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Safe Steps

Lesson Plan

Path to Safety Lesson Plan

Students will explore and articulate their feelings about running away, identify triggers and underlying motivations, and create healthy coping strategies with a concrete action plan.

Understanding emotions behind escape thoughts and learning alternative coping skills fosters safety, builds emotional regulation, and reduces risk of unsafe behaviors.

Audience

4th Grade

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Guided discussion, self-reflection, and interactive activities

Materials

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

5 minutes

  • Create a private, supportive environment to build trust.
  • Invite the student to share what thoughts or feelings come up when they think about running away.
  • Validate their emotions and explain that this is a safe space to talk openly.

Step 2

Explore Feelings

10 minutes

  • Provide the student with the Feelings Reflection Worksheet.
  • Ask them to circle or draw the emotions they feel when considering running away.
  • Discuss each emotion, asking for examples of when they’ve felt this way.

Step 3

Identify Motivations

10 minutes

  • Introduce the Escape Thoughts Chart.
  • Have the student list recent situations where they wanted to run away and write down why they felt that way.
  • Guide a discussion to uncover patterns or common triggers.

Step 4

Brainstorm Coping Strategies

10 minutes

  • Present the Coping Strategies Card Deck.
  • Ask the student to select 3–5 cards that resonate and discuss how each strategy might help in a stressful moment.
  • Encourage them to suggest additional personal coping ideas to add to the deck.

Step 5

Develop Action Plan & Reflection

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Reflection Journal Template.
  • Student writes a step-by-step plan for what they will do next time they feel like running away, choosing at least two coping strategies.
  • Role-play one scenario together, practicing how they would implement their chosen strategies.
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Lesson Plan

Safe Steps Lesson Plan

Student will explore emotions behind running away, identify personal triggers, and develop a step-by-step action plan using healthy coping strategies to manage distress safely.

Understanding and expressing feelings tied to escape thoughts builds emotional awareness, promotes safer alternatives, and strengthens self-regulation in challenging moments.

Audience

4th Grade

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Guided discussion, self-reflection, and role-play

Materials

Feelings Reflection Worksheet, Escape Thoughts Chart, Coping Strategies Card Deck, Reflection Journal Template, Paper and Pencils, and Colored Markers

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

5 minutes

  • Welcome the student and explain this is a safe space to talk.
  • Ask: “What thoughts or feelings come up when you think about running away?”
  • Listen actively and validate their emotions without judgment.

Step 2

Explore Feelings

10 minutes

  • Hand out the Feelings Reflection Worksheet.
  • Invite the student to circle or draw emotions they feel when they think about running away.
  • Discuss each selected emotion, asking for real-life examples.

Step 3

Identify Motivations

10 minutes

  • Introduce the Escape Thoughts Chart.
  • Have the student list recent moments they wanted to run away and note reasons.
  • Guide discussion to uncover patterns or common triggers.

Step 4

Brainstorm Coping Strategies

10 minutes

  • Present the Coping Strategies Card Deck.
  • Ask the student to choose 3–5 cards that resonate and explain why.
  • Discuss how each selected strategy could help in a difficult moment.
  • Encourage the student to suggest personal ideas to add to the deck.

Step 5

Develop Action Plan & Reflection

10 minutes

  • Provide the Reflection Journal Template.
  • Guide the student to write a step-by-step plan using at least two coping strategies.
  • Role-play one realistic scenario, practicing how to implement the plan in real time.
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Slide Deck

Safe Steps: Managing Difficult Feelings

A 45-minute individual session to explore why you might feel like running away and learn safe alternatives.

Welcome the student and set a supportive tone. Briefly explain that today’s session is about understanding difficult feelings and finding safe ways to handle them. Outline the session’s five parts: warm-up, feelings exploration, motivations, coping strategies, and action planning.

Warm-Up: Creating a Safe Space

• This is a private, judgment-free time.
• Share any thoughts or feelings about wanting to run away.
• There are no wrong answers.

Begin the warm-up. Ask the student: “What thoughts or feelings come to mind when you think about running away?” Validate every response (“That sounds hard,” “I can see why you’d feel that way”). Aim to build trust.

Explore Feelings

• Use the Feelings Reflection Worksheet to identify emotions.
• Circle or draw how you feel.
• Talk about examples of each emotion.

Introduce the Feelings Reflection Worksheet. Instruct the student to circle or draw emotions they experience when thinking about running away. Discuss each chosen emotion: “When have you felt this way before?”

Identify Motivations

• List moments you’ve wanted to run away.
• Write down the reasons behind each moment.
• Look for patterns or common triggers.

Hand out the Escape Thoughts Chart. Guide the student to list 2–3 recent moments they felt like running away and note why. Help them spot patterns or triggers (e.g., disagreements, stress at school).

