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Calm Down, Power Up!

Lesson Plan

Calm Down, Power Up! Lesson Plan

Teach 1st-grade students to use two self-regulation strategies (deep breathing and slow counting) to manage frustration and negative emotions before responding to peers and adults.

This lesson equips 1st graders with essential social and emotional skills, helping them manage challenging feelings and interact respectfully with others.

Audience

1st Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Engaging discussion, relatable examples, visual aids, and group role-playing activities.

Materials

Emotion Regulation Visual Aid, and Self-Regulation Strategies Chart

Prep

Lesson Preparation

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction and Discussion

5 minutes

  • Welcome the students and initiate a discussion about emotions they experience at school.
  • Introduce the self-regulation strategies using language relatable to first graders (e.g., "Taking a breath when you're upset").
  • Use the Emotion Regulation Visual Aid to illustrate feelings and coping techniques.

Step 2

Modeling the Strategies

10 minutes

  • Demonstrate the two strategies: deep breathing and slow counting.
  • Narrate your actions with age-appropriate explanations (e.g., "I take a deep breath to calm my heart").
  • Refer to the Self-Regulation Strategies Chart to guide students through each step.
  • Encourage students to mimic the actions and ask them how it makes them feel.

Step 3

Guided Practice

10 minutes

  • Divide the class into small groups and incorporate role-playing activities with scenarios relevant to 1st graders (e.g., conflicts during play or class activities).
  • Guide groups with prompts to help practice deep breathing and counting slowly when feeling frustrated.
  • Provide positive reinforcement and corrective feedback as needed.

Step 4

Recap and Reflection

5 minutes

  • Bring the class together to discuss what they learned about managing emotions.
  • Recap the strategies and their importance in everyday situations at school.
  • Invite a few students to share when they might use deep breathing or counting slowly.
  • Close by reminding students that these strategies can help them enjoy school and work well with others.
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Slide Deck

Calm Down, Power Up!

Today, we're learning how to use our calm power when we feel upset!

Use an energetic and friendly tone to introduce the lesson. Explain that everyone has big feelings sometimes and that learning how to calm down can help us feel better.

What Are Our Feelings?

Sometimes we feel mad, sad, or frustrated. These feelings help us know when we need a little break!

Explain that feelings can be both big and small and show the visual aid displaying different emotions. Ask students to name a feeling they know.

Strategy 1: Deep Breathing

Take a deep breath... In…and out... Try it with me!

Show how to use deep breathing. Use simple language with a demonstration by slowly breathing in and out.

Strategy 2: Slow Counting

Count slowly: 1... 2... 3... Let's count together and feel calm.

Introduce the slow counting strategy. Use a counting song or a fun beat to keep the pace slow and engaging.

Let’s Practice in Groups!

In your groups, take turns using deep breathing and slow counting when you pretend to be upset.

Encourage a group activity where students role-play using the strategies. Circulate to help and provide positive reinforcement.

Recap & Share

How can our calming strategies help us? Share a time you might use a deep breath or slow count.

Gather the students back together. Invite a few to share when they would use these strategies. Reinforce that it's okay to feel big feelings.

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Activity

Activity: Role-Playing Calm

This activity helps you practice feeling calm when you’re upset. You will pretend to be in different situations that you might see at school. The goal is to use deep breathing and slow counting to feel better and make kind choices.


What You Will Do:

  1. Small Groups:

    • Your teacher will put you in small groups of 3-4 friends.
    • There will be enough space for everyone to act and move around.

  2. Scenario Cards:

    • Your teacher will give your group a card with a simple story. For example: "You really want to play with a toy but someone else is using it," or "You feel left out during a game."
    • Read your card together so everyone understands the situation.

  3. Role-Playing Instructions:

    • One friend will act like they feel upset.
    • The friend who is upset will take a deep breath and count slowly: "1, 2, 3…" as a way to feel calm.
    • The other friends will help by saying kind words and showing ways to solve the problem in a friendly way.

  4. Teacher's Help:

    • Your teacher will walk around and watch how everyone is doing.
    • If needed, the teacher will remind everyone to use their deep breath and slow count.
    • Your teacher will ask questions like, "How did your deep breath help you feel calmer?" and "What can we do next to be kind?"

  5. Sharing Time:

    • After you finish role-playing, come together as a class.
    • Each group can share one thing that worked well or a time when deep breathing helped them calm down.





    • Remember, when we use our calm power, we become kind helpers at school.

Have fun pretending and practicing your calm moves! Let's keep practicing to make our classroom a happy, calm place.

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Worksheet

Self-Regulation Strategy Cards

These cards are designed to sit on your 1st grader's desk as friendly reminders for using self-regulation strategies. Each card has a simple picture and easy-to-read instructions. Decorate the cards with bright colors and fun images to capture the students' attention!


Card 1: Deep Breathing

Picture: Draw or print an image of a smiling face taking a big, slow breath, with arrows showing the airflow.


Instruction Text: "Take a slow, deep breath in... and out..."





(Students, you can decorate around this card with drawings of clouds or stars!)





Card 2: Slow Counting

Picture: Draw or print an image that shows numbers with a calm clock or a turtle steadily moving forward.


Instruction Text: "Count slowly... 1, 2, 3... relax and feel calm."





