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My Safe Space Corner

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Lesson Plan

My Safe Space Corner

Students will identify when they need a break and use simple sensory tools in a designated safe space to self-soothe.

This lesson helps young children develop emotional regulation skills and build a foundation for healthy coping mechanisms, empowering them to manage strong feelings independently.

Audience

Pre-Kindergarten

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on practice in a designated safe space.

Materials

Small pillows or soft mat, Calm-down bottles (glitter jars), Soft sensory balls, Picture cards of emotions, Safe Space Corner Slide Deck, Safe Space Sensory Activity, and My Calm Down Tools Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials & Space

15 minutes

  • Review the Safe Space Corner Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
    * Gather or create a small, comfortable area in the classroom for the "Safe Space Corner." Include soft items like pillows, a mat, calm-down bottles (glitter jars), and soft sensory balls.
    * Print and cut out the emotion picture cards for the discussion.
    * Print copies of the My Calm Down Tools Worksheet.

Step 1

Introduction: Feeling Our Feelings (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "What does it feel like when you are happy? Sad? Mad?" Use simple emotion picture cards to help students identify feelings.
    * Explain that all feelings are okay, but sometimes big feelings can be tricky to manage. Use Safe Space Corner Slide Deck Slide 1-2.

Step 2

Introducing the Safe Space Corner (8 minutes)

8 minutes

  • Introduce the Safe Space Corner. Explain its purpose: a quiet place to go when big feelings happen. Use Safe Space Corner Slide Deck Slide 3.
    * Show students the tools in the corner (glitter jars, sensory balls, pillows). Demonstrate how to use each tool for calming. Use Safe Space Corner Slide Deck Slide 4-6.

Step 3

Practice Time: Using Our Tools (10 minutes)

10 minutes

Step 4

Reflect and Share (5 minutes)

5 minutes

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Slide Deck

My Safe Space Corner

A place for our big feelings!

Greet students and introduce the topic of feelings. Ask them to share how they feel using simple words or by pointing to emotion cards. Emphasize that all feelings are okay.

How Do We Feel?

Happy, Sad, Mad, Silly!
All our feelings are okay.

Show pictures of different emotions (happy, sad, mad, silly). Ask students, "How do we look when we are happy?" or "What does it feel like to be mad?" Validate their responses.

What is a Safe Space Corner?

A quiet place just for you.
When feelings get too big, we can go to our Safe Space.

Introduce the 'Safe Space Corner' as a special place in the classroom. Explain it's a quiet spot where they can go when their feelings get too big, and they need a break. Show them the actual corner you've set up.

Glitter Jar Calm!

Shake it up, watch it settle.
Like our feelings, slowly, gently.

Hold up a glitter jar. "When our feelings are swirling like this glitter, we can shake the jar and watch the glitter settle. As the glitter settles, our feelings can settle too." Demonstrate shaking and watching.

Squeeze Away Worries!

Squeeze your worries, let them go.
Feel your hands relax and slow.

Hold up a soft sensory ball. "When we feel mad or worried, we can squeeze this ball. Squeeze tight, then let go. Feel how your hands relax?" Demonstrate squeezing.

Soft Landings!

Pillows soft, a gentle hug.
Breathe in, breathe out, feeling snug.

Point to the pillows or mat. "Sometimes we just need a soft place to sit or lay down and take a few deep breaths. We can cuddle with a soft pillow." Demonstrate taking a deep breath.

Our Calm-Down Practice

Let's try our safe space tools.
What helps you feel calm?

Explain that students will now get to try out the tools themselves. Reiterate that it's okay to practice and find what helps them feel calm.

My Favorite Calm Tool

Draw or color your favorite way to calm down.

Ask students to share their favorite tool. Distribute the worksheet for them to draw or color their chosen tool, reinforcing the idea of having personal strategies.

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Activity

Safe Space Sensory Activity: Practicing Calm

Objective: To practice using safe space tools to calm big feelings.

Instructions:

  1. Introduce the Scenario: "Imagine you are feeling really, really (choose an emotion like 'mad' or 'frustrated' and make a corresponding face/body language). Your toys aren't working, or your tower just fell down! Your feelings are big!"

  2. Model a Big Feeling: Exaggerate a 'mad' or 'frustrated' face and body posture. Show stomping feet or crossing arms.

  3. Think-Pair-Share (Optional for Pre-K, can be guided by teacher): "What could we do when our feelings feel this big?"

  4. Introduce Tool Choices: Point to the Safe Space Corner and the tools. "Remember our Safe Space Corner? We have glitter jars, soft balls, and comfy pillows. Which tool do you think could help you calm down right now?"

  5. Guided Practice with Tools:

    • Glitter Jar: "If you choose the glitter jar, let's pretend to shake up our mad feelings, and then watch them slowly, slowly settle down like the glitter. Take a deep breath as you watch."


    • Sensory Ball: "If you choose the soft ball, let's pretend to squeeze all our big, mad feelings into the ball! Squeeze tight, count to three, and then let it all go!"


    • Pillow/Mat: "If you choose the comfy pillow or mat, let's pretend to snuggle down. Take a deep, slow breath in (smell a flower) and breathe out (blow a bubble). Feel your body get soft and calm."


  6. Reflect: After students have practiced with a tool (either physically or through imaginative play), ask: "How do you feel now? Did your tool help your big feelings feel a little smaller?"

  7. Reinforce: Remind students: "Great job! When your feelings get big, you know where to go and what to do!"

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Worksheet

My Calm Down Tools

When my feelings get big, I can use a calm-down tool!

Draw your favorite calm-down tool from our Safe Space Corner!













What is your favorite calm-down tool?



How does it help you feel better?



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My Safe Space Corner • Lenny Learning