Let’s learn a simple breathing technique to help calm our mind and body.

• How are you feeling today?
• Point to your emotion on the feelings chart.
• When do you feel overwhelmed or upset?

Deep breathing (belly breathing) helps reduce stress by filling your lungs from the bottom.
Watch the visual guide and try one round with me:
Deep Breathing Visual Guide

• Squeeze the stress ball as you inhale, release as you exhale.
• Let’s do 3–5 rounds together (use the visual timer).
• Then, trace breath paths here:
Deep Breathing Practice Worksheet

Scenario 1: You’re frustrated with homework.
Scenario 2: You’re upset after a disagreement.
Practice:

1. Take 2 deep breaths.
2. Say “I need a moment to breathe” or “I need help.”

How did deep breathing make you feel?
Draw or color one feeling on your worksheet.
Set a goal: Identify 3 times today you will use deep breathing.

Today we’ll learn how to catch negative thoughts and turn them into positive “I am” statements to boost our confidence.

• How many times did you use deep breathing since last session?
• On a scale of 1–5, how confident do you feel right now?
• Share one success or challenge you had.

• Our thoughts can help or hurt us.
• Negative vs. positive:
– “I can’t do this” → “I am learning and growing”
• Watch the guide and create an “I am” statement with me:
“I am capable of solving this problem.”
Positive Self-Talk Visual Guide

• Open the Positive Self-Talk Practice Worksheet.
• Highlight one negative thought in the left column.
• Rewrite it as a positive “I am” statement in the right column.
• Use the “I Am” Statement Cards for ideas.
• Complete at least 3 statements (use the visual timer).

Scenario 1: You’re stuck on a test question.
Scenario 2: You feel nervous about speaking up in class.
Practice steps:

1. Name the negative thought.
2. Take 2 deep breaths.
3. Respond with an “I am” statement (e.g., “I am prepared,” “I can try my best”).

• Which “I am” statement felt most helpful and why?
• Draw or write one word to describe how it made you feel.
• Goal: Choose one moment today to use positive self-talk aloud.
• Reminder: We’ll review your goal next session.

Today we will learn a five-step method to pause, calm down, and solve problems when we feel upset or distracted.

• How many times did you use positive self-talk since last session?
• On a scale of 1–5, how calm do you feel right now?
• Share one success or challenge with using self-talk.

The Stop-and-Think method helps you pause and choose a good action.

1. Stop
2. Breathe
3. Identify Feeling
4. Think of Solutions
5. Act
   Stop-and-Think Step Chart

• Read a scenario from the cards.
• Place a token on each step as we move through:

1. Stop
2. Breathe
3. Identify Feeling
4. Think of Solutions
5. Act
   • Practice with these cards:
   Stop-and-Think Scenario Cards

• Open the Problem-Solving Worksheet.
• Complete one scenario:
– Write your Feeling
– List possible Solutions
– Choose one Action
• Use the timer to keep on track.

• How did using Stop-and-Think feel compared to reacting right away?
• Draw or write one word to describe your experience.
• Goal: Find one moment today to use Stop-and-Think before reacting.

Today we’ll learn a quick way to use our five senses to calm our mind and body when we feel upset or distracted.

• Did you use Stop-and-Think since last session?
• On a scale of 1–5, how grounded do you feel right now?
• Share one success or challenge you had.

We’ll use the 5-4-3-2-1 method to focus on what’s around us:
• 5 things you see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you smell
• 1 thing you taste
Grounding Visual Guide

• Grab the basket of items and your Scavenger Hunt Worksheet.
• List 5 things you see.
• Identify 4 textures by touch.
• Record 3 sounds you hear.
• Describe 2 scents.
• Taste 1 safe item (e.g., mint) and note its flavor.
(Use the timer: ~2 minutes per sense.)

Let’s go through your findings:

1. Name 5 things you saw.
2. Name 4 things you touched.
3. Name 3 things you heard.
4. Name 2 scents you noticed.
5. Name 1 thing you tasted.
   Take a deep breath between each step.

• How did the grounding exercise make you feel?
• Draw or write one feeling on your worksheet.
• Goal: Find one time today to use 5-4-3-2-1 grounding when you feel overwhelmed.

Today we’ll learn how to notice when we need a break, pick a calming activity, and return to work feeling refreshed.

• Did you use the grounding technique since last session?
• On a scale of 1–5, how refreshed or focused do you feel right now?
• Share one success or challenge you experienced.

Taking a planned break can help you pause, reset, and refocus. Follow these steps:

1. Notice stress or overwhelm
2. Choose a Break Card
3. Take the break for a set time
4. Use a return phrase (e.g., “Break’s over, I’m ready”)
   Break Strategy Visual Guide

• Pick a card from the Break Cards.
• Name your chosen activity (e.g., stretch, draw, walk).
• Set the visual timer for 2–3 minutes and do the activity.
• When time’s up, say your return phrase.
• If time allows, try a second card.

• Open the Break Checklist Worksheet.
• Write down:
• Triggers that signal you need a break
• Chosen break activity
• Break duration
• Return-to-task phrase
• Use colored markers to personalize your plan.

• How did taking a planned break make you feel?
• Draw or write one feeling word on your worksheet.
• Goal: Find one moment today to use your break plan.

Let’s gather all the skills—deep breathing, self-talk, Stop-and-Think, grounding, and breaks—into one visual toolkit.

• Which strategies did you use this week?
• On a scale of 1–5, how confident do you feel using them?
• Share one success or challenge you experienced.

• Open the Coping Toolkit Poster Template.
• Name each strategy you’ve learned:
– Deep Breathing
– Positive Self-Talk
– Stop-and-Think
– Grounding Technique
– Taking Breaks

1. Write or draw each strategy in its section.
2. Add a simple icon or color to personalize (e.g., a balloon for breathing).
3. Decorate and label clearly.
4. Use tape to place your poster where you’ll see it.

• Read a card from the Strategy Selection Scenario Cards.
• Point to the strategy you’d use and tell me why.
• Repeat with a second card.

• Open the Future Goals Worksheet.
• Pick 2 strategies to practice this week.
• Write when and where you’ll use each (e.g., “At math, I’ll take three deep breaths”).
• Add a reminder phrase for each.