Lesson Plan

Introduction to Pause and Breathe

Equip 5th graders with a simple three-step Pause and Breathe toolkit to recognize rising stress, self-initiate a calm check, and practice deep breathing to self-regulate strong emotions.

Teaching mindful breathing helps students build self-regulation skills, reduces classroom disruptions, and fosters resilience by giving them an easy strategy to manage stress independently.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Quick Calm Check Warm-Up

3 minutes

Step 2

Introduction to Pause and Breathe

2 minutes

Step 3

The Science of Breathing

5 minutes

Step 4

Bubble Breathing Practice

3 minutes

Step 5

Wrap-Up Reflection

2 minutes

Slide Deck

The Science of Breathing

Kick off by asking students if they’ve ever felt nervous or upset and noticed their belly or chest move when they breathed. Explain that today we’ll learn why breathing can help us feel calm.

What Happens When We Breathe?

Point to the words as you explain. Keep language simple and check for understanding after each bullet.

Belly Breathing vs. Chest Breathing

Demonstrate by placing one hand on your chest and one on your belly. Inhale shallowly vs. deeply so students can see the difference.

How Deep Breaths Calm You

Link each bullet to how students feel: a calm body sends a calm brain message.

Get Ready to Practice

Prepare students for the next activity. Encourage excitement about bubble breathing practice.

Lesson Plan

Introduction to Pause and Breathe

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Review Materials

Step 1

Quick Calm Check Warm-Up

Step 2

Introduction to Pause and Breathe

Step 3

The Science of Breathing

Step 4

Bubble Breathing Practice

Step 5

Wrap-Up Reflection

Slide Deck

The Science of Breathing

What Happens When We Breathe?

Belly Breathing vs. Chest Breathing

How Deep Breaths Calm You

Get Ready to Practice

Activity

Warm Up

Keep It Cool

Ashleigh Dimpflmaier