lenny

Ready to Reset?

user image

Lesson Plan

Positive Reset Blueprint

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

Materials

Positive Reset Blueprint, Signs & Strategies Spotlight, Feelings Thermometer, Quick Calm Cards, and Victory Journal Entry

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Check-In and Warm-Up

2 minutes

  • Greet each student by name
  • Have students point to how they feel on the Feelings Thermometer
  • Invite 1–2 students to briefly share their current feeling

Step 2

Identify Frustration Signs

3 minutes

  • Display Signs & Strategies Spotlight
  • Review 3 common early signs of frustration (e.g., clenched jaw, racing thoughts)
  • Ask students to share a time they noticed one of these signs

Step 3

Teach Reset Strategies

4 minutes

  • Introduce 3 quick resets from the slide deck (deep breaths, stretch, silent count)
  • Model each strategy step-by-step
  • Check for understanding by asking students to list the steps of one strategy

Step 4

Practice with Calm Cards

3 minutes

  • Distribute Quick Calm Cards
  • Students pick a card, practice the strategy silently or aloud
  • Partner up to give positive feedback on each other’s practice

Step 5

Check-Out & Cool-Down

3 minutes

  • Students complete a Victory Journal Entry, noting:
    • Which reset they used or plan to use
    • How it helped or will help them
  • Invite 1–2 volunteers to share their entry
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Signs & Strategies Spotlight

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.

lenny

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:

  1. Invite students, one at a time, to come up and point to the number that best represents how they feel right now.
  2. Each student says the number aloud (no need to explain why).
  3. 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.”
  4. 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.



lenny
lenny

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:

  1. Each student draws one Quick Calm Card.
  2. Read the strategy on your card and practice it silently or aloud.
  3. Pair up with a partner to demonstrate the strategy and give one piece of positive feedback.
  4. 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.

lenny
lenny

Cool Down

Victory Journal Entry

Name: _____________________ Date: ________________

  1. Which reset strategy did you use or plan to use today?



  1. How did it help you notice or manage your frustration?



  1. What will you do next time you notice early signs of frustration?



Great work recognizing and using a reset strategy! Keep this entry as a reminder of your progress and plan for next time.

lenny
lenny
Ready to Reset? • Lenny Learning