Comfort Zone: Feeling Safe at School

David Hoch

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Comfort Zone: Feeling Safe at School

Reduce crying and increase comfort

This lesson aims to create a safe and supportive environment for 3rd-grade students, helping them feel more comfortable and reducing instances of crying during school. By using trauma-informed teaching strategies, the lesson will focus on understanding emotions and building a sense of security. This is important as it fosters a positive learning environment and supports students' emotional well-being.

Audience

3rd grade students

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Trauma-Informed Teaching

Materials

Discussion Questions, and Printable Emotion Cards

Step 1

Introduction

3 minutes

Greet the students warmly and create a welcoming atmosphere.
Briefly explain that today we'll talk about feelings and how to feel more comfortable at school.

Step 2

Guided Discussion

7 minutes

Use the provided discussion questions to guide a conversation about feelings and comfort.
Encourage students to share their thoughts and experiences in a safe and supportive environment.
Validate their feelings and provide reassurance.

Step 3

Emotion Card Activity

5 minutes

Distribute printable emotion cards to each student.
Ask students to select a card that represents how they feel today.
Encourage them to share why they chose that card and discuss strategies that help them feel better when they are upset.

Step 4

Closure

5 minutes

Summarize the key points discussed.
Encourage students to use the strategies discussed when they feel upset or uncomfortable.
Thank the students for sharing and participating.

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Discussion

Discussion Questions

These questions are designed to guide a conversation about feelings and comfort, encouraging students to share their thoughts and experiences in a safe environment.

How do you feel when you come to school?

Encourage students to express their feelings openly. Validate their emotions and reassure them that it's okay to feel a range of emotions.

What makes you feel safe and comfortable at school?

Guide students to think about specific people, places, or activities that help them feel secure.

What can we do if we see someone else feeling upset or uncomfortable?

Discuss strategies for helping others, such as offering a kind word, asking if they need help, or telling a teacher.

Can you share a time when you felt better after talking to someone?

Encourage students to share positive experiences and highlight the importance of communication and support.

Lesson Plan

Comfort Zone: Feeling Safe at School - Session 2

Reinforce emotional safety and comfort through group activities and reflection

This session builds on the previous one by reinforcing concepts of emotional safety and comfort, helping students apply strategies in real-life situations, and promoting a supportive classroom community.

Audience

3rd Grade Students

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Interactive activities and reflection

Materials

Emotion Cards, Reflection Journals, and Group Activity Instructions

Prep

Session Preparation

10 minutes

Review the materials from the first session to ensure continuity.
Prepare the emotion cards and reflection journals for distribution.
Familiarize yourself with the group activity instructions to facilitate smoothly.

Step 1

Review and Warm-Up

5 minutes

Greet the students and briefly review the key points from the previous session.
Ask students to share any experiences they had using the strategies discussed.

Step 2

Group Activity: Building a Safe Space

10 minutes

Divide students into small groups and provide each group with a set of emotion cards.
Instruct each group to create a 'safe space' poster, using the cards to represent emotions they want to feel in their safe space.
Encourage creativity and teamwork as they discuss and design their posters.

Step 3

Reflection Exercise

5 minutes

Distribute reflection journals to each student.
Ask students to write or draw about a time they felt safe and supported at school.
Encourage them to think about who or what helped them feel that way.

Step 4

Closure

5 minutes

Invite a few students to share their reflections with the class.
Summarize the session's activities and reinforce the importance of creating a supportive environment.
Thank the students for their participation and remind them to use their strategies.

Worksheet

Printable Emotion Cards

Use these emotion cards to help students identify and express their feelings. Each card includes an emotion with a corresponding image and label.

Happy 😊

Sad 😢

Angry 😡

Excited 😃

Scared 😨

Calm 😌

Surprised 😲

Confused 🤔

Tired 😴

Nervous 😬

Print these cards and cut them out for use in classroom activities. Encourage students to select a card that represents how they feel and discuss why they chose it.