Rubbing scented lotion into hands

Try It:
• Find something nearby to touch and describe how it feels.

Demonstrate a tactile tool like a stress ball or play-dough. Encourage students to touch and describe the feeling.

Proprioceptive Strategies

Definition:
• Using muscle and joint movement to calm the body.

Examples:
• Doing wall pushes or chair pushes
• Carrying a weighted backpack
• Giving yourself a big hug

Try It:
• Stand and push both hands into the wall for 10 seconds.

Have students push against the wall or do a gentle stretch. Explain that deep pressure helps the body feel organized.

Vestibular Strategies

Definition:
• Using movement and balance to reset your nervous system.

Examples:
• Rocking back and forth in a chair
• Gently swinging on a swing
• Spinning slowly in place

Try It:
• Rock in your seat three times, noticing how it feels.

If you have an open space, demonstrate gentle rocking or swinging. Otherwise, show a short video of a child on a swing.

Olfactory Strategies

Definition:
• Using smells to shift mood and focus.

Examples:
• Sniffing a lavender sachet or scented marker
• Smelling fresh fruit or herbs
• Using essential oil rollers to dab on wrists

Try It:
• Breathe in your favorite scent for five seconds.

Pass around a small scented object (like a scented marker) or simply ask students to imagine a favorite smell. Talk about how smell ties to memory and emotion.

Reflection & Next Steps

• Which strategy did you like best?
• When could you use it?
• Where will you keep your chosen tool?

Keep a small journal to note how each strategy makes you feel. Let’s share our ideas and post them in the Calm Corner!

Wrap up by inviting each student to pick one strategy they want to try this week. Chart their choices on a poster for reference.

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Activity

Tactile Bottle Creation

Objective:
• Students will create personalized tactile (sensory) bottles to use as calming tools, exploring how movement and visual elements can soothe feelings.

Why:
• Hands-on creation helps students internalize tactile strategies, fosters ownership of self-regulation tools, and encourages creativity.

Approach:
Guided craft and reflection in a small-group setting.

Audience:
2nd Grade Small Group (Tier 2 Support)

Time:
25 minutes

Materials:

  • Clear plastic bottles (small, with tight-sealing lids)
  • Water (warm)
  • Clear school glue or liquid glycerin
  • Fine glitter (various colors)
  • Sequins, small beads, tiny plastic charms
  • Food coloring (optional, a drop or two)
  • Funnels (or paper cones)
  • Superglue or hot-glue gun (for teacher use to seal lids)
  • Labels or masking tape + markers
  • Table coverings or trays for spills
  • Paper towels for cleanup

Teacher Preparation (10 minutes):

  • Cover the work area with disposable tablecloths or trays.
  • Pre-mix glue and water in a pitcher (approx. 1 part glue to 3 parts water).
  • Set out all materials within easy reach of each student.
  • If using a hot-glue gun, plug in and get ready to seal bottles safely.

Instructions

  1. Warm-Up Discussion (3 minutes)

    • Gather students around the table and ask: “How do you think watching glitter swirl around might help us feel calm?”
    • Remind them of the Tactile Strategies from Finding Your Calm.

  2. Demonstration (4 minutes)

    • Show a finished sample bottle.
    • Point out how the glitter moves slowly when you tip the bottle, and how looking at it can feel soothing.

  3. Student Bottle Assembly (10 minutes)

    • Step 1: Use the funnel to add 1–2 drops of food coloring (optional).

    • Step 2: Pour in the glue-water mixture until the bottle is about ¾ full.

    • Step 3: Sprinkle in glitter, sequins, beads, and any small charms—leave a bit of empty space at the top so ingredients can move freely.

    • Step 4: Top off with water, leaving about ½ inch of headspace.

  4. Sealing & Decorating (5 minutes)

    • Teacher or aide carefully secures the cap with superglue or hot-glue to prevent spills.
    • Once sealed, students label their bottles with their name and decorate with tape or markers.

  5. Reflection & Clean-Up (3 minutes)

    • Ask each student:
      • What colors and items did you choose and why?






      • How does watching your bottle help you feel?







      • When might you use this tool?
    • Wipe down tables and return materials.

Next Steps:
Invite students to keep their bottles in the Calm Corner. In upcoming sessions, they’ll track how often and why they use their bottles on the Mood Monitor Sheet.

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Journal

Mood Monitor Sheet

Date: __________________________

  1. How are you feeling right now? (Circle an emoji below)

😄 🙂 😐 🙁 😢




2. Rate your mood on a scale of 1 (very sad) to 5 (very happy):

1  2  3  4  5




3. Did you use a tool from the Calm Corner today? Yes [ ] No [ ]


4. Which tool did you use? __________________________





5. What happened before you used the tool?








6. How did using the tool make you feel?








7. When will you use this tool again?








8. Draw a picture of how you feel:












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