Lesson Plan
Calm Connections Lesson Plan
Students will identify big emotions and practice two self-regulation strategies—deep breathing and using a calm-down corner—to manage feelings in the moment.
Early self-regulation supports emotional awareness, reduces classroom disruptions, and gives students tools to calm themselves independently, boosting confidence and focus.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Gather and Prepare Materials
5 minutes
Step 1
Emotion Check-In
3 minutes
Step 2
Teach Deep Breathing
5 minutes
Step 3
Practice Calm-Down Corner
7 minutes
Lesson Plan
Belly Breathing Buddies Lesson Plan
Students will identify when they feel big emotions and practice belly breathing with a “belly buddy” to calm their bodies and minds, building early self-regulation skills.
Teaching kindergarteners belly breathing gives them a concrete, playful way to pause and reset when emotions run high, reducing outbursts and increasing focus and confidence.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Gather and Prepare Materials
5 minutes
Step 1
Emotion Check-In
3 minutes
Step 2
Teach Belly Breathing
4 minutes
Step 3
Practice with Belly Buddies
6 minutes
Step 4
Reflect & Reinforce
2 minutes
Slide Deck
Belly Breathing Buddies
Emotion Check-In
Big Feelings
Step 1: Belly Buddy
Step 2: Breathe In & Out
Practice Time
Reflect & Share
Calm-Down Corner
Activity
Worksheet
Discussion
Cool Down
Activity
Rubric
Script
