Calm Quest

Joleen Shillingford

Tier 3

Lesson Plan

Calm Quest Lesson Plan

Help the 8th-grade student develop and practice self-regulation and appropriate peer interaction strategies, reducing attention-seeking behaviors like spitting, hitting, kicking, and eloping in a 30-minute individualized session.

This lesson supports the student’s transition into 8th grade and new sibling dynamics by teaching tools to manage ADHD and Autism-related impulsivity, build social problem-solving skills, and foster positive peer interactions.

Audience

8th Grade Student

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive, personalized practice with visuals and role-play

Materials

Social Scenario Cards, - Self-Regulation Strategy Visuals, - Token Reward Chart, - Attention-Buster Activity Kit, and - Reflection Journal Page

Prep

Prepare Materials and Calm Space

10 minutes

Print, cut, and organize Social Scenario Cards.
Print Self-Regulation Strategy Visuals and laminate if possible.
Post and set up Token Reward Chart with tokens accessible.
Gather items for Attention-Buster Activity Kit (e.g., stress ball, fidget spinner, short movement cards).
Place a chair or cushion in a quiet corner as the calm space.
Print copies of Reflection Journal Page and have pens ready.

Step 1

Greeting and Check-In

5 minutes

Welcome the student warmly and ask how they’re feeling today.
Remind them of today’s goal: to practice calm choices and positive interactions.
Offer the first token on the Token Reward Chart for attending and engaging.

Step 2

Introduce Self-Regulation Strategies

5 minutes

Present Self-Regulation Strategy Visuals and briefly explain each strategy (e.g., deep breathing, muscle relaxation, counting).
Model deep breathing: inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts.
Guide the student to practice one or two strategies along with you.

Step 3

Role-Playing Social Scenarios

10 minutes

Shuffle the Social Scenario Cards.
Student draws a card, reads the situation aloud, and role-plays an appropriate calm response.
Provide immediate feedback and praise.
Award a token on the Token Reward Chart for each successful role-play.

Step 4

Attention-Buster Break

5 minutes

Introduce the Attention-Buster Activity Kit and let the student choose one activity.
Encourage focused engagement for 3–4 minutes (e.g., tossing a soft ball, doing a wall push-up, using a stress ball).
Highlight how taking a brief break can help refocus attention.

Step 5

Reflection and Goal Setting

5 minutes

Hand out the Reflection Journal Page.
Ask the student to write or draw:
- What strategy helped me today?
- How did I stay calm?
- One goal for next time.
Review their reflections, praise growth, and award final tokens.

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Slide Deck

Calm Quest

Welcome to your personalized self-regulation session! Let’s practice calm choices and positive interactions.

Introduce yourself, set a positive tone, and explain the purpose: to practice strategies for calm behavior and positive social interactions.

Today's Agenda

Check-In
Self-Regulation Strategies
Role-Playing Scenarios
Attention-Buster Break
Reflection & Goal Setting

Briefly walk through the agenda, noting times: Check-In (5 min), Strategies (5 min), Role-Play (10 min), Break (5 min), Reflection (5 min).

Greeting & Check-In

How are you feeling today?
Today’s goal: practice calm choices
Earn your first token on the Token Reward Chart

Ask an open-ended feeling question. Encourage honesty. Present the token chart and explain the first token reward for attentiveness.

Self-Regulation Strategies

Deep Breathing
Muscle Relaxation
Counting

See the Self-Regulation Strategy Visuals for prompts.

Show the strategy visuals. Model deep breaths: inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts. Invite the student to practice together using a calm, slow voice.

Role-Playing Scenarios

Shuffle the Social Scenario Cards
Draw a card and role-play a calm response
Receive feedback and earn tokens!

Guide the student through a few example cards. Prompt them to think of words and body language. Praise attempts and award tokens for each successful role-play.

Attention-Buster Break

Choose an activity from the Attention-Buster Activity Kit
Engage for 3–4 minutes to refocus

Explain the purpose of the break: a brief physical or sensory activity to reset attention. Offer choices from the kit and supervise safely.

Reflection & Goal Setting

Use your Reflection Journal Page:

Which strategy helped me today?
How did I stay calm?
One goal for next time

Hand out the Reflection Journal Page. Give quiet time to write or draw. Then discuss reflections, set a specific goal, praise growth, and award final tokens.

Great Work Today!

You practiced calm strategies and positive interactions. See you next time!

Reinforce the student’s progress. Remind them about the next session and encourage using strategies during the week.

