Calm Choices Lesson Plan Sub-Separate Special Education • Social-Emotional Instruction
Calm Choices Lesson Plan
Instructional Guide: Body Clues, Emotional Zones & Self-Regulation Tools
Target Setting Sub-Separate / Life Skills / ASD
Duration 30–40 Mins
Instructional Group 1:1 or Small Group (2–5)
Adult Support Lead Teacher + Paraprofessional
Prerequisite Basic visual pointing or matching
Target IEP Objectives & Standards
Self-Awareness: Student will identify at least 1 internal physical body clue associated with frustration, anger, or calm with ≤1 prompt in 4 out of 5 trials.
Self-Regulation: When presented with a heightened emotional state, student will select and engage with an appropriate calming tool (breathing, sensory, or break card) to return to baseline within 5 minutes.
Environmental & Sensory Setup
Minimize auditory and visual distractions prior to instruction.
Designate a distinct "Calm Down Corner" accessible during practice.
Pre-position communication devices (AAC), PECS icons, and tactile fidgets.
Maintain neutral teacher affect and calm vocal cadence throughout.
Material Checklist
Calm Choices Visual Slide Deck (displayed on screen or tablet).
Student Practice Worksheets (differentiated write/match/point).
Calming items: Stress squish ball, visual timer, water bottle.
Paraprofessional data collection rubric and token board / reinforcer.
1 Phase 1: Direct Instruction • "I Do" (10 Mins) Teacher Modeling
Step 1: The Body Clues Hook (3 mins):
Show Visual Slide 2. Point to body parts: heart, hands, head. Model checking: "My hands are relaxed. My breathing is slow. My body feels ready and calm. When I get frustrated, my hands clench tight and my heart beats fast. My body sends me clues!"
Step 2: Introduce the 4 Emotional Zones (3 mins):
Display Slide 3. Explicitly teach color-coded states: Green (Calm & Focused), Blue (Tired or Sad), Yellow (Frustrated or Anxious), and Red (Angry or Out of Control). Emphasize: "All feelings are okay! What matters is what tool we choose."
Step 3: Concrete Calming Tool Demonstration (4 mins):
Model the 3 core tools from Slides 4 & 5: (1) Deep Breathing: "Smell the flower (in), blow the candle (out)." (2) Sensory Squeeze: Firm hand squeeze or tactile ball. (3) Break Card: Handing visual break card to an adult calmly.
Calm Choices Lesson Plan • Special Education Bundle Page 1 of 2
Guided Practice, Differentiation & Data
Implementation Guide
2 Phase 2: Guided • "We Do" (12 Mins)
Present Slide 6 (Jordan's Scenario). Walk students through the 3-step decision flow:
Identify State: "Look at Jordan's clenched fists. What zone is he in?" (Prompt student to point to Yellow/Red).
Offer Choice: Display 2 physical visual cards: Deep Breaths or Break Card .
Rehearse Strategy: Practice 3 flower-and-candle breaths together with paraprofessional modeling alongside.
3 Phase 3: Practice • "You Do" (12 Mins)
Distribute the differentiated Calm Choices Worksheet :
Check-in: Student indicates current zone.
Matching: Match body clue icon to emotional state (draw line, point, or place velcro icon).
Tool Selection: Student chooses 2 calming tools they prefer for their personal "Calm Kit".
Reinforcement: Deliver immediate contingent praise or token upon tool selection.
Least-to-Most Prompting Hierarchy (For Paras & Teachers)
Level 1: Natural / Ind. Wait 5–7 seconds without talking or gesturing.
Level 2: Visual / Gesture Point to feeling chart or tool cards silently.
Level 3: Direct Verbal "Sam, show me the calm tool you want to try."
Level 4: Hand-under-Hand Gently guide student's hand under theirs to select.
Differentiated Support Pathways
Learner Profile Response Method Accommodation & Assistive Tech Tier A (Non-verbal / AAC) Eye gaze, gross-motor pointing, or AAC touch to select emotion & tool. Enlarged 2-choice visual array, high-contrast symbols, tactile object cues. Tier B (Emerging Reader / Motor) Circling choices with adaptive grip crayon or placing laminated velcro icons. Reduced choices (2 instead of 4), highlighted answer regions, adult scribe. Tier C (Verbal / Semi-Ind.) Written or verbal explanation of when and why they would use their calm tool. Sentence starter strips: "When I feel Yellow, I can..." Independent practice.
Sub-Separate Classroom De-Escalation Safety Note
Never attempt direct cognitive teaching when a student is in the Red Zone. In active crisis or fight-or-flight, immediately transition to non-verbal safety protocols: reduce verbal demands, ensure physical safety, lower ambient lighting, offer pre-conditioned sensory soothing items, and allow self-regulation before processing choices.
Calm Choices Lesson Plan • Special Education Bundle Page 2 of 2
Calm Choices Visual Slides Calm Down Toolbox
Calm Choices:
How Do I Feel? What Can I Do?
Learning our body clues and picking tools to help us feel safe and calm.
1. Notice Body Clues
2. Name the Zone
3. Pick a Calm Tool
Step 1: Check In
How Does My Body Feel?
Our body gives us clues before big feelings happen!
Heart
Beating calm and slow, or fast and loud?
Hands
Relaxed and soft, or clenched into tight fists?
Breathing
Smooth and easy, or fast and short?
