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Calm Down

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Lesson Plan

Super Calm Strategies Lesson

Students will learn and practice simple calming strategies, such as deep breathing and 'turtle time', to manage their emotions effectively.

Learning to manage emotions early helps children develop self-regulation skills, build resilience, and navigate social situations more successfully. These foundational skills are crucial for their overall well-being and readiness for learning.

Audience

Pre-K Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, guided practice, and creative activities.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, My Calm Down Toolbox, Bubbles, Drawing paper, Crayons or markers, Bubble Breathing Game, and My Calm Spot Drawing

Prep

Gather Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What Are Big Feelings?

5 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the topic of big feelings. "Sometimes our bodies feel really big feelings, like anger or sadness. What do you do when you feel a big feeling?"
  • Explain that today, we'll learn some 'super calm strategies' to help our bodies feel better.
  • Introduce the My Calm Down Toolbox slide deck.

Step 2

Deep Breathing: Bubble Breathing

10 minutes

  • Show the slide on deep breathing from My Calm Down Toolbox.
  • Introduce the Bubble Breathing Game activity.
  • Explain and demonstrate 'bubble breathing': "We're going to pretend to blow bubbles! Take a deep breath in through your nose, like you're smelling a flower, and then blow it out slowly through your mouth, like you're blowing a bubble."
  • Practice together as a group. Provide actual bubbles for students to try if appropriate and safe.
  • Emphasize the feeling of calm that comes with slow breathing.

Step 3

Turtle Time: Retreat and Re-center

5 minutes

  • Show the slide on 'Turtle Time' from My Calm Down Toolbox.
  • Explain 'turtle time': "Sometimes, when a turtle feels scared or overwhelmed, it pulls its head and legs inside its shell to feel safe. We can do something similar when our feelings get too big!"
  • Demonstrate 'turtle time': "When you feel a big feeling, you can pull your arms and head in tight, like a turtle in its shell. Take a few deep breaths while you're in your shell, and when you're ready, slowly come out."
  • Practice 'turtle time' as a group.

Step 4

My Calm Spot: Drawing Activity

8 minutes

  • Introduce the My Calm Spot Drawing worksheet.
  • Instruct students: "Now that we know some super calm strategies, I want you to draw your own calm spot. Where do you feel peaceful and happy? It could be a real place or an imaginary place."
  • Provide drawing materials and encourage creativity. Circulate and engage with students about their drawings.

Step 5

Wrap-Up: Review and Share

2 minutes

  • Ask students to share their drawings if they wish.
  • Briefly review the strategies: "Today we learned bubble breathing and turtle time! When you feel a big feeling, remember your super calm strategies and your calm spot."
  • Praise students for their participation and effort.
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Slide Deck

My Calm Down Toolbox

What do you do when you feel BIG feelings?

Today, we'll learn some super calm strategies to help our bodies feel better!

Welcome students and introduce the idea of having a 'calm down toolbox' inside them. Ask them what they do when they feel big emotions. Transition to the first strategy.

Bubble Breathing!

Inhale slowly like you're smelling a flower. 🌸

Exhale slowly like you're blowing a big bubble! 🫧

Let's practice together!

Introduce 'Bubble Breathing'. Demonstrate and guide students through several rounds of practice. Emphasize slow, deep breaths. This ties into the Bubble Breathing Game activity.

Turtle Time!

When a turtle feels scared, it pulls inside its shell to feel safe.

When your feelings are big, you can pull your arms and head in tight, like a turtle. 🐢

Take a few deep breaths in your shell, and come out when you're ready!

Introduce 'Turtle Time'. Explain why turtles go into their shells and relate it to students needing a safe space. Demonstrate the physical action and guide them in practicing.

Your Calm Spot

Where do you feel peaceful and happy?

It can be a real place or an imaginary place!

Let's draw our own calm spots!

Summarize the strategies learned. Connect to the 'My Calm Spot Drawing' activity. Encourage them to think about their personal calm places.

You Have Super Calm Strategies!

Remember your Bubble Breathing and Turtle Time.

You have a whole toolbox inside you to help you feel calm! 🛠️

Conclude by reminding students they have these tools inside them. Reiterate the importance of using them when big feelings arise. Praise their participation.

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Activity

Bubble Breathing Game

Let's pretend to blow some super big, calming bubbles!

Instructions:

  1. Get Ready to Breathe: Sit comfortably. Put your hands together, like you're holding an imaginary bubble wand.
  2. Smell the Flower: Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose. Pretend you are smelling a beautiful flower! 🌸 (Hold for a count of 2)
  3. Blow the Bubble: Purse your lips, and slowly blow out through your mouth. Pretend you are blowing a huge, beautiful bubble! 🫧 Try to make your breath last as long as possible.
  4. Watch it Float: Imagine your bubble floating gently away, carrying any worries with it.
  5. Repeat: Let's do it a few more times! Each time, try to blow a bigger, slower bubble.

Teacher Notes:

  • Provide actual bubbles for students to try after a few rounds of imaginary breathing, if possible and safe.
  • Encourage students to notice how their bodies feel as they breathe slowly.
  • Remind them they can do this anytime they feel big feelings.
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Worksheet

My Calm Spot Drawing

Where do you feel peaceful and happy?

Draw a picture of your own special calm spot below! It can be a real place, like your cozy bed, or an imaginary place, like a cloud made of marshmallows.

What colors are in your calm spot? Who is there with you, or are you all by yourself? What makes it feel calm?













Tell us about your calm spot!

My calm spot is...










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Calm Down • Lenny Learning