Lesson Plan
Stay Strong, Stay Here!
Students will identify non-preferred situations, learn and practice 2-3 coping skills to manage their feelings, and understand safe choices to avoid eloping.
Learning to manage strong emotions and staying in a non-preferred situation is a vital life skill. It helps students regulate their behavior, communicate their needs, and maintain a safe and productive learning environment, preventing disruptive behaviors like eloping.
Audience
1st Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, visual aids, and guided practice of coping skills.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Stay Strong Slides, Coping Skills Activity Cards, and Stay Strong Reflection Worksheet
Prep
Gather Materials & Review
10 minutes
- Review the Stay Strong, Stay Here! Lesson Plan thoroughly.
- Prepare the Stay Strong Slides for display.
- Print and cut out the Coping Skills Activity Cards (one set per small group or pair of students).
- Print copies of the Stay Strong Reflection Worksheet (one per student).
- Ensure whiteboard or projector is ready for use.
Step 1
Introduction: What Are Non-Preferred Situations?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "Has anyone ever been in a situation they really, really didn't want to be in? Like when it's time to clean up toys, but you want to keep playing? Or when you have to do a tricky math problem?"
- Introduce the term "non-preferred situation" as something we don't want to do or find difficult.
- Explain that sometimes, when we really don't like a situation, our bodies might want to run away or leave. This is called 'eloping.'
- Present Slide 1: What Do We Do When We Don't Like Something?.
Step 2
Identify Our Feelings
5 minutes
- Ask students how their bodies feel when they are in a non-preferred situation. (e.g., mad, frustrated, sad, worried, fidgety).
- Emphasize that all feelings are okay, but it's important how we show those feelings.
- Introduce the idea of 'staying strong' and 'staying here' as brave choices.
- Present Slide 2: How Do Our Bodies Feel?.
Step 3
Coping Skills Showcase
10 minutes
- Introduce 2-3 simple coping skills that students can use (e.g., deep breaths, counting to five, asking for a break, squeezing hands, positive self-talk like "I can do this").
- Demonstrate each skill using Stay Strong Slides and the Coping Skills Activity Cards.
- Have students practice each skill with you.
- Emphasize that these skills help us stay calm and stay in the classroom, even when things are tough.
- Present Slide 3-5: Coping Skills.
Step 4
Practice & Apply
5 minutes
- Divide students into small groups or pairs.
- Give each group a set of Coping Skills Activity Cards.
- Present different non-preferred scenarios (e.g., "It's clean-up time," "You're stuck on a tricky worksheet," "Your friend took your toy").
- Have groups discuss and choose which coping skill they would use to 'Stay Strong, Stay Here!' in that situation.
- Circulate and provide support and positive feedback.
Step 5
Cool Down & Reflection
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Distribute the Stay Strong Reflection Worksheet.
- Have students complete the worksheet individually to reflect on what they learned.
- Briefly review answers as a class or collect for assessment.
- Conclude by reinforcing the importance of using coping skills to 'Stay Strong, Stay Here!' in challenging situations.
- Present Slide 6: You Can Stay Strong!.
Slide Deck
What Do We Do When We Don't Like Something?
Have you ever been in a situation you really didn't want to be in?
Sometimes, our bodies want to leave or run away when we don't like something. This is called eloping.
Today, we'll learn how to Stay Strong, Stay Here! even when things are tough!
Welcome students and gauge their understanding of 'non-preferred situations' by asking relatable questions. Introduce 'eloping' as leaving when we don't want to be somewhere.
How Do Our Bodies Feel?
When we don't like a situation, our bodies can feel:
- Mad
- Frustrated
- Sad
- Worried
- Anxious
It's okay to feel these feelings! What's important is how we respond.
Ask students to share how their bodies feel (e.g., tense shoulders, fast heartbeat, fidgety hands). Validate all feelings as okay, but emphasize appropriate responses.
Coping Skill 1: Deep Breaths
When you feel big feelings, try taking 3 deep breaths.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose.
- Hold for a moment.
- Breathe out slowly through your mouth.
This helps calm your body and mind!
Introduce the first coping skill: Deep Breaths. Demonstrate the technique slowly and have students practice with you. Encourage them to place a hand on their belly to feel it rise and fall.
Coping Skill 2: Count to Five
If your feelings are still big, try counting slowly to five.
- One...
- Two...
- Three...
- Four...
- Five...
Focusing on counting helps your brain think about something else.
Introduce the second coping skill: Count to Five. Explain how this simple technique can distract and recenter them. Practice counting aloud together.
Coping Skill 3: Ask for a Break
If you need a moment to calm down, you can politely ask your teacher for a break.
- "May I please have a quick break?"
- You can go to a quiet corner, take a drink of water, or do a quick stretch.
Remember, asking for a break helps you Stay Strong, Stay Here!
Introduce the third coping skill: Ask for a Break. Emphasize that it's okay to ask for help and for a moment to calm down. Discuss how and when to appropriately ask for a break (e.g., raise hand, use a visual cue).
You Can Stay Strong!
You have learned awesome ways to Stay Strong, Stay Here! when things are tough.
- Take deep breaths.
- Count to five.
- Ask for a break.
Using these skills shows how brave and smart you are!
Summarize the key message and encourage students to use their new skills. Reiterate that it's a sign of strength to use these strategies.
