Calm Box Slides Presentation My Calm Box
Building tools to help our brains feel good!
How do I feel?
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😡
Mad
😟
Worried
"When I have big feelings, I can use my tools!"
A Calm Box?
A Calm Box is full of things that help our bodies relax.
Today, we will learn 5 tools to put inside!
Tool 1
Deep Breathing
1
Breathe in through your nose.
2
Breathe out through your mouth.
Let's try 3 times!
Tool 2
Squeeze Hands
"The Lemon Squeeze"
Squeeze your hands tight like you are squeezing a lemon!
Hold for 3 seconds... then let go.
Tool 3
Take a Walk
Sometimes my body needs to move.
A short walk down the hall or around the room can help my brain stay calm.
Tool 4
Drink Water
Cool water feels fresh.
Taking a drink helps me pause and think clearly.
Tool 5
Listen to Music
I can wear my headphones.
Listening to a quiet song or calming sounds makes me feel safe.
The Calm Down Song
Let's sing and practice our tools together!
Embedded media
Your Turn!
Now, let's build your very own Calm Box worksheet!
Pick your favorite tools to color and keep.
My Calm Box Worksheet My Calm Box
Tools to help my brain feel better.
Name:
Date:
GLUE TOOLS HERE
I can color my box to show my favorite colors!
My Coping Tools
🌬️
Deep Breathing
✊
Squeeze Hands
🚶
Take a Walk
💧
Drink Water
🎧
Listen to Music
Directions: Circle the tools you like best. Then, color your Calm Box!
If you have scissors, you can cut out your favorite tools and glue them inside your box.
Calm Box Teacher Guide Calm Box Teacher Guide
Social-Emotional Learning
Developing Coping Strategies for 1st Grade Students with ASD
Learning Objective
Students will identify 5 specific coping skills (Deep Breathing, Squeeze Hands, Take a Walk, Drink Water, Listen to Music) and create a personalized "Calm Box" visual tool to use when feeling overwhelmed or dysregulated.
Materials Needed
• Calm Box Slide Deck
• My Calm Box Worksheet
• Coping Choice Cards
• Crayons, scissors, and glue
• (Optional) Real toolbox or shoebox
Supporting Students with ASD
1
Visual Predictability: Use the slide deck to preview each skill before practice. Clearly define when the activity starts and ends.
2
Direct Modeling: Explicitly model "Squeeze Hands" (The Lemon Squeeze) and "Deep Breathing" (The 5-Finger Breath) multiple times.
3
Sensory Awareness: Be mindful of noise levels during the "Music" portion. Provide headphones if necessary.
4
Concrete Language: Avoid metaphors. Instead of "take a breather," use "breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth."
Instructional Sequence
01
Introduction (5-10 mins)
Use the slides to discuss feelings. Validate that everyone feels "big feelings" like mad or worried sometimes. Introduce the concept of a "Calm Box" as a toolkit for the brain.
02
Skill Practice (15-20 mins)
Go through each of the 5 skills. Have students perform the action physically for 30 seconds each.
Example: "Let's all take 3 big breaths together now."
03
The Calm Down Song (5 mins)
Watch "The Calm Down Song" video on slide 9. Encourage students to sing along and mimic the "stop" and "breathe" actions shown. Discuss how the song helps us remember our tools.
04
Toolbox Creation (15 mins)
Students cut out their favorite "Coping Choice Cards" and glue them onto their "My Calm Box" worksheet. They can color the toolbox to make it unique.
Checking for Understanding
"Show me how you squeeze your hands like a lemon."
"When might you need to use your Calm Box?"
"Which of these 5 skills is your favorite?"
Coping Choice Cards Coping Choice Cards
Cut these cards out and keep them in a small box, on a ring, or at a student's desk as a visual choice board.
Cut along dotted lines
Laminate for long use
Deep Breathing
Breathe in... Breathe out.
Squeeze Hands
Squeeze tight like a lemon.
Take a Walk
Move my body in the hall.
Drink Water
A cool drink for my brain.
Listen to Music
Quiet songs on headphones.
My Own Way