Calm Corner

Erin

Tier 2

Lesson Plan

Calm Corner Setup Guide

Students will explore and practice calming strategies using sensory tools and reflection, fostering emotional awareness and self-regulation in a dedicated calm space.

Developing early self-regulation skills helps Pre-K children recognize and manage their emotions, improving classroom engagement and emotional security.

Audience

Pre-K Small Group

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Hands-on guided exploration

Materials

Soothing Space Slides, Sensory Bottles (one per student), Glitter, water, and food coloring, Funnels or measuring cups, Sensory Bottle Creation, My Calm Corner Feelings Journal, Self-Regulation Progress Rubric, Cushions or soft mats, Weighted lap pads or stress balls, and Visual emotion cards

Prep

Prepare Calm Corner & Materials

10 minutes

Arrange a quiet corner with cushions, soft mats, weighted lap pads, and stress balls
Place visual emotion cards and My Calm Corner Feelings Journal within reach
Load Soothing Space Slides onto the display device
Gather sensory bottles, glitter, water, food coloring, and funnels or measuring cups
Review the steps in Sensory Bottle Creation and the Self-Regulation Progress Rubric

Step 1

Welcome & Emotion Check-In

5 minutes

Gather students in a circle near the calm corner
Show visual emotion cards and invite each child to name their feeling
Introduce the calm corner as a safe space to feel calm and secure

Step 2

Sensory Bottle Creation

7 minutes

Explain sensory bottles as a calming tool
Guide students to fill bottles with water, glitter, and color using funnels
Encourage shaking and observing glitter movement
Ask: “How do you feel when you watch the swirling glitter?”

Step 3

Feelings Journal Reflection

5 minutes

Hand out My Calm Corner Feelings Journal
Invite children to draw how they felt before and after using their bottle
Offer one-on-one support to discuss their drawings

Step 4

Review & Progress Check

3 minutes

Use the Self-Regulation Progress Rubric to rate calmness levels
Provide positive feedback for effort and strategy use
Remind students the calm corner is always available when upset

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Slide Deck

Welcome to the Calm Corner

A special place just for you to feel calm and happy.

Welcome students! Today we’re introducing our special calm corner, a cozy place to feel safe and calm whenever we need.

How Are You Feeling?

Point to the face that shows how you feel today.

Hold up the emotion cards and ask each child to point to or name how they feel. Encourage them to share if they’d like.

What Is the Calm Corner?

A cozy spot with cushions, soft mats, and calm tools just for you.

Explain that the calm corner is a quiet, cozy spot in the room. Show photos or visuals of cushions and sensory tools.

Meet Our Calming Tools

• Sensory Bottles • Weighted Lap Pads • Stress Balls

Briefly show or pass around each tool. Describe how sensory bottles, lap pads, and stress balls can help us feel grounded.

Make Your Own Sensory Bottle

Fill with water, glitter, and color. Shake and watch the magic.

Guide students step-by-step. Demonstrate spooning in glitter, adding water, and sealing the bottle. Encourage them to watch the glitter swirl.

Drawing Our Feelings

Draw how you felt before and after using your bottle.

Invite children to draw and share their feelings. Remind them there’s no right or wrong picture—this is about how they feel.

Remember, You Are Safe Here

Use the calm corner whenever you need a break or feel upset.

Reassure students that the calm corner is always open. Encourage them to use it whenever they need a quiet moment.

Activity

Sensory Bottle Creation Activity

Objective: Students will create their own sensory bottles to observe how movement and color can help them feel calm.
Time: 7 minutes

Materials:

Empty plastic bottles with secure lids (one per student)
Water
Glitter in various colors
Food coloring (a drop or two per bottle)
Funnels or small measuring cups
Tape or hot glue (to seal lids safely)

Instructions:

Set Up Your Bottle:
- Place a funnel or measuring cup at the top of your empty bottle.
Add Water:
- Pour water into the bottle until it’s about three-quarters full.
- Teacher Prompt: “How much water did you add? Let’s count together!”
Choose and Add Color:
- Add one or two drops of food coloring.
- Question for Students: “What color did you pick? Why?”
Sprinkle Glitter:
- Scoop in a spoonful of glitter using your funnel.
- Observation Prompt: “Watch the glitter—what shapes do you see as it falls?”
Fill to the Top:
- Add more water so the bottle is nearly full, leaving a small air pocket.
Seal the Bottle:
- Place the lid on tightly. Ask an adult to tape or hot-glue the lid for safety.
- Safety Reminder: “We keep the lid on tight so water and glitter stay inside!”
Shake & Observe:
- Shake your bottle gently and watch the glitter swirl and settle.
- Reflection Question: “How do you feel when you watch the glitter move?”

Student Work Space:

Draw or tell us how your glitter moved inside your bottle and how it made you feel.

Journal

My Calm Corner Feelings Journal

Page 1: Before Calm Corner

How do I feel right now?

Draw a picture or color to show how you feel before you use the calm corner.

Page 2: After Calm Corner

How do I feel now?

Draw a picture or color to show how you feel after using the calm corner.

Page 3: My Favorite Calm Tool

Which calm corner tool helped me the most?

Draw the tool or color its picture:

Rubric

Self-Regulation Progress Rubric

Use this rubric to rate each child’s self-regulation skills after visiting the calm corner. Circle the icon that best describes their performance.

Criteria	😞 Beginning (1)	😐 Developing (2)	😊 Proficient (3)
Emotion Recognition	Needs help naming feelings; rarely points to cards.	Sometimes names how they feel with adult support.	Names feelings on their own.
Strategy Use	Does not reach for calm tools, even with prompts.	Uses tools when reminded by an adult.	Chooses and uses a calm tool independently when upset.
Calm Behavior	Remains upset; continues to cry or fuss.	Calms down after encouragement and guidance.	Settles quickly and stays calm with little to no support.

Teacher Notes:

Circle the icon under each criterion.
Use results to guide next steps and praise progress.