Coping Skills: Your Superpowers! - Teacher Script

Warm Up: Feeling Check-In (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon everyone! I'm so glad you're here. To start our day, let's do a quick 'Feeling Check-In.' I'd like each of you to share one feeling you are having today and, if you feel comfortable, tell us why you're feeling that way. I'll write some of our feelings on the board. Who wants to go first?"

(Allow 1-2 students to share, keeping it brief. Acknowledge their feelings.)

Teacher: "Thanks for sharing! It's okay to feel all sorts of feelings, isn't it? Sometimes we feel happy, sometimes we feel a little frustrated, or even sad. Today, we're going to learn about something that can help us when we have those big, tricky feelings."

Introduction to Coping Skills (4 minutes)

Teacher: "(Show Slide 1) Our lesson today is called 'Coping Skills: Your Superpowers!' Has anyone heard the words 'coping skills' before? What do you think they might mean?"

(Allow a brief moment for students to respond. Guide them towards the idea of dealing with feelings.)

Teacher: "(Show Slide 2) You got it! Coping skills are like special tools or strategies we use to help us handle strong or difficult emotions. When we feel angry, sad, worried, or super frustrated, coping skills can help us feel better and make good choices instead of letting our feelings take over."

Teacher: "(Show Slide 3) Think of them as your emotional superpowers! Just like superheroes have powers to save the day, you have powers to help you manage your feelings. Everyone has different superpowers, and what works for one person might be different for another. That's why it's great to know a few different ones!"

Reading: What Are Coping Skills? (4 minutes)

Teacher: "Now, I have a short reading that tells us a bit more about these amazing coping skills. I'm going to read it aloud, and I want you to listen carefully for some examples of coping skills. (Distribute Coping Skills Reading)"

(Read the Coping Skills Reading aloud, clearly and with expression.)

Teacher: "What did you hear in the reading? What were some of the coping skills mentioned?"

(Prompt students to recall 2-3 skills. Write them on the board if time permits.)

Discussion: When and Where to Use Them (5 minutes)

Teacher: "It's great to know what coping skills are, but it's even more important to know when and where to use them. We wouldn't use every superpower for every problem, right? (Show Slide 4) Take a look at these pictures and let's talk about some situations where these skills might be helpful. I've got some Coping Skills Discussion Prompts to help us."

(Guide students through the discussion prompts. Encourage them to explain their reasoning.)

Teacher: "(Show Slide 5) For example, if you're feeling super angry because a friend took your toy, would taking three deep breaths help? Probably! What about if you're really worried about a test? Would talking to a trusted adult help? Absolutely!"

Activity: Coping Skills Card Sort (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Now, let's put our new knowledge to work! I have some cards with different coping skills and some situations. Your job is to match the coping skill to the situation where it would be most helpful. This is our Coping Skills Activity Card Sort."

(Distribute the card sort materials. Circulate and assist students as they work. Encourage them to explain their matches.)

Teacher: "Remember, there might be more than one right answer, and that's okay! The goal is to think about how these skills can help us in different moments."

Conclusion & Cool Down (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Great job everyone! You've identified some awesome coping skills and thought about how to use them. (Show Slide 6) Just like our superheroes, we've learned to use our emotional superpowers. Why is it important to know how to use coping skills?"

(Allow 1-2 students to share their reflections.)

Teacher: "Exactly! Knowing these skills helps us feel calmer, make better choices, and be kinder to ourselves and others. Before we finish, I have a quick Coping Skills Cool Down Ticket for you. Please write down one coping skill you learned today that you think you might try the next time you have a big feeling."

What Are Coping Skills?

Have you ever felt really mad, super worried, or just plain sad? Everyone has big feelings sometimes! It's totally normal. But what do you do when those feelings get too big to handle?

That's where coping skills come in! Coping skills are like your secret tools that help you feel better and calm down when your feelings are strong. They help you take a breath, think clearly, and make good choices instead of letting your big feelings take over.

Think of your favorite superhero. They have special powers to help them in tough situations, right? Well, you have special powers too – your coping skills!

