Students will recognize early signs of frustration and apply at least two quick reset strategies during a 15-minute check-in/check-out session to support self-regulation.
Promptly identifying frustration and using reset strategies prevents escalation, boosts emotional well-being, and builds lifelong self-regulation skills.
Audience
4th–5th Grade Group
Time
15 minutes per session
Approach
Guided check-in with modeling, practice, and reflection
Learn to recognize early frustration signs and use fast, simple resets to stay calm and focused.
Welcome, everyone! Today we’re focusing on spotting early signs of frustration and learning quick strategies to reset before small feelings grow big. Use this slide to introduce our goal.
Early Signs of Frustration
• Clenched jaw or tight muscles
• Racing or jumbled thoughts
• Fidgeting or restlessness
Point to each sign and ask students if they’ve ever noticed it in themselves or a friend. Emphasize that catching these early helps keep us on track.
Quick Reset Strategies
• Deep Breaths: Inhale slowly for 4 counts, then exhale for 6 counts
• Stretch It Out: Reach arms overhead, hold for 5 seconds, then relax
• Silent Count: Quietly count backward from 10 to 1 in your head
Model each reset slowly. Invite students to follow along with you once, then ask for a volunteer to lead each practice back to the group.
Practice Time!
Grab a Quick Calm Card, practice the strategy it names, and then pair up to share positive feedback.
Explain that we’ll now move into the hands-on portion with our Quick Calm Cards. Encourage students to try each strategy and support their partner.
Warm Up
Feelings Thermometer Warm-Up
Objective: Quickly gauge students’ current emotional state on a 1–10 scale to build self-awareness and set the tone for today’s reset strategies.
Materials:
A large, visible poster of the thermometer scale (1 = very calm, 10 = very stressed)
Time: 2 minutes
Setup:
Hang the poster where each student can see and reach it easily.
Instructions:
Invite students, one at a time, to come up and point to the number that best represents how they feel right now.
Each student says the number aloud (no need to explain why).
After everyone has placed their marker, say:
“Thanks for sharing your number! Noticing how we feel helps us decide which reset strategy to use today.”
Transition to the next step by reminding students they’ll learn ways to move their feeling closer to a 1 or 2 by using quick resets.
Activity
Quick Calm Cards Activity
Objective: Provide hands-on practice of quick reset strategies through engaging, student-led card activities.
Materials:
A shuffled deck of Quick Calm Cards, one per student (cards list below).
Time: 3 minutes
Setup:
Place the deck face down in the center of the table.
Instructions:
Each student draws one Quick Calm Card.
Read the strategy on your card and practice it silently or aloud.
Pair up with a partner to demonstrate the strategy and give one piece of positive feedback.
After 1½ minutes, swap cards with your partner and repeat with the new strategy.
Quick Calm Card Strategies:
• Deep Breaths: Inhale slowly for 4 counts, then exhale for 6 counts.
• Stretch It Out: Reach arms overhead, hold for 5 seconds, then relax shoulders.
• Silent Count: Quietly count backward from 10 to 1 in your head.
• Shoulder Rolls: Roll shoulders forward five times, then backward five times.
• Clench & Release: Squeeze fists tightly for 3 seconds, then release.
• Positive Thought: Close your eyes and think of something that makes you happy.
Use these cards to quickly reset when you notice early signs of frustration. After the activity, hold onto your last card to try in real situations and journal about its impact in your next Victory Journal Entry.
