Belly Balloon Lesson Plan Pre-K SEL Curriculum • Self-Regulation
Belly Balloon Lesson Plan
⏱️ 30 Minutes
Ages 3–5 Years
Core Objective
Children inflate an imaginary tummy balloon with deep breaths to slow heart rate and calm body.
Key Concepts
Diaphragmatic breathing, mind-body connection, impulse control, self-soothing cues.
Materials Needed
Stuffed animals (1 per child), breathing slides, song sheet, reflection mats, calm chime.
Kid-Friendly Vocabulary
🎈 Belly Balloon The imaginary soft balloon in your tummy that gets bigger when you breathe in.
🌬️ Inhale (Fill Up) Sniffing in fresh air through the nose like smelling a warm chocolate cookie.
🍃 Exhale (Gentle Sigh) Blowing soft air out through the mouth like gently cooling hot soup.
Lesson Pacing & Instructional Arc (30 Mins Total)
0:00 - 0:05
1. Warm-Up: "Inflate & Deflate" Action Song (5 mins)
Gather on carpet circle. Sing the active movement song with hand motions stretching wide (inflate) and crouching small (deflate) to build body awareness.
0:05 - 0:13
2. Teacher Modeling: Buddy the Breathing Bear (8 mins)
Teacher lies down flat. Places stuffed bear on stomach. Shows how bear rides up like an elevator on inhale, and rides down on gentle exhale. Read aloud story vignette.
0:13 - 0:23
3. Guided Practice: Stuffed Animal Riding Wave (10 mins)
Each child receives a stuffed animal and moves to their marked dot/mat. Children lie on backs, place animal on tummy, and practice 5 synchronized slow elevator rides.
0:23 - 0:27
4. Turn & Talk Pair Share: Before & After Feelings (4 mins)
Sit criss-cross knee-to-knee with a partner. Prompt: "Did your body feel wiggly before? How does your chest and tummy feel now?"
0:27 - 0:30
5. Quiet Balloon Rest & Soft Chime Reset (3 mins)
Dim classroom lights. Play gentle lullaby chords or sound chime. Children take one last big sigh to lock in their calm energy before table transition.
Belly Breathing Balloon • Teacher Lesson Plan Page 1 of 2
Facilitation Guide
Step-by-Step Teacher Script & Strategies
Positive Behavioral Support
Teacher Script • Introducing the Belly Balloon
"Put one warm hand right here on your tummy button. Pretend inside your tummy is a soft, colorful balloon. When we take a slow sniff through our nose... watch my tummy! It expands big and round! Now, let the air out like a gentle breeze: whoooosh. What happened to the balloon? It went flat!"
Sensory Cueing & Visual Analogies
Smell the Flower, Blow the Pinwheel: Hold up 1 finger as a flower (sniff 1-2-3) and turn the hand into a soft birthday candle / pinwheel (blow 1-2-3-4).
The Sleeping Bear Ride: "If we breathe too fast into our shoulders, the bear falls off! Let's give our bear a smooth, gentle elevator ride."
Balloon Color Choice: "What color is your balloon today? Is it warm yellow? Soft pink? Sky blue?" (Engages creative focus).
Differentiated Support
High Energy / Fidgety Learners: Let them place both hands firmly on ribs to feel physical side expansion before lying down.
Sensory Sensitivity: Offer weighted bean bags or plush tactile animals instead of light toys.
Non-Verbal / ELL Students: Use exaggerated balloon arm motions and visual picture cards showing happy/calm faces.
Formative Observation Check
✓ Abdominal Expansion: Stomach visibly rises before chest or shoulders.
✓ Nasal Inhalation: Mouth stays closed during slow 3-count intake.
✓ Body Softening: Shoulders, jaw, and fists relax during the exhale.
Classroom Routine Integration & Calm Corner Connection
Post the Inflate Deflate Song Sheet in the Cozy Corner / Peace Table. Whenever a student experiences frustration during block building or transition tears, invite them: "Let's visit our balloon friends and take three slow elevator breaths together."
