lenny

Focus in a Flash

Lesson Plan

Flash Focus Plan

Guide an 8th-grade special education student through a 15-minute sequence of sensory resets, breathing exercises, and reflection to quickly restore attention and self-regulation.

Students with attention challenges benefit from brief, structured sensory and breathing breaks to prevent overwhelm and build self-regulation skills, enabling more effective engagement with academic tasks.

Audience

8th Grade Special Education Student

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Timed sensory and breathing activities followed by reflection.

Materials

Prep

Setup & Review Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Intention

2 minutes

  • Welcome the student and explain the goal: recalibrating attention.
  • Ask the student to rate current focus on a scale of 1–5.
  • Set one simple focus goal for the next activity.

Step 2

1-Minute Sensory Reset

5 minutes

  • Present a sensory tool (e.g., fidget, textured object).
  • Introduce the 1-Minute Sensory Reset Activity.
  • Start the timer and guide the student to engage mindfully for one minute.
  • Repeat the reset twice if needed, observing changes in alertness.

Step 3

Breathing Practice

3 minutes

  • Guide the student through deep breathing using the Breathing Guidance Script.
  • Model each inhale/exhale pattern and count aloud.
  • Encourage slow, steady breaths to promote calm and focus.

Step 4

Reflection Prompt

3 minutes

  • Use the Reflection Prompt to discuss:
    • How do you feel now?
    • Did your focus improve?
  • Document the student’s observations and any challenges.

Step 5

Re-engagement & Transition

2 minutes

  • Review the student’s focus goal set at the start.
  • Help them plan the first 1–2 steps of their next task.
  • Remind the student to quietly rate their focus and repeat the reset if needed.
lenny

Activity

1-Minute Sensory Reset

Objective: Quickly engage the student’s senses to interrupt wandering thoughts and refocus attention.

Materials Needed:

  • A small tactile tool (e.g., fidget toy, textured stress ball, play-dough)
  • Timer or stopwatch (on a phone, watch, or classroom clock)

Instructions (1 minute):

  1. Select Your Tool (10 seconds)
    • Let the student choose or be handed one sensory object.
  2. Set the Timer (5 seconds)
    • Start a visible 1-minute countdown.
  3. Engage Mindfully (45 seconds)
    • Encourage the student to focus solely on the feeling of the object:
      • Notice texture: smooth, bumpy, squishy, ridged.
      • Move slowly: roll, squeeze, pinch, stretch.
      • Breathe evenly and notice how each breath feels.
  4. Quick Check-In (10 seconds after timer)
    • Ask: “What did you notice? Did your thoughts settle?”

Variations:

  • Noise-Cancel Reset: Wear noise-cancelling headphones and play 1 minute of calming sounds (rain, white noise).
  • Visual Reset: Use a glitter jar or lava lamp; watch motion for one minute.

Repeat up to three times during a single 5-minute block to maximize alertness.


lenny
lenny

Script

Breathing Guidance Script

Teacher: "Let’s get ready for a calm breathing exercise. Find a comfortable seat, sit up tall, and place one hand on your belly and one on your chest."

Step 1: Inhale (4 counts)
Teacher (slowly counts aloud): “Breathe in through your nose… 1… 2… 3… 4.”

Step 2: Hold (2 counts)
Teacher (counts): “Hold it gently… 1… 2.”

Step 3: Exhale (6 counts)
Teacher (counts slowly): “Exhale through your mouth… 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6.”

Teacher: “Great job. Notice how your belly rose and fell with each breath.”

Repeat the cycle two more times, keeping your voice calm and steady. Offer gentle encouragement:

  • “You’re doing great.”
  • “Take your time—there’s no rush.”

After the third round, pause and invite the student to notice any changes in how they feel before moving on to the reflection step.


lenny
lenny

Cool Down

Reflection Prompt

Use these questions to guide a brief conversation and record the student’s responses.

  1. How do you feel now after the reset and breathing exercises?



  1. Did your focus improve? What changed?



  1. What did you notice about your thoughts or body during the activities?



  1. What is one small step you will take next to stay focused?



lenny
lenny