Coping Power-Up Script

Introduction & Check-In (2 minutes)

Teacher: “Hi! I’m really glad to see you today. How are you feeling right now?”
(Allow the student to respond.)

Teacher: “Thank you for sharing that with me. You mentioned you’re feeling [repeat student’s feeling]—can you tell me a bit more about what that feels like?”
(Allow response; follow up as needed: “What happened before you felt that way?”)

Teacher: “Today, we’re going to explore some safe, healthy strategies you can try when your feelings feel really big. We’ll learn three different coping skills and practice them together. Does that sound okay?”

Reading & Discussion (3 minutes)

Teacher: “I have a short story about a girl named Kelly who finds a healthy way to cope when she’s feeling very upset. As I read, notice any part that stands out to you.”

(Teacher reads Coping Power-Up Reading Passage)

Teacher: “What did you notice in that story? Was there a part that made you think or feel something?”

Possible follow-up prompts:

• “Why do you think Kelly chose to do deep breathing?”
• “Have you ever felt like Kelly in that moment? What did you do?”

Present Coping Strategies (3 minutes)

Teacher: “Great insights! Now let’s learn three strategies that might help when you feel overwhelmed. We’ll look at our slides.”

(Show Coping Power-Up Slide Deck)

1. Deep Breathing
   Teacher: “Sit comfortably. Inhale slowly for a count of four… hold… and exhale slowly for a count of six. Let’s try three breaths together.”
   (Guide student through breaths.)
   Teacher: “How did that feel?”

2. Sensory Distraction
   Teacher: “Choose something you can touch or smell—like a stress ball or a scented object. Notice its texture, temperature, or scent for a full minute.”
   (Student practices.)
   Teacher: “What did you notice when you focused on the object?”

3. Journaling
   Teacher: “Writing down your thoughts can help you understand them. There are no rules—just write what comes to mind. You might start with: ‘I’m feeling…’ or ‘One thing I’m grateful for is…’. Which of these sounds most comfortable for you to try?”
   (Allow the student to choose.)

Guided Practice Game (4 minutes)

Teacher: “Let’s play our coping strategies game! Draw one scenario card, then pick one strategy to practice right now.”

(Play Coping Power-Up Coping Strategies Game)

Teacher: “You drew: ‘Your heart is racing because you have a big test tomorrow.’ Which strategy will you try?”
(Allow response.)
Teacher: “Great choice—let’s do it together.”
(Guide practice.)
Teacher: “Awesome job! What did you notice in your body or thoughts when you used that strategy?”

Quick Quiz & Reflection (2 minutes)

Teacher: “Time for a quick quiz! First question: Which strategy helps calm your breathing?”
(Allow response: deep breathing.)
Teacher: “Exactly! Second question: Name one thing you might write in your journal.”
(Allow response.)
Teacher: “Perfect!”

Teacher: “Now, on this worksheet there’s a new scenario. Pick one coping skill and write or draw how you’d use it.”
(Student completes Coping Power-Up Worksheet).
Teacher: “Would you like to share your answer?”
(Allow response.)

Wrap-Up & Next Steps (1 minute)

Teacher: “You did amazing today! We covered deep breathing, sensory distraction, and journaling. I’m proud of your effort.”

Teacher: “Remember to practice these strategies whenever you feel overwhelmed and notice which one helps you the most.”

Teacher: “We’ll check in next time to see how things are going. Thank you for working hard with me today!”

Kelly’s Coping Power-Up Story

Kelly stared down at the crumpled paper in her lap. Her chest felt tight, and her mind raced with worries—why she got a B on her art project, why her friend didn’t smile back at her this morning, why everything felt so heavy. She remembered how, last week when she felt this way, she had scratched her arm until it stung. Today, she decided she wanted something different.

She closed her eyes and pushed the paper aside. Kelly sat up straight, placing her hands gently on her tummy. She breathed in slowly, counting silently “1…2…3…4,” feeling her stomach rise. She paused, then let the air out in a long sigh, counting “1…2…3…4…5…6.” She did this three times, imagining her worries leaving her body with each exhale. When she opened her eyes, she felt a tiny bit lighter.

