Teacher Script: Leaf Your Worries Behind!

Warm-Up: Fall Feelings Check-in (5 minutes)

"Good morning, wonderful learners! Today, we're going on an autumn adventure to talk about something super important: our feelings! But first, let's do a quick 'Fall Feelings Check-in'.

I want everyone to think about one thing that makes them feel happy in the fall. Maybe it's jumping in leaves, drinking warm cider, or seeing pumpkins! When I say 'go', you can share with a partner or quietly think to yourself. Ready? Go!"

(Allow 1-2 minutes for students to share/think. Bring them back together.)

"Wonderful! It sounds like we have lots of happy fall feelings. Remember those happy feelings as we move on."

Introduction to Feelings (5 minutes)

"(Display Leaf Your Worries Behind! Slide Deck - Slide 2: 'What Are Feelings?')

We all have feelings, don't we? Sometimes we feel happy, sometimes we feel a little bit sad, or even a little bit mad. And sometimes, we feel calm and peaceful, just like a quiet autumn day. Look at these pictures! Can you show me with your face how you look when you're happy? How about sad? Or mad? How about calm?"

(Guide students through showing expressions. Move to Slide 3: 'Sometimes Feelings Are BIG!')

"Sometimes, our feelings can be really, really big! Like a strong wind blowing or a loud clap of thunder! When we have big feelings, like being super mad or super worried, it can be hard to think clearly or feel comfortable. Has anyone ever felt a really big feeling? What did it feel like in your body?"

(Allow a few students to share briefly, guiding them to focus on the physical sensations rather than specific events.)

Introducing Fall Coping Skills (10 minutes)

"(Display Leaf Your Worries Behind! Slide Deck - Slide 4: 'What Can We Do?')

When we have these big feelings, we have special tools we can use to help ourselves feel calm again. We call these 'coping skills'. Just like a builder uses tools to build a house, we can use coping skills to build calm inside us! Today, we're going to learn two super cool, fall-themed coping skills!

(Display Slide 5: 'Falling Leaf Breaths')

Our first skill is called 'Falling Leaf Breaths'. Can everyone put one hand on their tummy? Great! Now, I want you to take a big breath in through your nose, like you're smelling a beautiful autumn flower. Let your tummy get big! (Demonstrate)

Now, slowly, slowly, breathe out through your mouth, like you're gently blowing a feather away. As you breathe out, imagine a colorful leaf slowly, softly floating down to the ground. Let your tummy get small. Let's try it together three times. In... and out, like a falling leaf. In... and out. One more time, in... and out."

(Lead students through three slow breaths.)

"How does that feel? A little bit calm, right? When your feelings feel big, you can always take some 'Falling Leaf Breaths'.

(Display Slide 6: 'Crunching Leaves Calm')

Our next skill is 'Crunching Leaves Calm'. Imagine you have a big pile of dry, crunchy leaves in your hands. Can you pretend to pick them up? Now, squeeze your hands together really, really tight, like you're crunching those leaves into tiny pieces! Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze! (Demonstrate and encourage students to tense their hands/arms.)

Now, let all those leaves go! Drop them! Relax your hands. Feel how soft and wiggly your fingers are now? That's what it feels like when we let go of tension. Sometimes when our feelings are big, our body gets tense. We can squeeze and then relax our muscles, just like crunching leaves, to help our body feel calm. Let's try it one more time. Squeeze those imaginary leaves! And relax!" (Lead again.)

Activity: My Calm Autumn Tree (7 minutes)

"(Display Slide 7: 'Autumn Calm Art')

Now it's your turn to think about things that make you feel calm and happy, just like our fall coping skills. You each have a Crunchy Leaves Worksheet. On this worksheet, you can draw or color things that make you feel calm, like a cozy autumn tree. You can also draw a leaf and inside the leaf, draw or write a big feeling you sometimes have, and then show how you can use a coping skill to help."

(Distribute worksheets and art supplies. Circulate to offer support and encourage students to think about the coping skills.)

Cool-Down: Leaf Reflection (3 minutes)

"(Display Slide 9: 'We Are Calm and Strong!')

Alright, artists! Let's put down our crayons for a moment. You've all done an amazing job learning about feelings and how to help yourselves feel calm. Before we finish, I want everyone to think about one of the coping skills we learned today – either 'Falling Leaf Breaths' or 'Crunching Leaves Calm'. Which one did you like best, or which one do you think you might try when you have a big feeling?"

(Ask a few students to share quickly. Conclude with a positive message.)

"That's wonderful! Remember, you are strong, and you have special tools inside you to help with big feelings. You can always 'Leaf Your Worries Behind!' by taking a calm breath or crunching those imaginary leaves! Great job today!"

Fall Feelings Check-in

Hello, amazing learners! Let's start our day by checking in with our feelings, just like we check the weather outside!

Think about how you are feeling right now. Are you:

• Happy like a sunny autumn day?
  
• Calm like a gentle breeze?
  
• Silly like a playful squirrel?
  
• A little bit grumpy like a cloud?
  
  

Show me with your face how you are feeling, or give a thumbs up if you're happy, a gentle sway if you're calm, or a wiggle if you're silly!

Now, think about one thing that makes you feel happy in the fall! Share it quietly with a friend or think it in your head.

Ready to learn about how to help our feelings when they get big?

My Calm Autumn Tree!

Sometimes, when our feelings are big, it helps to think about things that make us feel calm and happy, just like a strong, peaceful tree in autumn.

Instructions:

1. On your paper, draw a big, sturdy tree with many branches. This is your "Calm Autumn Tree."
   
2. Think about things that make you feel calm and happy. Maybe it's:
   • Playing with a favorite toy
   • Reading a book
   • Cuddling with a pet
   • Spending time with family
   • Doing our "Falling Leaf Breaths" or "Crunching Leaves Calm"
     
3. Draw or color pictures of these calming things as leaves on your tree, or write the words on the leaves if you like. Make your tree full of happy, calm feelings!
   
4. You can use crayons, markers, or even real leaves if you have them, to make your tree beautiful and calming.
   
   

When you look at your Calm Autumn Tree, you can remember all the wonderful things that help you feel peaceful inside.

Leaf Reflection: What Helps You Feel Calm?

Great job today learning about our feelings and how to help ourselves feel calm! Just like leaves quietly settle on the ground, let's quietly think about what we learned.

Think about the two fall coping skills we practiced:

1. Falling Leaf Breaths (breathing in and out slowly)
   
2. Crunching Leaves Calm (squeezing and relaxing our bodies)
   
   

Which one did you like the most? Or, which one do you think you might try the next time you have a big feeling like being mad or worried?

Draw a leaf and inside it, draw or write about the coping skill you liked best!

Remember, you have these amazing tools inside you to help you feel calm and strong, just like a sturdy tree in the autumn wind!

My Calm Autumn Tree!

Sometimes, when our feelings are big, it helps to think about things that make us feel calm and happy, just like a strong, peaceful tree in autumn.

Instructions:

1. On your paper, draw a big, sturdy tree with many branches. This is your

Crunchy Leaves of Calm!

Hello, amazing artist! Just like we can crunch leaves to feel calm, we can think about other things that help us feel peaceful.

Draw or write about one thing that makes you feel calm, like a quiet autumn day.

Now, draw a big, beautiful leaf! Inside the leaf, draw or write one feeling you sometimes have.

When you have that feeling, what can you do to feel better? (Hint: Think about our Falling Leaf Breaths or Crunching Leaves Calm!)