Script
Stay Strong, Stay Here! Script
Introduction: What Are Non-Preferred Situations? (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Let's start with a little thought experiment. Has anyone ever been in a situation they really, really didn't want to be in? Like when it's time to clean up all the fun toys, but you just want to keep playing? Or maybe when you have to do a tricky math problem that feels super hard?"
(Pause for student responses and observations. Acknowledge a few examples.)
Teacher: "Those are great examples! Sometimes, in school or at home, we come across things we call 'non-preferred situations.' That's just a fancy way of saying something we don't want to do, or something that feels difficult or frustrating to us. When we're in one of these situations, sometimes our bodies get really big feelings, and we might feel like running away or leaving the area. This is called eloping. But today, we're going to learn how to be super strong and brave, and how to Stay Strong, Stay Here! even when we face those tough moments."
(Transition to Slide 1: What Do We Do When We Don't Like Something? and read the slide content.)
Identify Our Feelings (5 minutes)
Teacher: "So, when you're in one of those non-preferred situations, like clean-up time when you want to keep playing, how does your body feel? Do your shoulders get tight? Does your tummy feel fluttery? Do you feel mad, frustrated, sad, or worried?"
(Encourage students to share physical feelings or emotions they experience. Validate their responses.)
Teacher: "It's totally okay to feel all sorts of feelings, big or small! Everyone feels mad or frustrated sometimes. But what's really important is how we show those feelings. We want to choose ways to respond that keep us safe and help us learn. Today, we're learning ways to be brave and Stay Strong, Stay Here! even when our feelings are big. It's a superpower!"
(Transition to Slide 2: How Do Our Bodies Feel? and read the slide content.)
Coping Skills Showcase (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Now for the exciting part! We're going to learn some special tools, or 'coping skills,' that can help us calm our big feelings and make a good choice to Stay Strong, Stay Here! when we face something tough."
Teacher: "Our first superpower is Deep Breaths."
(Transition to Slide 3: Coping Skill 1: Deep Breaths and read the slide content.)
Teacher: "Let's all try it together. Put one hand on your belly. Now, let's breathe in slowly through our noses, like we're smelling a yummy flower. Feel your belly get big. Hold it for a moment... and now breathe out slowly through your mouth, like you're blowing out a candle. Feel your belly get small. Let's do that two more times. Great job! Deep breaths help calm our bodies and minds."
Teacher: "Our second superpower is Count to Five."
(Transition to Slide 4: Coping Skill 2: Count to Five and read the slide content.)
Teacher: "When your feelings are really big, sometimes just counting slowly can help your brain think about something else. Let's try it! We'll count together, nice and slow. One... Two... Three... Four... Five... See how that helps you focus?"
Teacher: "Our third superpower is Ask for a Break."
(Transition to Slide 5: Coping Skill 3: Ask for a Break and read the slide content.)
Teacher: "If you feel like your feelings are too big and you need a moment, it's very brave to politely ask your teacher for a quick break. You can say, 'May I please have a quick break?' Sometimes, a little moment to yourself, maybe in a quiet corner, getting a drink of water, or doing a quick stretch, can help you calm down and come back ready to Stay Strong, Stay Here!"
(If using Coping Skills Activity Cards here, integrate them by showing each card as you introduce the skill. Have students point to the card they would use.)
Practice & Apply (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Now that you know these awesome superpowers, let's practice using them! I'm going to give you some Coping Skills Activity Cards and put you into small groups or pairs. I will give you different situations, and your job is to talk with your group and choose which coping skill you would use to Stay Strong, Stay Here! in that situation."
(Distribute Coping Skills Activity Cards. Provide scenarios like: "It's clean-up time and you don't want to stop playing.", "You're stuck on a tricky worksheet.", "Your friend accidentally took your toy and you feel mad.")
(Circulate among groups, listening to their discussions, offering positive feedback, and guiding them as needed.)
Cool Down & Reflection (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Alright, everyone, let's bring it back together. You did such a fantastic job practicing! Now, I have a special Stay Strong Reflection Worksheet for each of you. This is a chance for you to think about what we learned today and how you can use these skills."
(Distribute Stay Strong Reflection Worksheet. Give students a few minutes to fill it out.)
Teacher: "Fantastic work today, everyone! You've all learned some super important ways to Stay Strong, Stay Here! when you encounter those non-preferred situations. Remember, taking deep breaths, counting to five, and asking for a break are powerful tools to help you manage your big feelings and make safe, smart choices. I am so proud of how brave and thoughtful you all are!"
(Transition to Slide 6: You Can Stay Strong! and read the slide content. Collect worksheets.)
Activity
Coping Skills Activity Cards
Instructions for Teacher: Print these cards, cut them out, and provide one set per small group or pair of students for the "Practice & Apply" activity. Students will choose the card that represents the coping skill they would use for a given scenario.
Card 1: Deep Breaths
Picture a student taking a deep breath (hands on belly, eyes closed calmly).
What it is: Breathing in slowly through your nose, holding, and breathing out slowly through your mouth.
When to use it: When you feel mad, frustrated, or worried.
Card 2: Count to Five
Picture a student holding up five fingers or counting on their fingers.
What it is: Counting slowly from 1 to 5 in your head or quietly aloud.
When to use it: When you need to calm your brain or refocus.
Card 3: Ask for a Break
Picture a student raising their hand politely or talking to a teacher.
What it is: Politely asking your teacher, "May I please have a quick break?"
When to use it: When your feelings are too big and you need a moment to yourself.
Worksheet
Stay Strong Reflection Worksheet
Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________
1. What is a