Lesson Plan

My Calm Toolbox Lesson Plan

Students will learn three simple coping strategies—deep breathing, positive self-talk, and grounding—to build a personalized calm toolbox and practice each strategy through group modeling and an independent worksheet activity.

Teaching coping strategies early helps first graders recognize big feelings, self-regulate, and build emotional resilience, promoting a positive classroom climate and reducing outbursts.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

5 minutes

Step 2

Teach Coping Strategies

10 minutes

Step 3

Guided Practice

5 minutes

Step 4

Independent Worksheet Activity

5 minutes

Step 5

Cool-Down Reflection

5 minutes

Slide Deck

My Calm Toolbox

Welcome students! Today we’re going to build our own Calm Toolbox to help us feel better when we have big feelings. Talk through the title and objective.

Warm-Up Discussion

Invite students to think-pair-share: ask them to remember a time they felt a strong feeling. Prompt a few volunteers to share. Record ideas on the board.

Strategy 1: Deep Breathing

Model taking a deep breath: count in with fingers (1-2-3-4), then slowly release (1-2-3-4). Encourage students to follow along.

Strategy 2: Positive Self-Talk

Explain that our words can help our brains feel safe. Model saying “I can do this” or “I’m okay.” Ask students to whisper their own positive phrase.

Strategy 3: Grounding

Show the classroom and point out objects. Model naming three items you see and three sounds you hear. Have students look around quietly and try it.

Practice & Reflection

Lead the class through one round of each strategy: deep breathing, self-talk, then grounding. Then distribute the My Calm Toolbox Worksheet and ask students to draw/write their own tools. Invite a couple of volunteers to share their toolbox.

Lesson Plan

My Calm Toolbox Lesson Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

Step 2

Teach Coping Strategies

Step 3

Guided Practice

Step 4

Independent Worksheet Activity

Step 5

Cool-Down Reflection

Slide Deck

My Calm Toolbox

Warm-Up Discussion

Strategy 1: Deep Breathing

Strategy 2: Positive Self-Talk

Strategy 3: Grounding

Practice & Reflection

Worksheet

Reading

My Calm Toolbox

elizabeth.smith