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Cool, Calm, Collected

Lesson Plan

Cool, Calm, Collected

Students will learn and practice strategies to ignore bothersome behavior and respond calmly instead of reacting with anger, avoiding physical or aggressive reactions.

This lesson is important because it equips students with essential social-emotional skills, helping them navigate challenging peer interactions peacefully and fostering a positive classroom environment.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Discussion, modeling, and role-playing.

Materials

Small Bell or Chime, Cool, Calm, Collected Slide Deck, and Cool, Calm, Collected Script

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What's Bothering You?

2 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the topic: sometimes people bother us, and we need ways to respond calmly.
    - Ask students for examples of things that bother them (without naming names). Use the Cool, Calm, Collected Slide Deck - Slide 1. Make sure to emphasize that we're talking about behaviors, not people.

Step 2

Introducing the 'Ignore' Strategy

4 minutes

  • Explain the concept of ignoring: pretending you don't notice the bothersome behavior. Use the Cool, Calm, Collected Slide Deck - Slides 2-3.
    - Discuss why ignoring can be helpful (the other person might stop if they don't get a reaction).
    - Model what ignoring looks and sounds like (e.g., turning away, looking at something else, continuing your activity quietly).

Step 3

Practice Time: Freeze Frame Fun!

5 minutes

  • Lead a quick, fun activity where students practice

Step 4

Calm Down Corner & Reflection

2 minutes

  • Briefly discuss other ways to stay calm if ignoring doesn't work right away (e.g., deep breaths, counting to five). Use the Cool, Calm, Collected Slide Deck - Slide 5.
    - Ask students to share one new thing they learned about staying cool, calm, and collected. Provide positive reinforcement for participation.

Step 5

Wrap-Up: Ring the Calm Bell

2 minutes

  • Ring a small bell or chime to signal the end of the session, emphasizing the idea of a peaceful closing. Use the Cool, Calm, Collected Slide Deck - Slide 6.
    - Thank students for their great listening and participation.
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Slide Deck

Cool, Calm, Collected: What Bothering Means

Sometimes other people do things that bother us.

  • Loud noises
  • Accidental bumps
  • Silly words

How do these things make you feel?

Welcome students and introduce the idea that sometimes people do things that bother us. Emphasize that we are talking about behaviors, not people. Ask for general examples (e.g., someone making a loud noise, bumping into you by accident, saying something silly). Write or draw some ideas on the board if helpful.

The Power of Ignoring

Ignoring means:

  • Pretending you don't notice.
  • Turning your eyes and ears away.
  • Focusing on your own activity.

Introduce the idea of 'ignoring.' Explain that ignoring means pretending you don't notice something. It's like turning your attention away from the bothersome behavior. Give simple examples like ignoring a fly buzzing around or a dog barking outside.

How Ignoring Helps You Stay Calm

Why ignore?

  • It helps you stay calm.
  • The bother might stop.
  • You get to keep doing what you want!

What does ignoring look like?

Explain why ignoring works. If someone is bothering you to get a reaction, and you don't give them one, they often stop. Model how to ignore: turn your body, look at your work, hum a quiet tune, imagine a shield around you. Ask students to practice a 'pretend to ignore' face.

Practice Ignoring: Freeze Frame Fun!

Let's practice our ignoring skills!

When I say "Action!" pretend someone is bothering you, and you are IGNORING them. Then "Freeze!"

This slide is for the 'Freeze Frame Fun' activity. Tell students they will practice ignoring. Give a scenario (e.g., someone making a silly noise) and they 'freeze' in an ignoring pose. Then give another scenario. The script will guide this activity.

Other Ways to Stay Calm

If ignoring is tricky, what else can you do?

  • Take 3 deep breaths.
  • Count to 5 in your head.
  • Think of a happy place.

What helps you feel calm?

Discuss other strategies if ignoring isn't enough or if the behavior continues. Emphasize that these are tools to help them stay calm. Go over deep breaths and counting. Ask for other calm-down ideas they might use.

Choose Calm, Be Kind!

You have the power to choose how you react.

Choosing to be cool, calm, and collected helps everyone!

Conclude the session with a positive message about choosing calm reactions. Ring the bell or chime as a peaceful signal to end.

