Lesson Plan
Session 1 Lesson Plan
Introduce students to basic coping skills by teaching belly (deep) breathing; students will practice and identify when to use this technique independently.
Foundational mindfulness and coping strategies help 4th–5th graders with IEPs regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and build confidence for daily challenges.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up Discussion
5 minutes
Step 2
Introduce Belly Breathing
5 minutes
Step 3
Guided Breathing Practice
5 minutes
Step 4
Belly Breathing Ball Game
10 minutes
Step 5
Reflection and Wrap-Up
5 minutes
Worksheet
Discussion
Activity
Game
Lesson Plan
Session 2 Lesson Plan
Teach students the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique to anchor in the present moment and manage stress independently.
Grounding strategies help 4th–5th graders with IEPs stay present, reduce overwhelm, and build emotional regulation skills.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up Discussion
5 minutes
Step 2
Introduce Grounding Technique
5 minutes
Step 3
Guided Practice with Worksheet
5 minutes
Step 4
In-Seat Sensory Exploration Activity
7 minutes
Step 5
Grounding Bingo Game & Reflection
8 minutes
Worksheet
Activity
Game
Lesson Plan
Session 3 Lesson Plan
Introduce positive self-talk by helping students identify negative thoughts and reframe them into encouraging statements; practice crafting and using affirmations independently.
Positive self-talk builds resilience and confidence in 4th–5th graders with IEPs, supporting emotional regulation and reducing negative thinking.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up Discussion
5 minutes
Step 2
Introduce Positive Self-Talk
5 minutes
Step 3
Guided Practice with Worksheet
5 minutes
Step 4
Affirmation Creation Activity
8 minutes
Step 5
Positive Self-Talk Bingo & Reflection
7 minutes
Worksheet
Activity
Game
Lesson Plan
Session 4 Lesson Plan
Teach students how to use visualization (guided imagery) to calm their minds and manage stress independently.
Imagery offers a mental escape that reduces anxiety, boosts self-regulation, and leverages creativity for 4th–5th graders with IEPs.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up Discussion
5 minutes
Step 2
Introduce Visualization
5 minutes
Step 3
Guided Visualization Practice
7 minutes
Step 4
Creative Drawing Activity
8 minutes
Step 5
Visualization Bingo Game & Reflection
5 minutes
Worksheet
Activity
Game
Lesson Plan
Session 5 Lesson Plan
Guide students to apply their learned coping skills (belly breathing, grounding, self-talk, visualization) in common classroom scenarios through discussion and practice.
Integrating skills into real classroom moments helps students generalize strategies, fosters independence, and strengthens emotional regulation in everyday school life.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Prepare Session Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up Discussion
5 minutes
Step 2
Role-Play Activity
10 minutes
Step 3
Worksheet Practice
7 minutes
Step 4
Classroom Coping Bingo & Reflection
8 minutes
Worksheet
Activity
Game