Face & Head
Cool and peaceful, or hot and heavy?
Put one hand on your chest right now. Is your heartbeat fast or slow?
Step 2: Name the Zone
The 4 Feeling Zones
All feelings are okay! Naming our zone helps us know what we need.
Green Zone
Calm & Ready
Happy, focused, peaceful, listening.
Blue Zone
Slow & Low
Tired, sad, sick, moving slowly.
Yellow Zone
Wiggly & Tense
Frustrated, worried, silly, anxious.
Red Zone
Stop & Reset
Angry, yelled, out of control, unsafe.
Which color matches your feeling today? Point or say the color!
Calming Tool #1
Take 3 Deep Breaths
Slow breathing sends a message to your brain: "I am safe."
Step 1: Breathe In
Smell the Flower
Breathe in through your nose for 3 slow seconds.
Step 2: Gentle Pause
Hold It Softly
Keep the calm air inside for 1 quiet second.
Step 3: Breathe Out
Blow the Candle
Blow out smoothly through your mouth for 3 seconds.
Let's try 1 together right now! In... and Out...
Calming Tools #2, #3 & #4
Tools for Your Body
Different tools help in different moments. Which one works for you?
Sensory Squeeze
Squeeze a soft stress ball or press hands together tight, then relax.
Drink Cool Water
Take 3 slow sips of water. Feel the cool water reset your body.
Ask for a Break
Show your visual break card to a teacher. Rest in the quiet space.
It is always safe to ask for help or ask for a break!
Calm Choices Practice Worksheet Name:
Date:
Calm Choices Practice
Notice body clues, name your zone, and pick a calm tool.
Visual Activity
1
Feelings Check-In: How do you feel right now?
Look at the 4 zones. Circle or point to your zone today.
Green Zone Calm • Ready
Blue Zone Sad • Tired
Yellow Zone Frustrated • Worried
Red Zone Angry • Stop
2
Match the Body Clue
Draw a line from the body clue on the left to the feeling on the right.
Fast heart & tight fists Clenched hands, chest tight
Calm and Ready Feeling safe • Green
Slow, smooth breathing Relaxed shoulders & hands
Frustrated or Upset Needs a tool • Yellow/Red
Heavy eyes & yawning Body moving slow
Tired or Sad Low energy • Blue
Calm Choices Practice Worksheet Page 1 of 2
Part 2: Picking My Calm Tools
Student:
3
My Calm Down Toolbox
Circle or check 2 tools you want in your calm toolbox.
Take 3 Deep Breaths Smell flower, blow candle
Squeeze Stress Ball Squeeze tight, then release
Drink Cool Water 3 slow sips to reset
Ask for a Break Show break card to an adult
4
Scenario: What Should Alex Do?
Situation: Alex's crayon snaps in half during coloring. Alex feels angry and is in the Red/Yellow Zone .
Circle the calm choice Alex can make:
A Take 3 deep breaths and ask the teacher for another crayon.
B Throw the broken crayon across the classroom floor.
C Rip up the coloring page and shout loudly at the table.
5
Draw Your Calm Tool
Draw a picture of you using your calm tool when you feel upset.
Calm Choices Practice Worksheet Page 2 of 2
Calm Choices Answer Key Teacher & Paraprofessional Guide
Calm Choices Answer Key
Exemplar responses, clinical scoring criteria, and debriefing questions.
Instructor Reference Scoring • Data Sheet
1 Part 1: Feelings Check-In Scoring Note
Self-Report Measure
Target: Accurate self-identification of current physiological/emotional state. Any of the 4 zones (Green, Blue, Yellow, Red) is valid. Score as correct if student points/circles a zone matching their observable affect, or provides consistent response when prompted.
2 Part 2: Match the Body Clue • Correct Keys
3 Objective Items
Fast heart & tight fists Frustrated or Upset (Yellow/Red Zone)
Sympathetic fight-or-flight clue
Slow, smooth breathing Calm and Ready (Green Zone)
Parasympathetic relaxed state
Heavy eyes & yawning Tired or Sad (Blue Zone)
Low-arousal sensory clue
3 Part 3: Calm Down Toolbox Key (Student Preference)
Student selects any 2 of the 4 tools (Deep Breaths, Stress Ball, Cool Water, Break Card). All 4 are prosocial, functional replacement behaviors.
*Teaching Tip: Once selected, create an individualized visual desk strip containing the student's 2 chosen tools for ongoing reinforcement during academic blocks.
4 Part 4: Alex's Scenario Key
Correct Choice: A
• Choice A (CORRECT): "Take 3 deep breaths and ask the teacher for another crayon." Demonstrates self-regulation and functional communication.
• Choice B & C (INCORRECT): Throwing materials or shouting are unsafe/destructive emotional escalations. If student selects B or C, re-read the scenario and prompt: "Does throwing fix the crayon or get help?"
5 Part 5: Drawing & Debriefing Criteria
Credit given for any attempt to represent themselves using a calm tool (scribbles with verbal/pointed explanation are fully accepted for students with motor difficulties).
Debrief Question 1: "Where can we put your calm tools so you can reach them fast?"
Debrief Question 2: "Who in our room can you give your break card to?"
Calm Choices Answer Key • Special Education Bundle Page 1 of 2
IEP Progress Monitoring • Self-Regulation Data Sheet
Weekly and daily tracking log for substantially separate classrooms.
Data Tool
Student Name: