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Circle of Calm

Lesson Plan

Circle Of Calm Lesson Plan

A 12-session SEL series teaching 5th–6th graders to identify and regulate emotions, build social skills, manage stress, anxiety, and anger through discussion, hands-on activities, games, and simple worksheets.

Provides structured, scaffolded practice of key SEL skills to support IEP goals in emotional regulation, peer interaction, and coping strategies.

Audience

5th–6th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes per session

Approach

Interactive discussions, games, and guided activities.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Print and copy all worksheets and posters
  • Cut apart Emotion Cards and Mindful Moments Cards
  • Gather props: soft talking piece, Friendship Tiles, stuffed animal (for breathing activity)
  • Review each worksheet and poster so you can guide students

Step 1

Session 2: Breathing Buddies

30 minutes

  • Icebreaker (5 min): “Name That Breath” – In pairs, one demonstrates a breath (big, small, slow, fast) and partner names it.
  • Discussion (5 min): Why is breathing helpful when upset? List ideas on chart.
  • Activity (10 min): “Breathing Buddies” – Lie down with a small stuffed animal on belly; practice deep breathing watching it rise and fall.
  • Game (5 min): “Breath Simon Says” – Leader calls Simon Says breathing actions (big sigh, belly breath).
  • Worksheet (5 min): Complete Calming Breaths Worksheet describing favorite breaths and drawing steps.
  • Wrap-Up (1 min): Share one breath they’ll try when stressed.

Step 2

Session 3: Mood Meter

30 minutes

  • Icebreaker (5 min): “Color Your Mood” – Show a crayon color matching today’s feeling and say why.
  • Discussion (5 min): Introduce Mood Meter quadrants; talk about high/low energy and pleasant/unpleasant.
  • Activity (10 min): Students place their names on a large classroom Mood Meter chart at current feeling.
  • Game (5 min): “Find Your Mood Buddy” – Call out a quadrant; students in that area find a partner and share why.
  • Worksheet (5 min): Fill in Mood Meter Worksheet with examples of situations in each quadrant.
  • Wrap-Up: One insight about how mood changes.

Step 3

Session 4: Stress Detectives

30 minutes

  • Icebreaker (5 min): “Detective Introductions” – Each shares a “stress clue” (heartbeat fast, tummy ache, etc.).
  • Discussion (5 min): Define stress signals: physical, thoughts, feelings, behaviors.
  • Activity (10 min): In small detective teams, examine sample scenarios and list stress signs on chart.
  • Game (5 min): “Stress Signal Relay” – Teams race to match scenario cards with signal cards.
  • Worksheet (5 min): Complete Stress Detective Worksheet identifying signals in personal examples.
  • Wrap-Up: One signal they notice in themselves.

Step 4

Session 5: Anger Volcano

30 minutes

  • Icebreaker (5 min): “Volcano Eruptions” – Show a quick gesture for something that makes you erupt (e.g., stomp, sigh).
  • Discussion (5 min): Talk about anger build-up and eruption. Show “Anger Volcano” poster.
  • Activity (10 min): Draw personal anger volcano on paper; label triggers (magma) and calm strategies (vents).
  • Game (5 min): “Volcano Freeze” – Walk; when “lava” music stops, freeze and name a calm-down strategy.
  • Worksheet (5 min): Anger Volcano Worksheet – fill in triggers and calming vents.
  • Wrap-Up: Share one vent strategy they’ll use.

Step 5

Session 6: Friendship Builders

30 minutes

  • Icebreaker (5 min): “Friendship Name Toss” – Toss Friendship Tiles; name one quality of a good friend.
  • Discussion (5 min): List friendly behaviors (helping, listening, sharing).
  • Activity (10 min): In trios, role-play a friendly scenario (making new student feel welcome).
  • Game (5 min): “Tile Match” – Match tiles showing friendly action to its positive outcome.
  • Worksheet (5 min): On blank tiles of Friendship Tiles, draw three ways they will show kindness this week.
  • Wrap-Up: One friendly act they’ll try.

Step 6

Session 7: Empathy Eyes

30 minutes

  • Icebreaker (5 min): “Mirror Feelings” – Mirror partner’s facial expression.
  • Discussion (5 min): Define empathy; read short scenarios and ask “How might they feel?”
  • Activity (10 min): Use photos of people showing emotions; students write what they think each feels and why.
  • Game (5 min): “Emotion Guess” – Show a card; kids guess emotion and one reason.
  • Worksheet (5 min): Complete Empathy Eyes Worksheet for a time they showed empathy.
  • Wrap-Up: One way to show empathy.

Step 7

Session 8: Problem-Solvers

30 minutes

  • Icebreaker (5 min): “Puzzle Pairs” – Solve a simple puzzle with partner.
  • Discussion (5 min): Introduce 4-step problem-solving poster: Stop, Think, Plan, Act.
  • Activity (10 min): In small groups, choose a conflict scenario and map steps on Problem Solver Steps Poster.
  • Game (5 min): “Step Race” – Teams race to place problem-solver step cards in order.
  • Worksheet (5 min): Students pick a real conflict at school and apply steps on a mini-worksheet.
  • Wrap-Up: Share one step they’ll remember.

Step 8

Session 9: Mindful Moments

30 minutes

  • Icebreaker (5 min): “Mindful Sound” – Identify a sound played quietly in the room.
  • Discussion (5 min): What is mindfulness? Benefits of present-moment focus.
  • Activity (10 min): Guided mindful listening and coloring using Mindful Moments Cards.
  • Game (5 min): “Mindful Freeze Dance” – Dance; when card shows mindfulness icon, freeze and breathe.
  • Worksheet (5 min): Draw favorite mindful activity on blank card for their Mindful Moments deck.
  • Wrap-Up: One moment they felt calm.

Step 9

Session 10: Anxiety Avengers

30 minutes

  • Icebreaker (5 min): “Worry Ball” – Toss a soft ball; catcher names one worry they’ve had.
  • Discussion (5 min): What is worry? Different signs of anxiety.
  • Activity (10 min): Build personal “Anxiety Avenger Toolkit” – choose 3 coping strategies from toolkit cards.
  • Game (5 min): “Strategy Switch” – When music stops, switch toolkit cards and share a new strategy.
  • Worksheet (5 min): Complete Anxiety Avenger Toolkit sheet listing when they’ll use each strategy.
  • Wrap-Up: Share one tool they’ll use next time they worry.

Step 10

Session 11: Teamwork Triumphs

30 minutes

  • Icebreaker (5 min): “All Aboard” – Everyone steps on a small mat; discuss how they made it work.
  • Discussion (5 min): Key teamwork skills: listening, sharing ideas, supporting.
  • Activity (10 min): Small groups complete a cooperative challenge using Teamwork Triumphs Game Board.
  • Game (5 min): “Pass the Message” – Whisper chain to practice clear listening.
  • Worksheet (5 min): On game board, write what helped their team succeed and what to improve.
  • Wrap-Up: One teamwork tip learned.

Step 11

Session 12: Circle of Calm Review

30 minutes

  • Icebreaker (5 min): “Emotional Charades” – Students act out emotions and coping strategies learned throughout the series.
  • Discussion (10 min): “My Calm Journey” – Facilitate a discussion on key takeaways from the series. Ask: "What was your favorite activity?" "What's one new skill you've used outside of our group?"
  • Activity (10 min): “Calm Tool Kit Showcase” – Students share their favorite coping tool from their Anxiety Avenger Toolkit or another strategy learned, explaining why it works for them.
  • Wrap-Up (5 min): “Circle of Calm Affirmations” – Go around the circle; each student shares one positive affirmation about their growth or one thing they'll continue to practice. Collect completed worksheets and celebrate their progress.
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Worksheet

Circle of Calm Printables

Below are the full printable worksheets for your 12-session SEL series. Each worksheet is a self-contained page students can complete during or after sessions. Use the linked table of contents to jump to any one.

Table of Contents

  1. My Feelings Map Worksheet
  2. Calming Breaths Worksheet
  3. Mood Meter Worksheet
  4. Stress Detective Worksheet
  5. Anger Volcano Worksheet
  6. Empathy Eyes Worksheet
  7. Mini Conflict Solver Worksheet
  8. Anxiety Avenger Toolkit Worksheet

1. My Feelings Map Worksheet {#my-feelings-map-worksheet}

Instructions: Think of a time you felt a strong emotion. Draw a “map” of that moment below, then answer the questions about what happened and how you felt.

[Drawing Area]
(Use this space to sketch people, places, and events.)

  1. What emotion did you feel? ___________________________


  2. Where were you? _____________________________________


  3. Who was with you? ___________________________________


  4. What triggered your feeling? _________________________


  5. How did you react? ___________________________________


2. Calming Breaths Worksheet {#calming-breaths-worksheet}

Instructions: Explore different breathing techniques. Describe each, then draw your favorite step-by-step.

  1. Name and describe three breathing exercises:
    a. ___________________________



    b. ___________________________



    c. ___________________________


  2. Which breathing exercise is your favorite? Why?
    ____________________________________________________





  3. Draw each step of your favorite breath below (use arrows to show in/out):

[Drawing Box]

3. Mood Meter Worksheet {#mood-meter-worksheet}

Instructions: Fill in situations or feelings you’ve experienced in each quadrant of the Mood Meter.

PleasantUnpleasant
High Energy
Low Energy

(Write one or two examples in each box.)

  1. Which quadrant do you visit most often?
    _________________________________________


  2. How could you move to a more helpful quadrant when you need to?
    _________________________________________





4. Stress Detective Worksheet {#stress-detective-worksheet}

Instructions: Identify stress signals you experience in different areas. List at least two examples for each.

Signal TypeMy Examples
Physical1. ____________ 2. ____________
Thoughts1. ____________ 2. ____________
Feelings1. ____________ 2. ____________
Behaviors1. ____________ 2. ____________
  1. Which signal is easiest for you to notice?
    _________________________________________


  2. What could you do when you spot that signal?
    _________________________________________





5. Anger Volcano Worksheet {#anger-volcano-worksheet}

Instructions: Visualize your anger like a volcano. List your triggers (magma) and your calm-down vents.

  1. My Anger Triggers (magma):
    a. ___________________________



    b. ___________________________



    c. ___________________________


  2. My Calm-Down Vents (strategies):
    a. ___________________________



    b. ___________________________



    c. ___________________________


  3. Draw your volcano with magma rising and vents open below:

[Drawing Volcano]

6. Empathy Eyes Worksheet {#empathy-eyes-worksheet}

Instructions: Recall a time you showed empathy. Describe the situation and your actions.

  1. Who needed empathy? ___________________________________


  2. What was happening to them? ___________________________


  3. How did you show empathy? ____________________________


  4. How do you think they felt afterward? _________________





7. Mini Conflict Solver Worksheet {#mini-conflict-solver-worksheet}

Instructions: Use the 4-step problem-solving process (Stop, Think, Plan, Act) to work through a conflict.

Conflict Description: ___________________________________





  1. STOP – What’s the problem?
    _________________________________________


  2. THINK – What are two possible solutions?
    a. _________________________ b. _______________________


  3. PLAN – Which solution will you try?
    _________________________________________


  4. ACT – What will you say or do?
    _________________________________________





8. Anxiety Avenger Toolkit Worksheet {#anxiety-avenger-toolkit}

Instructions: Choose three coping strategies from your Anxiety Avenger cards. Write when and how you will use each.

StrategyWhen I’ll Use It
1. __________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________
  1. Which strategy do you think will help most? Why?
    _________________________________________





End of Circle of Calm Printables

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