Belly Breathing Balloon • Teacher Lesson Plan Page 2 of 2
Belly Breathing Slides 🎈 Pre-K Calm Club
Self-Regulation Lesson
🎈🌬️✨
Belly Breathing Balloon
Slow breaths in, gentle breaths out — let’s fill our tummy balloons!
🌸 Smell the Flower • 🎈 Fill the Belly • 🍃 Blow the Breeze
1
Warm-Up: Inflate & Deflate!
Movement Time 🎵
🎈
BIG INFLATE!
Breathe IN through your nose!
👐 Stretch arms out wide!
Grow tall like a giant balloon!
💨
SOFT DEFLATE!
Breathe OUT through your mouth!
🤫 Crouch down small!
Whisper: "Psssshhhhhh..."
🎶 Sing along: "Breathe in deep and make it grow, breathe out soft and let it go!"
2
Meet Buddy’s Elevator Ride!
Watch the Belly 🧸
🛌
1. Lie Down
Lie flat on your comfy mat. Place your teddy on your tummy.
⬆️
2. Ride UP!
Sniff in through your nose. Watch teddy ride UP to the sky!
⬇️
3. Ride DOWN!
Blow soft breeze out. Watch teddy ride gently back down!
❌ Fast chest breathing drops teddy! | ✅ Slow belly breathing gives a smooth ride!
3
Your Turn on the Mat!
Practice 5 Breaths 🧘
Let’s Count Our Elevator Rides Together
Place your hand or stuffed buddy right on your belly button!
1 🎈 Breath 1
2 🎈 Breath 2
3 🎈 Breath 3
4 🎈 Breath 4
5 ⭐ Super Calm!
🌱 Inhale 1... 2... 3... and Exhale 1... 2... 3...
4
Knee-to-Knee Partner Share
Turn & Talk 💬
⚡🤪
BEFORE BREATHING
Did your body feel fast, bouncy, wiggly, or excited?
🌸😌
AFTER BREATHING
Does your tummy feel soft, quiet, relaxed, and calm?
💬 Tell your partner: "My balloon was [color] and my body feels [calm / cozy / ready]!"
✨
⭐
🌙
☁️
5
Quiet Balloon Rest
Peaceful Reset ☁️
🎈✨☁️
You Have the Magic Balloon Inside You!
Whenever you feel upset, mad, or too wiggly...
Balloon Story Script Interactive Read-Aloud & Movement Story
Barnaby Bear’s Belly Balloon
📖 6–8 Mins
Whole Group Circle
Prompt Legend: 🗣️ [Say aloud] 🎭 [Teacher Action] 👧 [Student Response]
Scene 1: The Wiggly-Jiggly Morning Setting the Scene
🗣️ Say: "Once upon a sunny forest morning, Barnaby the little bear woke up with giant wiggles in his paws! His toes were tap-tapping, his shoulders were jump-jumping, and his chest felt like a buzzing bumblebee!"
🎭 Action: Wiggle your fingers fast and tap your feet. 👧 Ask students: "Can you show me your fastest morning wiggles?"
Scene 2: Wise Old Owl's Secret The Discovery
🗣️ Say: "Barnaby’s friend, Wise Old Owl, swooped down softly on velvet wings. 'Hoo-hoo, Barnaby! Why are you spinning like a leaf in the storm?' Barnaby gasped, 'My body is too fast! I don't know how to slow down!' Owl smiled softly. 'Barnaby, you have a magic balloon tucked right inside your belly!'"
🎭 Action: Place both hands flat over your belly button and look down with wonder.
Scene 3: The First Big Sniff & Soft Breeze Core Practice
🗣️ Say: "'Watch me,' whispered Owl. 'Pretend you smell a sweet wild strawberry. Sniff in slowly through your nose: 1... 2... 3... Feel your tummy balloon get round and full! Now, pretend you are cooling down warm acorn soup. Blow out soft air: whoooooosh...'"
