Strong Feelings
What does your face look like when you feel mad?
Eyes squint, eyebrows down, frown
How can you tell when someone is feeling sad?
They might cry or look down
What is the first calm-down step?
Stop and name your feeling
What does it mean to “focus your attention”?
To look, listen, and think about what’s important
You feel frustrated because your drawing isn’t perfect. What can you do?
Take a breath and try again
What happens to your body when you have a strong feeling?
Heart beats fast, face gets hot, hands squeeze, tummy feels tight
Your face is smiling and your body feels light. What feeling is that?
Happy
What is the second calm-down step?
Take belly breaths
When someone is talking, what should your eyes be doing?
Looking at the speaker
You lost your place in line and feel mad. What can you do?
Stop, name your feeling, and use calm-down steps
True or False: Strong feelings are always bad.
False — everyone has strong feelings sometimes
You can’t find your toy and your face feels hot. What feeling is that?
Angry or frustrated
What is the third calm-down step?
Breathe, count, or use positive self-talk
What should your body look like when you’re focusing?
Still and calm
Your team lost the game and you want to yell. What’s a calm choice?
Take a breath and say “Good game”
What are two strong feelings you might have at school?
Excited, angry, scared, frustrated, or happy
Your heart beats fast and your tummy feels funny. What feeling is that?
Scared or nervous
Name two calm-down strategies you can use anywhere.
Belly breathing, counting, talking to an adult, walking away
What should you do if you notice your mind wandering?
Take a breath and refocus on what’s happening
You feel nervous to speak in front of the class. What calm-down skill can you use?
Belly breathing
What can happen if we don’t calm down before solving a problem?
We might say or do something we regret
Why is naming your feeling an important first step?
It helps you understand what’s going on inside so you can calm down
Use the calm down steps for worried
student answer
How does focusing attention help you with strong feelings?
It helps you notice your body’s clues and calm down faster
You accidentally break a friend’s crayon. What should you do after calming down?
Say sorry and offer to help fix it or share yours