Here are some examples of coping skills:

• Taking a few deep breaths: Inhale slowly through your nose, hold it, and then exhale slowly through your mouth. This helps your body relax.
• Counting to ten: Sometimes, just giving yourself a few seconds to count can help you cool down and think.
• Talking to a trusted adult: Sharing your feelings with a parent, teacher, or counselor can make you feel better and help you find solutions.
• Drawing or coloring: Being creative can be a great way to express feelings without using words.
• Listening to calm music: Music can change your mood and help you relax.
• Taking a short walk: Moving your body can help release some of that pent-up energy from big feelings.
• Playing with a favorite toy: Sometimes a distraction can help you reset.

Remember, everyone is different, so what works best for one person might not be the best for another. The important thing is to find a few coping skills that work for YOU, so you're ready when those big feelings show up!

Coping Skills: When and Where to Use Them?

Let's discuss some situations and think about which coping skill would be helpful. Remember, there can be more than one good answer!

1. Scenario: You're working on a puzzle, and you can't find the last piece. You start to feel really frustrated and want to throw the puzzle.
   Question: What coping skill could you use right now to help yourself calm down? Why would that skill be a good choice?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Scenario: You had a disagreement with a friend at recess, and now you feel sad and a little angry. You're sitting in class, and it's hard to focus.
   Question: What coping skill could you use quietly in class? What coping skill could you use after class when you have a chance to talk to an adult?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Scenario: It's almost bedtime, and you're feeling worried about a test you have tomorrow. Your stomach feels a little fluttery.
   Question: What coping skill could help you feel calmer before bed? Who could you talk to about your worries?
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Scenario: You're playing a game, and you lose. You feel really mad and want to stomp your feet and shout.
   Question: Instead of yelling, what could you do to help manage that anger? What's a healthy way to let out that feeling?
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Scenario: Someone says something unkind to you. You feel hurt and want to say something mean back.
   Question: What coping skill could help you pause before reacting? What should you do if someone is being unkind to you?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Coping Skills Superpower Match-Up!

Instructions: Cut out the coping skill cards and the situation cards below. Read each situation carefully, then match the best coping skill(s) to help in that moment. There might be more than one good answer! Be ready to explain your choices.

Coping Skill Cards (Cut these out!)

Situation Cards (Cut these out!)

Coping Skills: My Superpower Cool Down

Name: _____________________________

Date: _____________________________

1. Today, I learned that coping skills are ways to help me with my _________________ feelings.

2. One coping skill I learned about today is:
   
   
   

3. I think this coping skill could help me when I feel _________________ because _________________.
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. I will try to use this coping skill when... (draw a picture or write about it!)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Coping Skills: Feeling Check-In!

Name: _____________________________

Date: _____________________________

What is one feeling you are having right now? (Circle it or write it down!)

• Happy
• Sad
• Excited
• Worried
• Calm
• Frustrated
• Angry
• Tired
• Confused

My feeling is: ________________________________

Why do you think you are feeling this way today?

Coping Skills Quiz Answer Key

Question 1

Prompt: What are coping skills?
Correct Answer: Tools to help you handle strong feelings
Reasoning: Coping skills are specifically designed strategies to manage emotions in a healthy way, not to ignore them, play games, or hurt others.

Question 2

Prompt: Which of these is a good coping skill when you feel angry?
Correct Answer: Take three deep breaths
Reasoning: Taking deep breaths is a common and effective calming technique that helps regulate the body's response to anger. Yelling, breaking things, or bottling up anger are unhealthy responses.

Question 3

Prompt: If you are worried about a test, who is a trusted adult you could talk to?
Correct Answer: Your teacher
Reasoning: A teacher is a trusted adult who is directly involved with the test and can offer support, guidance, or clarification regarding academic worries. Toy cars, strangers, and the TV cannot provide this support.

Question 4

Prompt: Name two coping skills you learned today.

1. _________________________________________

2. _________________________________________
Correct Answer: Answers will vary, but common examples include: Take deep breaths, count to 10, talk to a trusted adult, draw or color, listen to calm music, go for a short walk, play with a favorite toy, ask for a break.
Reasoning: Students should recall any two of the coping skills discussed or presented in the lesson materials.

Question 5

Prompt: Describe a time you might use a coping skill. What feeling would you have, and what skill would you use?
Correct Answer: Answers will vary, but should demonstrate understanding of matching a skill to a feeling/situation. For example: "If I feel frustrated when my brother takes my toys, I would count to ten to calm down." or "When I feel worried about going to a new place, I would talk to my mom about it."
Reasoning: This question assesses the student's ability to apply the concept of coping skills to a personal or hypothetical situation, showing insight into their use.