👧 Practice: Guide the whole class in 3 synchronized breaths: Sniff in (balloon grows)... Blow soft (balloon shrinks).
Scene 4: The Calm Forest Nap Resolution
🗣️ Say: "Barnaby looked at his paws. The buzzing wiggles were gone! His shoulders felt soft like warm moss. His heart went thump... thump... thump... gentle and peaceful. 'Thank you, Owl,' Barnaby yawned. 'My belly balloon is my calming superpower!'"
Belly Breathing Balloon • Read-Aloud Story Script Page 1 of 2
Relaxation & Routines
Floating Cloud Guided Rest & Transition Scripts
🧘 Calm Corner Tool
Guided Relaxation: The Floating Cloud Balloon (3–5 Mins)
[Teacher speaks in a soft, slow, soothing melodic whisper. Dim lights and play ambient wind chimes or soft harp music.]
"Lie down softly on your back. Let your feet flop open like book pages. Let your hands rest gently on your belly. Close your eyes, or look softly at the ceiling."
"Imagine your belly balloon is made of soft golden sunshine. With every breath in, that warm sunshine fills your tummy... 1... 2... 3... and with every breath out, the warm sunshine flows into your arms... down into your fingers... down into your legs... all the way to your toes."
Inflate Deflate Song Sheet Pre-K Circle Time Sing-Along
The Inflate-Deflate Song
🎵 Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle"
Action & Movement Song
🎈
When we say "INFLATE": Sniff through nose, expand belly, open arms wide!
🍃
When we say "DEFLATE": Breathe out soft "whoosh", tuck hands to tummy!
1 Verse 1 • Meet the Balloon 👐 Stretch & Touch Tummy
In my tummy, round and bright,
Is a balloon of warm sunlight!
Breathe in deep and watch it grow,
Breathe out soft and let it go!
👉 Put hands flat on tummy
👉 Pat stomach gently twice
👉 Sniff in (1... 2... 3...) and stretch arms
👉 Blow soft breeze and bring hands back
2 Verse 2 • Teddy's Ride 🧸 Elevator Motion
Up goes Teddy to the sky,
Riding gentle, floating high!
Down goes Teddy smooth and slow,
Calm and happy, head to toe!
👉 Raise hands slowly up high
👉 Wiggle fingers like floating clouds
👉 Lower hands gently to lap
👉 Touch head, then touch toes!
✨ Calm Chorus • The Secret Whisper 🤫 Whisper Voice
Big balloon, soft and still,
Calm my body with good will.
One... two... three... a peaceful sigh,
Quiet as a butterfly! 🦋
👉 Whisper in soft quiet tone
👉 Cross hands over heart
👉 Count on 3 fingers, then whisper "ahhh"
👉 Flutter hands like gentle butterfly wings
Belly Breathing Balloon • Music & Movement Handout Sing before transitions for instant classroom focus!
Quiet Balloon Reflection Sheet 🎈
My Belly Balloon Mat
Trace, Breathe & Feel Calm!
Name:
Date:
1 Finger-Trace Breathing Path
👆 Put your finger on the star!
Trace UP the left side while sniffing in through your nose (1-2-3). Trace DOWN the right side while blowing soft air out!
⬆️ INHALE Sniff (1-2-3)
🧸 My Tummy Balloon Rises & Falls
⬇️ EXHALE Breeze (1-2-3)
⭐ START HERE
2 How Did My Body Feel? (Circle your answer)
Before Balloon Breathing:
🤪 Wiggly
⚡ Fast
😟 Upset
After Balloon Breathing:
😌 Calm
🌸 Soft
😊 Happy
3 Color My Magic Balloon
🖍️ Use your favorite calm color!
Draw or color your tummy balloon inside the box below:
⭐ Great Job! You are a Balloon Breathing Master! Keep this mat in your cubby or take it home to practice with family!