Calming Strategies Game Board

Objective: Students practice selecting and applying calming strategies in realistic classroom scenarios while playing a fun, cooperative board game.

Materials Needed:

• Calming Strategies Game Board (1 per group)
• Game tokens (1 per student)
• Scenario Card Deck (print & cut) Scenario Cards
• Strategy Reference Cards (brief reminders of each tool) Strategy Reminder Cards
• One six-sided die per group

Game Setup (1 minute):

1. Place the game board in the center of each small group.
2. Each student chooses a token and places it on the “Start” space.
3. Shuffle the Scenario Card Deck and place it face-down by the board. Shuffle the Strategy Reference Cards and fan them nearby.
4. Decide play order (youngest to oldest or rock-paper-scissors!).

How to Play (10 minutes):

1. On your turn, roll the die and move your token forward that many spaces.
2. Read the Scenario Card aloud (or have a peer read). Each card describes a trigger or challenging moment (e.g., “You hear a loud fire drill when you’re in the middle of a test.”).
3. Choose one calming strategy from the Strategy Reference Cards that would help in this scenario. Show your card to the group and explain how you’d use it.
   • If the group agrees (thumbs up), move forward 1 extra space as a “support bonus.”
   • If the group has questions, you can swap for another strategy and explain again.
4. Play passes to the next student.
5. First player to reach the “Calm Corner” space wins—but everyone celebrates each other’s successes!

Example Scenario Cards:

• “Someone bumped into you in line, and you felt embarrassed.”
• “You can’t find your assignment and the clock is ticking.”
• “A friend said something unkind to you at recess.”
• “Lightning flashed and the classroom lights went off.”
• “You have three assignments due and feel overwhelmed.”

Strategy Reference Cards:

• Deep Breathing (4-2-4 count)
• 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method
• Use a stress ball or fidget toy
• Visit the calm-down corner for 2 minutes
• Draw/color a quick picture of your feelings

Differentiation & Support:

• Students who struggle to explain can draw their strategy in a small notebook and point to it.
• Offer sentence starters on the board: “I would use ___ because it helps me ___.”
• Allow non-verbal students to gesture or point to strategies instead of speaking.

Extension:
After the game, invite students to choose one strategy they haven’t tried before and practice it silently for 1 minute. Discuss how it felt.

Emotion Check Warm-Up Cards

Instructions: Print and cut these cards. Distribute one card to each student. Ask them to read the emotion aloud and share a brief example of when they felt that way.

Classroom Calming Tools Chart

Display this chart near the calm-down corner or at the front of the classroom. When you notice big feelings, choose a tool and head to the spot where it lives.

Encourage students to choose one tool, practice it for 2 minutes, and share how it helped them feel calmer with a friend or adult.

Self-Regulation Worksheet

Name: ________________________ Date: _____________

Use the Classroom Calming Tools Chart or your memory of today’s strategies to help you complete each part. You can draw or write your answers in the spaces provided.

Part 1: Choose a Strategy

Read each scenario below. Under the scenario, write or draw the calming tool you would use and explain why it helps you.

1. Scenario: You realize you left your homework at home right before class starts. You feel worried and your stomach twists.

Which tool would you choose? Why?

1. Scenario: A fire drill siren goes off while you’re taking a reading quiz. The noise makes it hard to focus.

Which strategy will you use? Why?

1. Scenario: During recess, a friend ignores your greeting and you feel upset and alone.

What calming tool can help you calm down? Why?

1. Scenario: The teacher gives confusing directions for a new art project. You start to feel frustrated and want to shut down.

Which tool or strategy would you pick? Why?

Part 2: Plan Your Calm

a) When I notice my body getting tense or my thoughts racing, I will use ___________ because ____________________________________________________.

b) My favorite calming tool is ___________. I like it because ___________________________________________________.

Part 3: Draw Yourself Staying Calm

In the space below, draw or sketch yourself using one of the strategies we practiced today. Show how you look and what tool or technique you’re using.

Great work! Keep this worksheet as a reminder of tools you can try whenever you feel upset or overwhelmed.

Cool-Down Reflection Cards

Instructions: Print and cut these cards. Place them face-up in a basket or spread them out. At cool-down time, each student picks one card, turns it over, and writes or draws their response on the back. Collect cards in a reflection basket.