Next, she reached into her backpack and found a small, smooth stone she had picked up at the park. She held it in her palm, noticing its cool, rough surface and the small ridges along its edges. Focusing on the stone’s texture helped her mind slow down.

Before she left for class, Kelly grabbed her notebook and wrote just one sentence: “I am proud of myself for trying something new today.” As she closed the notebook, a small smile appeared. Kelly had found a healthier way to cope—and she felt stronger already.

Coping Power-Up Discussion Prompt Cards

Use these prompt cards to guide a brief discussion after reading Kelly’s story. Shuffle and draw one, or choose the question that best fits your student’s pace.

1. How do you think Kelly felt at the very start of the story?
   • Follow-up: What clues in the text help you know that?

2. Why might Kelly have chosen deep breathing over scratching her arm this time?
   • Follow-up: Have you ever tried deep breathing when you felt upset? What happened?

3. What did Kelly notice about the stone she held?
   • Follow-up: How did focusing on the stone’s texture help her mind?

4. Which sentence did Kelly write in her journal? Why do you think she chose that one?
   • Follow-up: What is one thing you might write in your journal right now?

5. Of the three strategies—deep breathing, sensory distraction, journaling—which feels most comfortable for you to try first?
   • Follow-up: What makes that strategy a good fit for you?

6. Imagine you’re having a rough moment tomorrow. How will you remind yourself to use one of these strategies instead of self-harm?
   • Follow-up: Where could you keep a note or object to help you remember?

7. What was one new thing you learned from Kelly’s story and our discussion?
   • Follow-up: How might that help you next time you feel upset?

Coping Power-Up Coping Strategies Game

In this quick card-draw game, the student practises choosing and using one of our three coping skills in response to a realistic feeling or stressor.

Materials Needed

• Printed or digital deck of Scenario Cards below (cut apart if printed)
• A timer or stopwatch (optional)

How to Play (4 minutes)

1. Shuffle the Scenario Cards and place them face-down.
2. Student draws one card and reads it aloud.
3. Student chooses one coping strategy:
   • Deep Breathing
   • Sensory Distraction
   • Journaling
4. Student practices that strategy right away (30–60 seconds).
5. Teacher asks: “What did you notice in your body or your mind when you used that strategy?”
6. Return the card to the bottom of the deck and repeat as time allows.

Scenario Cards

1. Big Test Jitters
   Your heart is racing because you have a big test tomorrow.

2. Silent Text
   You feel upset because a friend hasn’t replied to your message all day.

3. Homework Overload
   You look at your long to-do list of assignments and feel overwhelmed.

4. Sibling Squabble
   You just had an argument with your brother or sister and feel angry.

5. Stage Fright
   You’re nervous about speaking in front of the class tomorrow.

6. Game Loss
   You feel frustrated because you lost an important game at recess.

7. Teacher Feedback
   Your teacher corrected your work and you feel disappointed in yourself.

8. Recess Loneliness
   You feel lonely because no one is playing with you at recess.

Teacher Note: Choose 2–3 cards that feel most relevant to your student’s experiences. Always offer encouragement and reinforce that practising these skills makes them stronger over time.

Coping Power-Up Worksheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________________

1. List the three coping strategies we learned today:

   • Strategy 1: ____________________________
   
   
   • Strategy 2: ____________________________
   
   
   • Strategy 3: ____________________________
   
   
   

2. Read the scenario below and choose one strategy to use:

   Scenario: You feel nervous because you have to speak in front of your classmates tomorrow.
   
   
   

   Which strategy will you choose? ____________________________
   
   
   

3. Explain step by step how you would use this strategy in that moment:
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Draw or describe an object, note, or prompt you could keep with you to remind yourself to use this strategy:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Where could you place this reminder so you’ll notice it when you need it? ____________________________