Worksheet

Scenario Cards Worksheet

Read each scenario below. In the space provided, write or draw the calm choice you could make (what you would say or do) to handle the situation.

Scenario 1: A classmate makes a funny face behind your back to get you to react in front of friends.
What calm choice could you make?

Scenario 2: Your friend calls you a silly nickname in front of other students to get attention.
What calm choice could you make?

Scenario 3: A group of peers starts a game and leaves you out, laughing as they run off.
What calm choice could you make?

Scenario 4: Someone bumps into you on purpose in the hallway and then giggles.
What calm choice could you make?

Scenario 5: A student teases your handwriting loudly so others will watch.
What calm choice could you make?

Scenario 6: A classmate quickly takes the seat next to you when you step away.
What calm choice could you make?

Scenario 7: Your friend whispers something about you to others, and you overhear.
What calm choice could you make?

Scenario 8: A peer dares you to do something silly to make everyone laugh at your reaction.
What calm choice could you make?

Activity

Attention-Buster Kit

Use these quick sensory or physical activities to take a short brain break and refocus attention (3–4 minutes each):

Stress Ball Squeeze
• Sit or stand and squeeze a stress ball as hard as you can for 5 seconds, then release.
• Repeat 10 times.
Wall Push-Ups
• Stand about an arm’s length from a wall.
• Place your hands flat on the wall and do 10 slow push-ups, keeping your body straight.
Chair Spins
• Sit in a rolling chair or swivel seat.
• Gently spin 3–5 times, then stop and hold still for a moment to notice how you feel.
Stretch & Breathe
• Reach both arms overhead and stretch tall for 5 seconds.
• Side-bend to the left for 5 seconds, then to the right.
• Finish with 5 deep breaths (inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts).

Pick one activity, set a timer for 3–4 minutes, and focus only on the movement. Notice if you feel calmer and more ready to learn afterward!

Rubric

Reflection Journal Rubric

Use the scale below to evaluate the student’s reflection journal entry.

Criteria	4 – Exemplary	3 – Proficient	2 – Developing	1 – Beginning
Reflection Content	Addresses all prompts in depth, giving detailed examples of thoughts and feelings.	Addresses most prompts with clear explanations and some detail.	Addresses some prompts but provides limited detail or examples.	Omits or gives very brief, unclear responses to most prompts.
Strategy Identification	Clearly names and describes the strategy used, including when and how it was applied.	Names the strategy and gives a basic description of its use.	Mentions a strategy but description is vague or incomplete.	Does not identify a self-regulation strategy.
Self-Regulation Insight	Demonstrates deep understanding of how the strategy helped maintain calm.	Shows good understanding of strategy effects on calmness.	Shows some understanding but explanation is superficial.	Lacks insight into how the strategy influenced behavior.
Goal Specificity	Sets a goal that is specific, measurable, and realistic for next time.	Sets a clear and realistic goal but lacks full detail or measure.	Sets a goal but it is vague or only partly realistic.	Goal is unclear, non-specific, or unrealistic.
Completion & Neatness	All sections are thoughtfully completed; work is neat and well organized.	Most sections completed neatly with only minor organizational issues.	Some sections incomplete or handwriting/drawing is difficult to read.	Many sections missing; work is messy or hard to understand.

Journal

Reflection Journal Page

Use the Reflection Journal Rubric to guide your responses. Answer each question in as much detail as you can.

1. Which self-regulation strategy did you use today?
Name the strategy and describe when and how you used it during our session.

2. How did that strategy help you stay calm?
Give a specific example of your thoughts, feelings, or body sensations before and after using the strategy.

3. Describe a challenging moment you handled today.
What calm choice did you make? Explain what happened and how you responded.

4. What is your goal for next time?
Set a goal that is specific, measurable, and realistic (for example: “I will take three deep breaths before speaking when I feel upset”).

5. (Optional) Practice Plan
Write one way you can practice your strategy at home or school this week to help you remember it.

Worksheet

Token Reward Chart

Earn tokens by completing each step. When you earn a token, fill in the box next to the activity and place a token sticker or draw a star in one of the circles below.

Steps to Earn Tokens

Activity	Token Earned
1. Attend & Engage	☐
2. Practice a Self-Regulation Strategy	☐
3. Role-Play Scenario #1	☐
4. Role-Play Scenario #2	☐
5. Role-Play Scenario #3	☐
6. Complete Reflection Journal	☐
7. Set a Goal for Next Time	☐

Your Token Board

◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯

When all circles are filled, you’ve earned a special reward! Feel free to choose a preferred prize or break activity as a celebration of your progress.