Brainstorm Coping Strategies

• Pick 3–5 coping strategies from the card deck.
• Explain why each strategy could help.
• Suggest one new personal strategy.

Show the Coping Strategies Card Deck. Ask the student to choose 3–5 cards that feel most helpful. For each: “How could this strategy help you when you’re upset?” Invite them to suggest one personal idea to add to the deck.

Develop Your Action Plan

• Write a step-by-step plan in your journal.
• Include at least two coping strategies.
• Role-play how you’ll use your plan in a tough moment.

Provide the Reflection Journal Template. Guide the student to write a step-by-step plan for times they feel like running away, using at least two coping strategies. Then role-play one scenario together, practicing each step.

Next Steps

• Keep your action plan where you can see it.
• Practice your strategies regularly.
• We’ll check in soon to see how it’s going.

Reinforce that the action plan is theirs to use anytime they feel overwhelmed. Encourage them to keep practicing and remind them you’re available for support. Plan a quick follow-up to review progress.

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Worksheet

Feelings Reflection Worksheet

Instructions:
When you think about running away, you might feel many things. This worksheet will help you notice and reflect on those feelings.

  1. Look at the list of feelings below. Circle or draw how you feel when you think about running away.

    • Sad - Angry - Scared - Lonely - Frustrated - Embarrassed - Worried - Tired - Confused - Other: ____________

  2. Which emotion(s) did you choose? Write them here:






  3. Describe a time when you felt one of these emotions. What happened?











  4. How did your body feel when you had that emotion? (for example: a racing heart, butterflies in your stomach, tight muscles)






  5. Why do you think you felt this way in that moment?






  6. When you notice this emotion again, what is one thing you could do instead of running away?






  7. Draw a picture of how you feel in the space below.












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Worksheet

Escape Thoughts Chart

Instructions:
Use this chart to record up to four recent times you felt like running away. For each entry, describe the situation, identify why you wanted to run away, and plan one healthy alternative action you could take instead.

Entry 1

Situation (What happened?):





Why I felt like running away:





What I could do instead:





Entry 2

Situation (What happened?):





Why I felt like running away:





What I could do instead:





Entry 3

Situation (What happened?):





Why I felt like running away:





What I could do instead:





Entry 4

Situation (What happened?):





Why I felt like running away:





What I could do instead:





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Activity

Coping Strategies Card Deck

Instructions:
Choose 3–5 cards that feel most helpful. Read each strategy and think about how you might use it when you feel stressed, upset, or like running away. You can also add your own ideas to the deck.

1. Deep Breathing
Take slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Count to 4 on each inhale and exhale to help calm your body.

2. Positive Self-Talk
Say kind, encouraging words to yourself (e.g., “I can handle this,” “I am safe here,” “This feeling will pass”).

3. Drawing or Coloring
Use paper and markers to draw how you feel or color a picture that makes you happy.

4. Counting or Number Games
Count backward from 20 or try a quick math puzzle in your head to shift your focus.

5. Stretching or Light Exercise
Stand up and stretch your arms overhead, roll your shoulders, or take a short walk around the room.

6. Listening to Music
Put on a favorite song and focus on the melody, lyrics, or beat to change your mood.

7. Talking to a Trusted Adult
Find a teacher, counselor, or family member and share how you’re feeling.

8. Journaling
Write down your thoughts and feelings. Sometimes seeing them on paper helps you understand them better.

9. Using a Stress Ball or Fidget
Squeeze a stress ball, play with a fidget spinner, or twist a fidget cube to release tension.

10. Visualization
Close your eyes and imagine a calm, safe place (like a beach or a forest). Picture the details—sounds, colors, smells.

11. Counting Your Senses
Pause and name: 5 things you see, 4 things you hear, 3 things you feel, 2 things you smell, 1 thing you taste.

12. Creating a Small Task List
Make a quick list of 2–3 simple tasks (e.g., straighten up your desk, make a sandwich) and check them off as you go.

Feel free to add your own personal strategy cards here!

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Journal

Reflection Journal Template

Date: ______________________

1. Situation Description

Describe a recent time when you felt like running away. What happened?












2. My Step-by-Step Plan

Write each step you planned to take instead of running away.






2. _________________________________________





3. _________________________________________





(You can add more steps if needed.)

3. Coping Strategies I Used

Which of the strategies from our Coping Strategies Card Deck did you try?








4. What Happened Next

How did the strategies work? What did you do and how did it help?











5. My Feelings Afterward

How did you feel after using your plan?










6. Lessons Learned

What did you learn about yourself or about handling tough feelings?










7. Next Steps for Improvement

What could you change or add to your action plan for next time?










8. Support Network

Who could you talk to or ask for help if you feel overwhelmed again?






Optional: Draw Your Feelings

Draw how you felt before and after using your plan.












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Safe Steps • Lenny Learning