lenny

Chill Out Chat

Lesson Plan

Chill Out Chat Plan

Guide a 5th grader to recognize anger triggers, identify emotions, and practice a breathing strategy, culminating in a personalized self-regulation plan.

Individual Tier 3 support builds emotional awareness and coping skills, reducing aggressive outbursts, improving classroom engagement, and fostering positive peer interactions.

Audience

5th Grade Student (Tier 3 Individual)

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Model, practice, and reflect on self-regulation.

Materials

Prep

Prepare for Session

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Welcome the student in a calm, private area.
  • Explain that the goal is to understand emotions and learn a strategy to "chill out."
  • Show the Feeling Thermometer Chart and discuss emotion intensity levels.

Step 2

Emotion Identification

8 minutes

  • Lay out the Emotion Recognition Cards.
  • Ask the student to pick a card that matches how they felt during a recent upset.
  • Discuss what triggered that feeling and how they noticed it in their body and thoughts.

Step 3

Teaching Self-Regulation Strategy

7 minutes

  • Introduce deep breathing as shown on the Breathing Technique Poster.
  • Model one cycle: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 6 seconds.
  • Guide the student through 2–3 practice cycles together.

Step 4

Reflection & Action Plan

10 minutes

  • Give the student the Self-Regulation Reflection Sheet.
  • Have them write or share which emotion they will monitor and which breathing strategy they’ll use next time.
  • Discuss when and where they’ll practice daily (e.g., before class, at home).
  • Summarize the session and set a goal: use the strategy once per day this week.
lenny

Slide Deck

Chill Out Chat

A 30-minute one-on-one session to recognize and reduce aggressive behaviors by building emotional awareness and self-regulation skills.

Welcome the student in a calm, private space. Introduce yourself and explain that today’s objective is to learn how to recognize strong feelings and “chill out” before things get out of hand.

Introduction & Warm-Up

• Goal: Understand your emotions
• Learn a strategy to “chill out”
• Look at the Feeling Thermometer Chart and talk about how intense feelings can get.

Explain that emotions come in different intensities. Show the Feeling Thermometer Chart and point out levels from mild to intense. Ask the student if they’ve ever felt at each level.

Feeling Thermometer Chart

Use the Feeling Thermometer Chart to rate your emotion:
1 – A little upset
2 – Slightly bothered
3 – Moderately angry
4 – Very angry
5 – Extremely mad

Describe each level on the thermometer. Level 1 is calm, Level 5 is very upset or angry. Invite the student to share which level they often reach when they feel angry or frustrated.

Identifying Emotions

  1. Choose a card from the Emotion Recognition Cards.
  2. Describe a time you felt like that.
  3. Notice where you felt it in your body (e.g., tight chest, clenched fists).

Lay out the Emotion Recognition Cards. Ask the student to pick the card that best matches how they felt during a recent moment of anger. Discuss what happened and how they noticed it in their body.

Deep Breathing Strategy

Learn from the Breathing Technique Poster:
• Inhale slowly for 4 seconds
• Hold your breath for 4 seconds
• Exhale slowly for 6 seconds

Introduce deep breathing as a quick way to calm the body. Refer to the Breathing Technique Poster and explain each step slowly.

Practice Deep Breathing

Let’s practice 2–3 cycles together:

  1. Breathe in (count “1-2-3-4”)
  2. Hold (count “1-2-3-4”)
  3. Breathe out (count “1-2-3-4-5-6”)
    Repeat until you feel calmer.

Model one breathing cycle for the student, counting each phase out loud. Then guide them through 2–3 cycles, offering praise and gentle corrections on pace.

Reflection & Action Plan

Use the Self-Regulation Reflection Sheet:
• Which emotion will you watch for?
• Which breathing steps will you use?
• When and where will you practice daily?
• Set your goal: practice once per day this week.

Hand the student the Self-Regulation Reflection Sheet. Prompt them to complete each section, guiding as needed. Emphasize making a clear, doable plan.

Closing & Next Steps

Great work today! Remember:
• Check your emotion level
• Do deep breathing when you feel upset
• Practice once every day this week
You’re ready to “chill out” and stay in control!

Summarize the key points: recognize emotion, rate it, use breathing strategy, and practice daily. Encourage the student and set a follow-up time if possible.

lenny

Worksheet

Emotion Recognition Cards

Use these cards to recognize and name your feelings and think about what triggers them. Cut them out and use them during our session.

Card 1: Happy

Illustration: 🥳

What situations make me feel happy?





Card 2: Sad

Illustration: 😢

What kinds of things make me feel sad?





Card 3: Angry

Illustration: 😡

What usually triggers my anger?





Card 4: Frustrated

Illustration: 😤

When do I feel frustrated?





Card 5: Anxious

Illustration: 😰

What makes me feel worried or anxious?





Card 6: Excited

Illustration: 😃

What events or ideas make me feel excited?





How to use:

  1. Pick a card that matches how you feel.
  2. Read the question and think about your own experience.
  3. Write or share your answer with your teacher.

Cut along the lines and keep these cards handy for when you need to check in with your feelings.

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Feeling Thermometer Chart

Use this chart to check how strong your feelings are. Circle the number that shows how upset or angry you feel.

1 – A little upset  2 – Slightly bothered  3 – Moderately angry  4 – Very angry  5 – Extremely mad

1. Right now, I feel at level:

Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5




2. Think of a time you felt at Level 4 (Very angry).

Describe what happened:












3. How did your body feel when you were at Level 4? (e.g., racing heart, tight chest)









4. What could you do to chill out when you reach this level?







Keep this chart handy and check your level whenever you notice strong feelings. Use your breathing strategy when you reach Level 3 or above to help calm down.

lenny
lenny

Reading

Breathing Technique Poster

Use this poster to guide your breathing when you start to feel upset or angry. Follow each step slowly and repeat until you feel calmer.

Step 1: Inhale Slowly ⬆️

• Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds.
• Count quietly: “1-2-3-4.”


Step 2: Hold Your Breath ⏸️

• Keep the air in for 4 seconds.
• Count quietly: “1-2-3-4.”


Step 3: Exhale Gently ⬇️🌬️

• Breathe out through your mouth for 6 seconds.
• Count quietly: “1-2-3-4-5-6.”


Repeat and Relax 🧘‍♂️

• Do 2–3 cycles or until you notice your body relaxing.
• Notice your shoulders drop, your heart rate slow, and your mind clear.


Tip: Use this technique whenever you feel your emotion level reach 3 or above on the Feeling Thermometer Chart. Practice daily to build your “chill out” muscles!

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Self-Regulation Reflection Sheet

Use this sheet to plan how you’ll notice and calm your strong emotions. Keep it handy and check in each day!

1. Which emotion will I watch for?




2. What usually triggers this emotion for me?







3. How will I notice this emotion in my body or behavior?

(e.g., racing heart, clenching fists, feeling hot)







4. Which breathing steps will I use to calm down?

(See the Breathing Technique Poster for help.)







5. Where and when will I practice my breathing strategy each day?

(e.g., before class at my desk; at home after homework)







6. How many times per day will I practice?




7. My goal for using this strategy this week:

(e.g., “Practice deep breathing 3 times every day before lunch.”)







8. Reflection: After practicing each day, how did I feel?

(Write down any changes you noticed.)












Keep this sheet in your folder or on your desk. Review it each day and share your progress with your teacher!

lenny
lenny