(Students, add your favorite colors or patterns to make the card unique!)





Teacher Note: These cards can be printed and laminated. Feel free to add more visuals or adjust the instructions to best suit your classroom needs.

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Worksheet

Calm Down Corner Visual Card

This card reminds you that when you feel upset or overwhelmed, you can use the Calm Down Corner to help you feel better. Follow these simple steps:


  1. Go to the Calm Down Corner: Walk calmly to our special quiet space.


  2. Find a Comfy Spot: Sit down and take a big, slow breath.


  3. Use Your Calm Tools: Look at the pictures and read the simple tips for calming down.


  4. Feel Better: After a few deep breaths, notice how much calmer you feel.


(Add your favorite drawing or sticker to make this space your own!)



Remember: The Calm Down Corner is a safe, quiet place just for you to take a break and feel better.

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Lesson Plan

Calm Down, Power Up! Counseling Series Plan

Over the 10-session counseling series, 1st-grade students will build and refine self-regulation skills, learning to manage frustration and negative emotions through strategies such as deep breathing, slow counting, and using a calm down corner.

This series provides a scaffolded approach to developing essential emotional and social skills. Each session reinforces self-regulation techniques, allowing students to gradually build confidence and apply these skills in various scenarios.

Audience

1st Grade

Time

10 sessions, 30 minutes each

Approach

Sequential, interactive sessions with discussions, modeling, role-play, and reflection.

Materials

Emotion Regulation Visual Aid, Self-Regulation Strategies Chart, Self-Regulation Strategy Cards, and Calm Down Corner Visual Card

Prep

Series Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review all visual aids and strategy charts (Emotion Regulation Visual Aid, Self-Regulation Strategies Chart).
  • Set up the calm down corner in the classroom and ensure all materials are ready and accessible.
  • Familiarize yourself with each session's focus to provide continuous, supportive guidance during the series.

Step 1

Session 1: Introduction to Feelings

30 minutes

  • Discuss different kinds of feelings and why it’s okay to have big feelings.
  • Introduce simple vocabulary for emotions (happy, sad, angry, scared).
  • Show the Emotion Regulation Visual Aid to display various emotions.
  • Engage in a short drawing activity where students illustrate one emotion they feel.

Step 2

Session 2: Understanding Triggers

30 minutes

  • Talk about what makes us feel upset or frustrated using relatable examples.
  • Introduce the idea of triggers and how noticing them can help us decide to use a calming strategy.
  • Use role-play with simple scenarios to identify triggers.
  • Reflect on how recognizing a trigger can help in choosing to calm down.

Step 3

Session 3: Deep Breathing Basics

30 minutes

  • Introduce the strategy of deep breathing.
  • Demonstrate deep breathing step-by-step, emphasizing slow, calm breaths.
  • Use the Self-Regulation Strategies Chart as a guide.
  • Practice deep breathing with the whole class, discussing how it makes them feel.

Step 4

Session 4: Introducing Slow Counting

30 minutes

  • Present slow counting as an alternative self-regulation strategy.
  • Demonstrate counting slowly (1, 2, 3) with clear, deliberate pacing.
  • Incorporate a fun counting song to reinforce the rhythm.
  • Allow students to practice slow counting in pairs or small groups.

Step 5

Session 5: Combining Strategies

30 minutes

  • Discuss how deep breathing and slow counting can be used together.
  • Model combining both strategies during a simulated stressful scenario.
  • Facilitate a guided group practice using role-play activities.
  • Encourage students to share how the combined strategies make them feel calmer.

Step 6

Session 6: Introducing the Calm Down Corner

30 minutes

  • Explain the purpose of a Calm Down Corner in the classroom.
  • Show the Calm Down Corner Visual Card and review its steps.
  • Discuss when and how to use the calm down corner.
  • Have students role-play a scenario where they move to the calm down corner and use self-regulation strategies.

Step 7

Session 7: Role-Playing with Scenarios

30 minutes

  • Divide the class into small groups and assign scenario cards relevant to 1st graders (e.g., conflict during play, missing a turn).
  • Each group role-plays the scenario using deep breathing and slow counting.
  • Rotate roles so each student practices being both the helper and the one feeling upset.
  • Gather feedback and discuss what worked well.

Step 8

Session 8: Reinforcing Self-Regulation Strategy Cards

30 minutes

  • Review the Self-Regulation Strategy Cards as reminders of deep breathing and slow counting.
  • Let students decorate their own cards to personalize their self-regulation tools.
  • Discuss the importance of having these visual reminders on their desks.
  • Practice using a card during a role-play session.

Step 9

Session 9: Managing Emotions in Real Situations

30 minutes

  • Talk about common situations at school that might trigger frustration or anger.
  • Use storytelling to describe scenarios where self-regulation strategies were helpful.
  • Engage in a group discussion on what to do when facing these real-life triggers.
  • Rehearse responses using both strategies in small groups.

Step 10

Session 10: Reflection and Celebration

30 minutes

  • Recap the strategies learned over the series and discuss their importance.
  • Invite students to share their favorite strategy and a moment when it helped them.
  • Conduct a fun, interactive game to reinforce deep breathing, slow counting, and the use of the calm down corner.
  • Celebrate progress with positive affirmations and recognize improvements in emotional regulation.
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