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Script

Cool, Calm, Collected Script

Introduction: What's Bothering You? (2 minutes)

"Hello, everyone! I'm so glad you're here today. We're going to talk about something really important: how to stay cool, calm, and collected when things get a little noisy or bothersome around us."

"Raise your hand if sometimes, someone does something that just really bothers you? Maybe it's a loud noise, or someone accidentally bumps you, or they say something silly that you don't like. It happens to all of us!"

"(Refer to Cool, Calm, Collected Slide Deck - Slide 1) Can anyone give me an example of something that bothers them? Remember, we're talking about the action or the noise, not who did it. (Pause for responses, guide them to general examples like 'loud chewing' or 'someone tapping their pencil.')"

"Great examples! Those kinds of things can be really annoying, right? And sometimes, when we get annoyed, we might feel like yelling, or stomping our feet, or even... (whisper) hitting or spitting. But we know those actions aren't helpful, and they can make things even worse."

Introducing the 'Ignore' Strategy (4 minutes)

"So, today, we're going to learn a superpower: the power of ignoring!"

"(Refer to Cool, Calm, Collected Slide Deck - Slide 2) Ignoring means pretending you don't notice the bothersome thing. It's like you have a superpower shield around you, and the bothersome behavior just bounces right off! You don't give it any attention at all."

"(Refer to Cool, Calm, Collected Slide Deck - Slide 3) Why is ignoring so powerful? Well, if someone is trying to bother you to get a reaction, and you don't give them one, they often stop! If a little brother or sister keeps poking you, but you just keep playing with your toys like nothing happened, what do you think they'll eventually do? (Pause for responses - 'stop poking,' 'go away.') Exactly!"

"Let's practice what ignoring looks like. Everyone show me your 'ignoring face.' It's a face that says, 'I'm busy, I don't even notice you!' (Model: turn head slightly away, focus eyes on something else, maybe a slight smile if appropriate for the situation, or a neutral face.)"

"Now, show me how you might use your body to ignore. Maybe you turn your shoulders away, or you look down at your paper, or you quietly keep reading your book. You're showing with your actions that you're not interested in the bother."

Practice Time: Freeze Frame Fun! (5 minutes)

"(Refer to Cool, Calm, Collected Slide Deck - Slide 4) Okay, it's time for some 'Freeze Frame Fun!' I'm going to give you a scenario, and when I say 'Action!', I want you to pretend you are ignoring the bothersome behavior. Then, when I say 'Freeze!', hold your ignoring pose."

"Ready? Here's our first one: Someone is making a silly noise right next to you, trying to get your attention. They keep making the noise over and over again. Action! (Give students about 10 seconds to act.) Freeze! Wow, I see some excellent ignoring! You look so focused on your own things!"

"Second scenario: Someone is accidentally kicking your chair under the table. You want to focus on your work. Action! (10 seconds.) Freeze! Great job turning your body and focusing on your work, even when your chair is being wiggled!"

"Last one: Someone is saying silly words that you don't like, trying to get you to laugh or get mad. Action! (10 seconds.) Freeze! You are all expert ignorers! You showed them you weren't going to react."

Calm Down Corner & Reflection (2 minutes)

"Sometimes, even if we try to ignore, that bothersome feeling might still be inside us. So, what else can we do to stay calm?"

"(Refer to Cool, Calm, Collected Slide Deck - Slide 5) If ignoring is tricky, we can use our calm-down tools. Can anyone remind me of a way we can calm our bodies down? (Pause for responses - 'take deep breaths,' 'count.')"

"Yes! We can take three slow, deep breaths. Let's try it together. Breathe in... (inhale slowly) ...breathe out... (exhale slowly). Again! Breathe in... breathe out. One more! Breathe in... breathe out. You can also count to five in your head. Or think of a happy place, like playing at the park or a fun toy you have."

"Think for a moment: What is one new idea you learned today about staying cool, calm, and collected? (Call on 1-2 students for quick responses.)"

Wrap-Up: Ring the Calm Bell (2 minutes)

"(Refer to Cool, Calm, Collected Slide Deck - Slide 6) You all have the power to choose how you react when someone bothers you. Choosing to be cool, calm, and collected makes you feel better, and it helps everyone around you, too!"

"To end our calm session, I'm going to ring this bell. When you hear it, take one last deep breath and think about how calm you feel. (Ring a small bell or chime.)"

"Thank you for being such great listeners and participants today! You did an amazing job!"

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