Welcome everyone! Introduce yourself and explain that today’s session is called “Coping Compass.” Let students know we’ll learn three practical coping skills to manage anxiety in our new school. Prompt: “By the end of today, you’ll be able to identify and practice deep breathing, grounding, and positive self-talk.”

Briefly define anxiety in simple terms. Ask students to share one feeling they’ve experienced when anxious (e.g., tight chest, racing thoughts). Write key words on chart paper.

Explain why coping skills matter. Emphasize that having tools to calm ourselves builds confidence and helps face new challenges in school.

Model deep breathing along with students. Count out loud: inhale–2–3–4, exhale–2–3–4–5–6. Repeat twice together. Encourage them to place a hand on their belly to feel the movement.

Guide students through the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise. Ask them to look around the room and name items out loud.

Share positive self-talk examples. Invite students to suggest their own affirmations. Write a few on chart paper.

Hand out the reading passage. Give students 5 minutes to read silently or in pairs. Then prompt discussion: “What triggered anxiety in the story? Which skill did the character use?” Record responses under each skill heading.

Distribute worksheets. Explain that each scenario on the sheet requires choosing one coping skill and practicing it. Pair students to role-play each other’s scenarios while you circulate.

Ask each student to share one coping strategy they found most helpful and when they might use it next. Lead a brief 1-minute silent mindfulness cooldown: close eyes, focus on breathing.

Remind students where to find additional help and practice materials. Encourage them to keep the worksheet and refer back to these strategies anytime.