Balloon Breathing Plan Pre-K SEL • Ages 3–5 30 Minutes
Belly Breathing Balloon Plan
Teacher Guide Part 1 of 2
Learning Objective
Students will demonstrate belly breathing by expanding their abdomen like an inflating balloon on inhalation and gently releasing air on exhalation to calm and regulate their bodies.
Key Concepts
• Deep Belly Breathing
• Mind-Body Calm
• Self-Regulation
Materials Needed:
Breathing Visuals Slides 1 Plush / Stuffed Animal Story Script Rest Sheets
0:00 – 0:05
Phase 1: Music Warm-Up & Balloon Wonder (5 Min)
Circle Time
Gather learners on the circle rug. Play or sing the first chorus of the Inflate-Deflate Song . Invite students to hold imaginary tiny rubber balloons between two fingers, pick their favorite color, and stretch the imaginary rubber.
Teacher Prompt: "What color is your balloon today? Red? Sunshine yellow? Let's take a teeny breath in through our nose and go whooooosh —look at our hands grow!"
0:05 – 0:12
Phase 2: Modeling with Plush Animal Belly Ride (7 Min)
Direct Modeling
Teacher lies flat or reclines so all students can see. Place "Barnaby the Bear" (or classroom mascot) directly on your belly button. Demonstrate the Belly Elevator .
1. Inhale (Elevator UP): Breathe in through nose for 3 slow counts. Belly rises like a balloon filling with air. The plush animal goes UP!
2. Exhale (Elevator DOWN): Gently sigh out through pursed lips (cooling soup). Belly sinks down smoothly. The plush animal rocks to sleep.
0:12 – 0:22
Phase 3: Student Practice in Personal Space (10 Min)
Kinesthetic Active
Students spread out onto their personal sit-spots or yoga mats. Have children place their own two hands over their belly button like butterfly wings.
Trial 1 (Lying Down): Children feel their belly push their thumbs apart as the balloon fills.
Trial 2 (Gentle Sound Cue): Whisper "Sssssss" like air escaping a tiny nozzle.
Trial 3 (Read-Aloud Story Sync): Read the 3-minute scripted story prompt while children practice 4 full balloon cycles.
Belly Breathing Balloon • Pre-K SEL Curriculum Turn to Page 2 for Phases 4–5 & Teacher Toolkit →
Lesson Arc (Continued) & Teacher Strategy
Debrief, Reflection & Adaptation Toolkit
Teacher Guide Part 2 of 2
0:22 – 0:26
Phase 4: Pair Share Feeling Check (4 Min)
Partners sit knee-to-knee. Turn and show a buddy how your body felt before breathing vs. after.
Look & Say: "Was your body wiggly-giggly before? How does your chest and tummy feel now?"
Prompt: "My balloon gave my body a quiet rest."
0:26 – 0:30
Phase 5: Quiet Balloon Rest (4 Min)
Dim lights. Children transition smoothly to tables for the tactile Quiet Balloon Rest coloring & trace path.
Calm Focus: Children select their calm balloon color and gently trace the balloon breathing trail with their index finger.
Exact Facilitation Language (Say This vs. Avoid This)
Recommended Phrasing:
"Let's smell the fresh flowers... now blow out the birthday candles."
"Keep your shoulders sleeping low while your tummy does the work!"
"Feel your hands drift apart as your balloon grows round and happy."
Avoid Phrasing:
"Take a huge deep breath!" (Causes shoulders to jerk up to ears).
"Hold your breath long!" (Causes tension and breath-holding stress).
"Don't wiggle!" (Prompts restlessness in 3-year-olds).
Physical Support
For learners who struggle feeling belly movement, place a lightweight beanbag or soft tissue box on their tummy while lying on back.
Multilingual Learners
Pair gestures with words: inflate hands expanding out wide, deflate hands pressing softly together. Use visual slide cues.
Sensory Sensitivity
Allow children to sit against a wall or sit cross-legged if lying on their back feels uncomfortable or overstimulating.
Bedtime Home Connection Note: Send home a slip advising families: "Ask your child to show you their 'Balloon Belly Ride' with their favorite bedtime stuffed animal before sleep to promote peaceful resting routines."
Belly Breathing Balloon • Early Childhood Self-Regulation Series Standards: CASEL Self-Management • Head Start Early Learning Outcomes
Breathing Visuals Slides Pre-K Calm Body Time Mindful Breaths
Belly Breathing Balloon
Breathe in slowly to inflate! Breathe out gently to deflate!
Inflate!
🎈 Let's blow up our happy belly balloons! Slide 1 of 6
Step 1
Hands on Your Belly!
Slide 2 of 6
Place your soft hands right over your belly button.
Rest your shoulders down. Relax your neck. Your hands will feel your balloon grow!
Gentle Butterfly Hands Right on your tummy!
Keep your shoulders sleeping while your hands feel your tummy!
Step 2
Breathe In: Inflate!
Slide 3 of 6
Smell the sweet flowers through your nose:
1... 2... 3!
Feel your belly push out round and big like a balloon filling with air!
Smell the Flower 🌸 Tummy Balloon Expands!
Watch your hands move apart as your belly gets round!
Step 3
Breathe Out: Deflate!
Slide 4 of 6
Gently blow through soft lips:
"Whoooosh..." or "Ssssss..."
Your belly sinks down soft and flat. All the wiggles float away.
Blow the Candle 🎂 Tummy Balloon Sinks Softly!
Slow and gentle like a soft breeze, never rushing!
Practice Time
Teddy's Belly Ride!
Slide 5 of 6
1
Lie down flat on your cozy mat or rug.
2
Place your stuffed animal gently on your tummy.
