Feelings First
Name one “comfortable” and one “uncomfortable” feeling.
Happy (comfortable) and angry (uncomfortable) (answers may vary!)
What does your brain do when you feel BIG feelings?
It can send signals to your body to fight, freeze, or run away
Name two calm-down strategies we’ve learned.
Deep breathing, grounding with 5 senses, using a calm corner, fidget tools
What makes someone a good friend?
Kindness, listening, sharing, helping
What is one thing you like about yourself?
(Open-ended) – e.g., “I’m funny,” “I’m a good friend,” etc.
Where do you feel anger in your body?
Answers may vary: clenched fists, tight chest, hot face, fast heartbeat
What part of the brain helps you calm down and make good choices?
The prefrontal cortex (or "thinking brain")
What’s one thing you can say to yourself when you make a mistake?
“It’s okay to make mistakes” or “I can try again.”
What is one way to show empathy to a classmate?
Asking how they’re feeling, saying “I’m here for you”
What are personal values? Can you name one of yours?
Things that are important to you – e.g., kindness, fairness, creativity
What can you do when you feel really nervous or scared?
Take deep breaths, talk to a trusted adult, squeeze a stress toy
What is executive functioning? (Give one example!)
Planning, staying focused, remembering directions – e.g., making a list to pack your school bag
Show us how to do your favorite deep breathing trick.
(Demonstrate) – e.g., box breathing, rainbow breathing, etc.
A friend wants to play something different—what do you do?
Try their game first or take turns choosing
Say one positive affirmation you could tell yourself.
“I am brave,” “I can do hard things,” “I am enough.”
Act out a feeling and let the group guess what it is.
(Role-play) – Correct emotion guessed by group
Give an example of a time your “thinking brain” helped you out.
Answers will vary (e.g., stopped myself from yelling, remembered my strategy)
What is a coping tool you could use if you're in a public place?
Squeeze hands together, count backwards, do deep breaths silently
Role-play a kind way to include someone who’s alone.
“Want to play with us?” or “Do you want to join our game?”
What do we mean by “identity”? Give an example from your life.
Who you are – e.g., a brother, artist, dancer, gamer, etc.
What’s the difference between reacting and responding?
Reacting is quick and automatic; responding means you pause, think, and choose what to do
What happens when your “emotional brain” takes over?
You might cry, yell, or feel overwhelmed – your thinking brain shuts down temporarily
You’re feeling overwhelmed—walk us through 3 steps you could take to calm down.
Take a breath, find a quiet space, name what you’re feeling
What should you do if you hurt someone’s feelings by accident?
Say sorry, ask if they’re okay, and try to make it right
What do you do when your inner voice is being mean? How do you flip it?
Notice it, say something kind back, and use a positive affirmation