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Calm Kids Club

Lesson Plan

Calm Kids Club Plan

Students will identify and express basic emotions and practice two simple calming strategies—deep breathing and glitter bottle observation—to build self-regulation skills.

Early social-emotional learning helps Pre-K students recognize feelings, develop self-regulation, and build coping skills that support positive behavior and well-being.

Audience

Pre-K students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive circle time with visual cards and hands-on calming tools.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Print and cut out Emotion Cards.
  • Assemble a Glitter Calm-Down Bottle: fill a clear bottle with water, glitter glue, and seal tightly.
  • Arrange Soft Yoga Mats or Cushions in a circle.
  • Display the Breathing Exercise Poster in view of the circle.
  • Prepare the Sticker Reward Chart and stickers for student use.

Step 1

Welcome & Emotion Check-In

5 minutes

  • Gather students on mats in a circle.
  • Show each Emotion Card, name the emotion depicted.
  • Invite students to share or point to how they feel today.

Step 2

Deep Breathing Practice

10 minutes

  • Introduce 'Smell the Flower, Blow the Candle' using the Breathing Exercise Poster.
  • Guide students to inhale through their nose (smell) and exhale through their mouth (blow) slowly.
  • Repeat for 3–4 breaths, encouraging calm and focused attention.

Step 3

Glitter Bottle Calm-Down Activity

10 minutes

  • Demonstrate how to gently shake the glitter bottle and observe the swirling glitter.
  • Allow each child to hold and shake the bottle one at a time.
  • Encourage students to take deep breaths as they watch the glitter settle, linking movement to feelings settling.

Step 4

Cool-Down & Reflection

5 minutes

  • Bring students back to the circle and ask how the breathing and glitter bottle made them feel.
  • Acknowledge responses and praise student effort.
  • Offer each student a sticker and place it on the Sticker Reward Chart to reinforce positive practice.
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Slide Deck

Calm Kids Club

A fun lesson to explore feelings and learn calming strategies!

Welcome students to Calm Kids Club! Use a friendly, excited voice. Explain that today we will learn about feelings and fun ways to calm down. Get them excited.

Our Goal

We will learn to:
• Identify our feelings
• Practice deep breathing
• Use a glitter bottle to calm down

Introduce the three goals. Read each bullet, use a pointer or your finger to guide children’s eyes. Keep language simple.

Materials

• Emotion Cards
• Glitter Calm-Down Bottle
• Soft Yoga Mats or Cushions
• Breathing Exercise Poster
• Sticker Reward Chart

Show each material physically if possible: emotion cards, glitter bottle, mats, poster, and sticker chart. Explain briefly what each is for.

1. Emotion Check-In

• Sit on mats in a circle.
• Look at each emotion card.
• Point to or share how you feel today!

Gather students on mats. Show each emotion card and say the emotion. Encourage students to point or share their feelings. Keep the pace lively.

2. Deep Breathing Practice

Smell the Flower, Blow the Candle
• Inhale through your nose. (Smell)
• Exhale through your mouth. (Blow)
• Repeat 3–4 times.

Demonstrate 'smell the flower, blow the candle' with hands gesturing to nose and mouth. Count breaths slow and clear. Encourage all to participate.

3. Glitter Bottle Calm-Down

• Shake the bottle gently.
• Watch the glitter swirl.
• Take slow, deep breaths while it settles.

Show how to shake and hold the glitter bottle. Let each child have a turn. Prompt them to breathe and watch the glitter calm.

4. Reflection & Stickers

• How did you feel after?
• Share and listen.
• Earn a sticker for trying!

Ask how they feel now and listen to their responses. Praise their ideas. Give each child a sticker and guide them to place it on the sticker chart.

Great Job!

You did amazing today!
Remember to use these calm tools anytime you need.

Celebrate the end of the lesson. Praise the class for trying hard. Remind them they can use breathing and the glitter bottle anytime.

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Activity

Deep Breathing Game

Objective: Reinforce deep‐breathing skills through a fun, pretend‐play game where students act out breathing cues to build self‐regulation.

Materials:

  • Breathing Exercise Poster
  • Props (choose 2–3):
    • Artificial flower (smell)
    • Toy candle (blow)
    • Balloon (inflate)
    • Bubble wand (blow bubbles)

Prep (5 minutes):

  • Display the Breathing Exercise Poster where all can see.
  • Gather chosen props and place them in a basket in the center of the circle.

Instructions

  1. Introduction (2 minutes)
  • Remind students of “Smell the Flower, Blow the Candle.”
  • Show each picture on the Breathing Exercise Poster & model the inhale/exhale gestures.
  1. Deep Breathing Game (15 minutes)
  • Explain: “When you see a flower, sniff slowly. When you see a candle, blow softly.”
  • Teacher randomly holds up one prop at a time:
    • Flower → inhale through nose, arms open like smelling.
    • Candle → exhale through mouth, hands puff out as if blowing.
    • Balloon → inhale deeply, then forcefully exhale to pretend you’re inflating it.
    • Bubble Wand → inhale, then blow gently to “make bubbles.”
  • Repeat each prompt 2–3 times, cheering students on.
  1. Group Challenge (5 minutes)
  • Divide class into small groups of 3–4.
  • One group leads with props, the rest follow.
  • Rotate leaders so every group has a turn to guide the breathing cues.
  1. Reflection (3 minutes)
  • Gather back in a full circle.
  • Ask:
    • “How did your body feel after the game?”






    • “Which pretend breathing was your favorite?”





  • Praise all answers and highlight how deep breathing can be used anytime.

Follow-Up Tip: Use this game during transitions (before nap time, after recess) or whenever the class needs a quick calm‐down. Swap in new props (stuffed animal, pinwheel) to keep it fresh and engaging.

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Cool Down

Feelings Reflection Worksheet

Name: _______________________ Date: _______________

1. My Feeling Before

How did I feel before we started our calm activities?







2. My Feeling After

How do I feel now after deep breathing and the glitter bottle?







3. My Favorite Calm Tool

Circle the one you liked best:

• Deep Breathing • Glitter Bottle

Draw a picture of yourself using the tool:












4. When I Can Use It

I can use my calm tool when:












Great job reflecting! Remember to use your calm tool anytime you need to feel better.

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Calm Kids Club • Lenny Learning