Lesson Plan

Cool, Calm, Collected Lesson Plan

Students will learn to recognize their anger levels using an anger thermometer and practice three coping strategies—deep breathing, counting, and positive self-talk—to manage anger in real-life scenarios.

Teaching anger management builds emotional regulation, reduces conflicts, and fosters positive peer interactions and personal well-being for 5th graders.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Gather Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

5 minutes

Step 2

Anger Thermometer Activity

7 minutes

Step 3

Coping Strategy Practice

10 minutes

Step 4

Scenario Role-Play & Discussion

8 minutes

Slide Deck

Cool, Calm, Collected

Welcome everyone! Introduce the lesson title and purpose. Say: “Today we’re going to learn how to stay cool, calm, and collected when we feel angry.”

Lesson Agenda

Briefly walk through today’s flow and time allocations. Ensure students know what to expect.

What Is Anger?

Ask: “What is anger? Why do we feel it?” Capture student ideas on board.

Anger Thermometer

Distribute [Anger Thermometer Worksheet](#anger-thermometer-worksheet). Model marking your own anger. Invite volunteers to share their rating.

Coping Strategy 1: Deep Breathing

Lead students in a guided breathing exercise: inhale for 4 seconds, hold, exhale for 4 seconds. Repeat 3 times.

Coping Strategy 2: Counting to 10

Explain that counting gives our brain a moment to calm down and think before acting.

Coping Strategy 3: Positive Self-Talk

Discuss examples of positive phrases (e.g., “I can handle this,” “I’m in control”). Encourage students to come up with their own.

Coping Strategy Cards

Shuffle the deck and hand out [Coping Strategy Cards](#coping-strategy-cards). Ask each student to read their card and demonstrate the strategy.

Scenario Role-Play & Discussion

Pair up students and give each pair a [Scenario Role-Play Card](#scenario-role-play-cards). Circulate to support and prompt strategy use.

Reflection & Next Steps

Lead a quick reflection. Encourage students to set a personal goal to use a strategy in the next week.

Lesson Plan

Cool, Calm, Collected Lesson Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Gather Materials

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

Step 2

Anger Thermometer Activity

Step 3

Coping Strategy Practice

Step 4

Scenario Role-Play & Discussion

Slide Deck

Cool, Calm, Collected

Lesson Agenda

What Is Anger?

Anger Thermometer

Coping Strategy 1: Deep Breathing

Coping Strategy 2: Counting to 10

Coping Strategy 3: Positive Self-Talk

Coping Strategy Cards

Scenario Role-Play & Discussion

Reflection & Next Steps

Worksheet

Activity

Activity

Cool, Calm, Collected

Christina Jacobsen