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Ways to Calm Down

Second graders explore simple, friendly ways to calm a big feeling, from deep breaths and counting to finding a quiet spot, so that strong emotions become something they can handle.

Grade 2CASEL: Self-Management35 minutes1 class periodCASEL SELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Notice a big feeling.
  • ✓Name calming ways.
  • ✓Pick one that works.
  • ✓Try it when upset.
Essential Question

A big feeling can feel like a balloon about to pop. What simple things can you do to let the air out slowly and calm back down?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore Calm-Down Ways · Interactive

Explore Calm-Down Ways

Project this and open each card to explore a friendly way to calm down when a feeling gets big.

🧘 Explore friendly ways to calm a big feelingTry it

The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

35 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — When Feelings Get Big

5 min

Sometimes a feeling gets so big it is hard to think, like a balloon about to pop. What can you do to let the air out slowly?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Mime a big feeling.
  • Ask what helps.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Explore Calm-Down Ways

12 min

Students explore ways to calm down.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Explore Calm-Down Ways.
  • Open each card.
  • Name the way.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explore.
  • Read.
  • Say it.
3

Modify — Which One Fits?

13 min

Students match a calming way to a moment.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name an upset moment.
  • Pick a calm-down way.
  • Say why it fits.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name.
  • Pick.
  • Say.
4

Create — My Calm-Down Plan

15 min

Students make a personal plan.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick your top two ways.
  • Draw each one.
  • Say when you will use it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Draw.
  • Say.
5

Reflect — Letting the Air Out

5 min

Students reflect on calming down.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What is one way to calm a big feeling?
  • How does your body feel after?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL 5 Social & Emotional Learning Competencies.

CASEL
Self-Management

Identify and use strategies to calm strong feelings.

CASEL
Self-Management

Recognize when a feeling is getting too big to think clearly.

CASEL
Self-Awareness

Notice the body signals that go with strong feelings.

CASEL
Self-Management

Choose a calming strategy that works for you.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Calm-down picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “When I feel big, I can ___ .”
  • Try one way at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with deep breaths together.
  • Practice each way as a class.
  • Name one way before adding another.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Match each way to a specific feeling.
  • Make a classroom calm-down corner.
  • Teach a calm-down way to a buddy.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🖼️Calm-down picture cards
  • 💻Explore Calm-Down Ways
  • 🧸A calm-down corner kit
  • ✏️Crayons
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

feelingsomething you feel inside, like happy, sad, or madcalma quiet, settled feeling in your body and mindself-managementhandling your feelings and actions in a helpful waydeep breatha slow breath in and out that helps you settlestrategya plan or way to do something, like calming downquiet spota calm place you can go to settle a big feelingbody signala sign in your body that a feeling is getting bigask for helptelling a trusted person you need support
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is one way to calm a big feeling?
For example, take slow deep breaths, count to ten, or find a quiet spot.
QUESTION 2
How can you tell a feeling is getting too big?
Your body gives signals, like a fast heartbeat, tight fists, or a hot face.
QUESTION 3
Who can you ask for help when a feeling is too big?
A trusted grown-up like a teacher or parent, or a friend.

Create: my calm-down plan.

Have students pick their top two calm-down ways, draw each one, and say when they will use it, so the plan is ready before a big feeling hits. A printable calm-down worksheet is in the Social-Emotional Learning library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Self-Management: Ways to Calm DownFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Self-Management: Ways to Calm DownQuiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Self-Management: Ways to Calm DownPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: ask for help, body signal, calm, deep breath, feeling, quiet spot, self-management, strategy
  1. a slow breath in and out that helps you settle
  2. a plan or way to do something, like calming down
  3. a sign in your body that a feeling is getting big
  4. telling a trusted person you need support
  5. handling your feelings and actions in a helpful way
  6. a calm place you can go to settle a big feeling
  7. something you feel inside, like happy, sad, or mad
  8. a quiet, settled feeling in your body and mind

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is one way to calm a big feeling?
  2. How can you tell a feeling is getting too big?
  3. Who can you ask for help when a feeling is too big?
Answer key — Part A: 1) deep breath · 2) strategy · 3) body signal · 4) ask for help · 5) self-management · 6) quiet spot · 7) feeling · 8) calm
Part B: 1) For example, take slow deep breaths, count to ten, or find a quiet spot. 2) Your body gives signals, like a fast heartbeat, tight fists, or a hot face. 3) A trusted grown-up like a teacher or parent, or a friend.