Equip a 2nd grader with eight bite-sized self-regulation tools—recognizing emotions, practicing calming strategies, and building a personalized calm-down plan.
Early self-regulation support helps reduce classroom disruptions, improves focus and peer interactions, and empowers students to manage big feelings independently.
2nd Grade (Individual Counseling)
8 sessions × 15 minutes each
Eight guided mini-sessions using interactive tools to build self-regulation skills.
Calm Toolbox Poster, Emotion Flashcards, Calm Breathing Exercise Chart, My Calm Toolbox Workbook, Timer or stopwatch, and Comfortable seating area
10 minutes
15 minutes
15 minutes
15 minutes
15 minutes
15 minutes
15 minutes
15 minutes
15 minutes
No credit card needed
An 8-session journey to learn self-regulation tools.
Let’s build your personal calm toolbox!
Welcome! Introduce the series as “My Calm Toolbox,” where we’ll learn 8 quick tools to help you feel calm and in charge of your feelings.
Feelings we’ll explore:
Pick two to add to your calm toolbox.
Display Emotion Flashcards. Ask the student to name each feeling and share a time they felt it. Then invite them to pick and color two emotions in their workbook.
When big emotions show up, our bodies tell us:
Draw one signal in your workbook.
Use the Calm Toolbox Poster to point out body signals. Discuss real-life examples (e.g., test day racing heart). Invite the student to draw one signal in their workbook.
Let’s practice five slow breaths!
Introduce “balloon breathing” with the Calm Breathing Exercise Chart. Model inhale/exhale, then guide five breaths together. Ask how it felt.
Try one of these:
• Count to 10 slowly.
• Name 5 things you see in the room.
• Count the fingers on one hand.
Which feels best?
Explain how counting or naming objects can calm us. Demonstrate each strategy. Let the student try and choose their favorite to record.
Calm phrases we can say:
Write your own favorite phrase.
Define self-talk. Brainstorm three calm phrases together. Role-play a scenario (e.g., feeling nervous), practicing the chosen phrase. Have the student write their favorite in the workbook.
Choose one to try:
• Overhead stretch 🧘 (30s)
• March in place 🚶♂️ (30s)
• Arm circles 🔄 (30s)
Which one calms you?
Discuss how movement releases tension. Demonstrate each exercise. Let the student practice for 30 seconds each. Ask which movement they’ll add to their toolbox.
For each scenario, pick a tool and practice:
• Frustration on the playground: ______
• Feeling nervous: ______
Let’s do it now!
Review all tools learned so far. Present real-life scenarios (e.g., upset at recess). Ask the student to pick a tool, explain why, and practice.
Your Top 2 Tools:
Let’s create your calm-down plan page!
Open the My Calm Toolbox Workbook. Guide the student to list their top two tools and when to use them. Help them design their personal calm-down plan.
• Use your calm toolbox at school and at home.
• Show My Calm Toolbox Workbook to family.
• Keep practicing and celebrate your progress!
Encourage continued use of the tools at school and home. Remind the student to show their family the workbook and poster. Celebrate their growth!
Feelings we can add to our toolbox:
Circle and color your two favorite feelings: ____ and ____.
Draw your two feelings here:
When big feelings show up, our bodies tell us. Draw one body signal you notice when you're upset (like a racing heart or sweaty palms) and label it:
Balloon Breathing Steps:
After five slow breaths, how did your body feel? Draw or write below:
Try one of these to calm down:
Which strategy did you like best? Draw or describe it:
Here are some calm phrases:
Write your own three positive phrases below:
Try one of these for 30 seconds:
Circle the movement you liked and draw yourself doing it below:
For each scenario, pick a tool and explain why.
Scenario: I feel frustrated on the playground.
Tool: ________________________
Why: ________________________
Scenario: I feel nervous at school.
Tool: ________________________
Why: ________________________
My Top 2 Tools:
My Calm-Down Steps:
Use your Calm Toolbox at school and at home every day!
You feel warm inside and your face smiles.
Think of a time you felt happy and share with someone.
Your eyes may feel heavy and you might want a hug.
Think of a time you felt sad and what helped you feel better.
Your body might feel tight and you might stomp your feet.
Think of something that makes you mad and how you can calm down.
Your heart might beat fast and you might feel shaky.
Think of something that scared you and what you did next.
We've learned many tools for our calm toolbox! Now let's think about how to use them when you're at school.
You are working on a tricky math problem, and it's making you feel frustrated. Your pencil breaks, and you want to stomp your feet.
What emotion are you feeling?
_
What body signal might you notice?
_
Which calm tool from your toolbox could you use right now?
_
How would you use that tool?
_
It's your turn to read aloud in class, and you feel nervous. Your heart starts to beat a little faster, and your hands feel a bit sweaty.
What emotion are you feeling?
_
What body signal might you notice?
_
Which calm tool from your toolbox could you use right now?
_
How would you use that tool?
_
Someone accidentally bumps into you at recess, and you drop your snack. You feel your face get hot and want to yell.
What emotion are you feeling?
_
What body signal might you notice?
_
Which calm tool from your toolbox could you use right now?
_
How would you use that tool?
_
Pick one calm tool you will try to use at school this week.
My School Calm Tool: __________________________
I will use this tool when: _________________________
Draw yourself using your calm tool at school!
Repeat these steps 5 times to help your body feel calm.
| Breath | How I Felt After (Draw or Write) |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 |
As we finish, let’s check in on how you’re feeling and what you learned today.
1. How calm do you feel right now?
(1 = Very upset, 5 = Very calm)
[ ] 1 [ ] 2 [ ] 3 [ ] 4 [ ] 5
2. Which calm-down tool did you practice today?
_
3. One important thing I learned was:
_
4. To remember this tool, I will:
_
Great work today! Keep using your Calm Toolbox each time you need a moment to feel better.
😊 Happy — warm inside, smile
😢 Sad — heavy eyes, tears
😡 Mad — tight muscles, stomping
😨 Scared — fast heart, shaky
Body Signals:
❤️🔥 Racing heart
🤲 Sweaty palms
💪 Tight muscles
🎈 Balloon Breathing (5 breaths)
Inhale like filling a balloon. Exhale like blowing out a candle.
🌟 Counting & Grounding
Count to 10 slowly or name 5 things you see.
💬 Positive Self-Talk
Say a calming phrase (e.g., “I can do this.”).
🤸 Movement Break
Overhead stretch, march in place, or arm circles.
🔄 Combine Tools
Pick the tool that fits how you feel right now.
✏️ Reflect & Plan
Record your practice in My Calm Toolbox Workbook.
My Favorite Tool:
_______________________________
I’ll Use It When:
_______________________________
Cut off along the dashed lines and display this poster where you can see it often!
Students will identify triggers for blurting out and practice strategies (like the "Pause Button" and "Think Before You Speak" rules) to improve impulse control in classroom settings.
Reduces classroom disruptions, improves active listening skills, and fosters respectful communication.
2nd Grade (Individual Counseling)
15 minutes
Interactive discussion and guided practice using scenarios and a visual aid.
Timer or stopwatch, Think Before You Blurt Worksheet, and Calm Toolbox Poster (for general reference)
5 minutes
3 minutes
5 minutes
5 minutes
2 minutes
Sometimes, our brains want to say things right away! That's called blurting out. It's like our words are in a race to get out!
1. What makes me want to blurt out? (Circle all that apply)
Imagine you have a magic pause button in your mind. When you feel words rushing out, you can push it! It gives your brain a moment to think.
2. Draw your inner pause button here:
Before you share, ask yourself these questions:
Scenario 1: Your teacher asks,
