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? Feeling Calm?

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Lesson Plan

Calm Check-In Blueprint

Guide a 1st grader to recognize emotional triggers, practice a calming conversation, and apply a breathing exercise, concluding with a reflection.

Supporting self-regulation in young learners builds emotional awareness and coping skills, reducing future classroom disruptions and boosting confidence.

Audience

1st Grade Student

Time

20 minutes

Approach

One-on-one guided activities and reflection

Materials

Prep

Prepare Session Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Check-In

5 minutes

  • Invite the student to sit comfortably and share how they feel right now
  • Use simple prompts (e.g., “On a scale of 1–5, how calm do you feel?”)
  • Encourage the student to name one thing that made them feel good or upset today

Step 2

Identify Triggers & Triumphs

5 minutes

  • Display the Triggers & Triumphs Slides
  • Guide the student to point out slides showing when they felt upset (triggers) and calm (triumphs)
  • Ask: “What do you notice about what happens before you feel upset or calm?”

Step 3

Guided Calm Conversation

5 minutes

  • Follow the Guided Calm Conversation Script
  • Help the student talk through one trigger scenario
  • Model and prompt the student to use calm words and positive self-talk (e.g., “I can take a deep breath and try again.”)

Step 4

Breathing Buddy Exercise & Reflection

5 minutes

  • Introduce the Breathing Buddy Exercise: place the buddy on the student’s belly and breathe slowly
  • Guide 5 deep breaths together, observing the buddy rise and fall
  • Provide the My Calm Reflections Journal for the student to draw or write:
    • One thing they learned about their triggers
    • One calming strategy they want to try next time
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Slide Deck

Triggers & Triumphs

Let’s explore what makes us upset and what helps us calm down!

Use this title slide to introduce the concept. Explain that some things make us feel upset (triggers) and some things help us feel calm (triumphs).

Trigger: Spilled Milk

Spilled Milk

Display an image of a cup spilling milk. Ask: “Has this ever happened to you? How did it feel?”

Trigger: Loud Noise

Loud Noise

Show a picture of a thundercloud or loudspeaker. Ask: “What do loud noises do to our feelings?”

Triumph: Caring Hug

Hug Your Buddy

Use an image of a child hugging a stuffed animal. Prompt: “How does a hug make you feel?”

Triumph: Deep Breaths

Breathe with Your Buddy

Show the breathing buddy toy on a belly. Guide the student through one slow inhale and exhale.

Triumph: Calm Counting

Count to 5 Slowly

Display numbers 1–5 and encourage the student to count slowly when upset. Ask them to try it now.

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Script

Guided Calm Conversation Script

Teacher: “Let’s talk about one of the times you felt upset. Remember the picture of the milk spilling? Can you tell me how you felt when that happened?”


Teacher: “That sounds like frustration (or sadness). It’s okay to feel that way when something doesn’t go as you wanted.”

Teacher: “When we feel upset, we can use calm words and positive thoughts to help ourselves feel better. Here’s one sentence you can try:”

Teacher (modeling): “I feel upset when my milk spills. I can take a deep breath and try again.”

Teacher: “Now let’s say it together. Ready?”
Teacher & Student (together): “I feel upset when my milk spills. I can take a deep breath and try again.”

Teacher: “Great! Now it’s your turn. I feel…”


Student: “…(student fills in feeling)…”

Teacher: “Yes! And then you can say…”

Teacher: “I can take a deep breath and try again.”

Student: “I can take a deep breath and try again.”

Teacher: “Awesome job! How did saying those calm words make you feel?”


Teacher: “If you feel upset again—maybe a loud noise bothers you—you can use the same calm sentence. Want to practice one more time together?”

Teacher & Student: “I feel upset when… I can take a deep breath and try again.”

Teacher: “You did great! Remember, anytime you feel upset, use your calm words.” 👏

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Activity

Breathing Buddy Exercise

  1. Gather your Breathing Buddy (a small stuffed toy).
  2. Have the student lie down comfortably and place the buddy on their belly.
  3. Explain: “When we breathe in through our nose, our belly should make the buddy rise.”
  4. Guide the student to breathe in slowly for a count of 1–2–3, watching the buddy go up.



  5. Explain: “When we breathe out through our mouth, the buddy goes down.”
  6. Guide the student to breathe out slowly for a count of 1–2–3–4, watching the buddy go down.



  7. Repeat steps 3–6 for a total of 5 breaths.
  8. After, ask: “How did watching the buddy help you feel calm?”

Teacher Tip: Use calm, soft tones and praise each slow breath to encourage confidence and focus.

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Journal

My Calm Reflections Journal

  1. Draw a picture of one thing that upset you today:










  2. Draw or write one calm strategy you will try next time:










  3. Circle how you feel right now: Calm / Happy / Okay / A little upset



  4. Finish this sentence: “I feel ___ when ___. Then I can ___.”





Great job reflecting on your feelings today!

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