3
Rock teddy UP on inhale and DOWN on exhale!
Rock-a-bye Buddy Can you rock teddy to sleep?
Shhh... soft belly waves rock our buddy gently.
Reflection
How Does Your Body Feel?
Slide 6 of 6
Before Breathing:
Wiggly & Bouncy
Full of fast energy
After Balloon Breaths:
Quiet & Calm
Soft, happy, and safe
🎈 You always have your magic balloon inside you! Great breathing!
Breathing Story Script Interactive Read-Aloud Phase 3 Story Arc
Bella Bear's Magic Belly Balloon
Teacher Script Page 1 of 2
Facilitator Note & Cue Key:
[ACTION]: Physical gesture [BREATHE]: Choral breath [PAUSE]: Wait 3 seconds
Act 1: The Wiggly-Jiggly Morning Approx. 2 min
Once upon a sunny morning in Pinecone Forest, a little bear named Bella woke up. But Bella's paws felt buzzy! [ACTION: Wiggle your fingers fast and shake your toes].
Bella said, "Oh my! My chest is breathing so fast: puff-puff-puff! My shoulders are hunched up to my fluffy ears! I feel like ten bumblebees are having a dance party right inside my tummy!"
Have you ever felt wiggly like that before? Show me your gentle nods. [PAUSE: Let children nod and tap knees].
Act 2: Grandma Bear's Secret Approx. 3 min
Grandma Bear padded into the room with warm cozy slippers. She knelt down beside Bella. She didn't say, "Stop wiggling!" Instead, she put one warm paw gently on Bella's belly button. [ACTION: Place both hands flat over your own belly button. Prompt children to do the same].
Grandma Bear whispered, "Bella, do you know what you have hidden right behind your belly button? You have a secret balloon. What color would you like your secret balloon to be today?"
Bella whispered, "Blue like blueberries!"
Grandma Bear smiled: "Whenever your body feels too fast, too tight, or too wiggly, all you have to do is blow up your blueberry balloon with slow, sweet air."
Bella Bear Story Script • Pre-K Belly Breathing Lesson Turn to Page 2 for Choral Practice & debrief cues →
Act 3 & Reflection Debrief
Inflating with Bella & Classroom Debrief
Teacher Script Page 2 of 2
Act 3: Three Magic Balloon Breaths (Choral Whole-Group Practice) Synchronized Practice
🎈 Balloon Breath One: The Small Puff
"Grandma Bear said: Close your eyes softly. Smell the pine needles through your nose... 1, 2, 3!" [BREATHE: All inhale deeply through nose. Hands move out 2 inches]. "Now blow out a soft gentle breeze... whoooooosh." [BREATHE: All exhale slowly through mouth. Tummy sinks back].
🎈 Balloon Breath Two: The Big Round Balloon
"Bella felt her paws stop shaking. 'Grandma! Can I make it bigger?' 'Yes,' smiled Grandma. 'Let's fill the whole room with peaceful air!'" [BREATHE: Inhale slow 1... 2... 3... feel the tummy push big like a giant beach ball!] "And let the air out like a sleepy sigh... ssssssssss." [BREATHE: Soft long exhale. All shoulders sink completely relaxed].
🎈 Balloon Breath Three: The Peaceful Nap
Inflate Deflate Song Sheet Music & Movement Phase 1 Warm-Up
The Inflate-Deflate Song
Song Sheet Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle"
Tempo: Gentle, Slow & Swaying
Inhale = Hands Expand Exhale = Hands Touch
1
Verse 1: The Magic Balloon Inside
Tune: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
🎶 In my tummy lives a balloon,
Place hands over tummy
🎶 Growing big like the shining moon.
Inhale & push tummy round
🎶 Breathe in slow through my soft nose,
Smell the flower 1-2-3
🎶 Watch how big the balloon goes!
Hands stretch out wide
🎶 Breathe out gentle, sssss so slow,
Soft whistle/hiss exhale
🎶 Calm and peaceful as I grow.
Hands rest flat & soft
2
Verse 2: The Belly Elevator Echo
Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat
🎶 Breathe, breathe, breathe in deep,
🎈 Fill the tummy high!
Action: Slow deep breath in, belly pushes up!
🎶 Softly, softly, softly sigh,
🎈 Calm as clear blue sky.
Action: Gentle whoosh out, belly sinks down.
Transition Routine Tip: Use Verse 1 whenever returning from noisy outdoor recess, before daily nap/rest time, or when circle time energy is bouncy. Sing it as a whisper song to naturally lower classroom decibel levels.
Inflate-Deflate Song Sheet • Pre-K SEL Music Resource Movement Anchor: Bilateral Hands on Abdomen
Quiet Balloon Rest Sheet Pre-K Calm Down Corner Phase 5 Reflection
My Quiet Balloon Rest
Name:
Date:
1
Color Your Belly Balloon
Use your calm colors!
What color makes your tummy feel quiet and peaceful? Color your balloon inside!
🎈 My Magic Belly Balloon
2
Circle How You Felt
Before balloon breaths, my body felt:
Wiggly Fast & bouncy
Restless Buzzy body
After balloon breaths, my body feels:
Peaceful Gentle & soft
Calm Ready to learn
3
Finger Trace Breathing Wave
Put your index finger on the star ⭐️
Trace along the dotted hill. Breathe IN as your finger goes UP, and breathe OUT as your finger goes DOWN!
⭐️ START ⬆️ Breathe In (Inflate) ☁️ ⬇️ Breathe Out (Deflate) 🌸 ⬆️ Breathe In ☀️ CALM
I practiced my belly balloon breaths today!
🎈 Balloon Master Badge: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️