Calm Corner Plan Calm Corner
Tier 2 Small-Group Lesson Plan
TIME: 25 Minutes
AUDIENCE: 1st Grade
Why This Matters
Teaching these strategies in a supportive small-group environment helps first graders develop coping skills for managing stress and emotions, laying the groundwork for healthy self-regulation and improved classroom engagement.
Preparation
Gather printed copies of Mindfulness Station Slides and set up a tablet or projector.
Prepare 4 sensory bottles and place one at each Sensory Exploration station.
Make enough copies of the Guided Breathing Script and Feelings Check-In Notes for each student.
Arrange seating/areas so students can rotate smoothly between stations.
Objective
Students will learn and practice four calming strategies—mindfulness, sensory exploration, deep breathing, and feelings journaling—to enhance self-regulation and reduce anxiety.
Materials Needed
Mindfulness Station Slides
Sensory Bottles Exploration Activity
Guided Breathing Script
Feelings Check-In Notes
Texture Exploration Activity
Instructional Steps
1
Introduction to Calm Corner
3 MIN
Welcome the small group and explain the purpose: learning tools to help them feel calm.
Establish ground rules: quiet voices, taking turns, and respecting each space.
Show the rotation chart and briefly describe each station activity.
2
Station Rotations
20 MIN
Divide students into four spots. Rotate every 5 minutes on signal.
Station 1: Mindfulness Follow guided imagery and focus exercises on the slides.
Station 2: Sensory Bottles Shake and observe calming sensory bottles silently.
Station 3: Guided Breathing Practice belly breathing using the "Flower and Bubble" cues.
Station 4: Feelings Check-In Draw or write feelings using the provided journal sheets.
Circulate, offer prompts, and note which strategies students engage with most.
3
Reflection and Closing
2 MIN
Gather back and ask volunteers to share their favorite strategy.
Use Feelings Check-In Notes to assess each child’s emotional awareness.
Praise efforts and remind them they can use these tools any time.
Mindfulness Station Slides Welcome to
Mindfulness
Today we’ll practice being mindful. Let’s quiet our bodies and focus on the present moment.
Teacher: Welcome students. Explain that we will do a short practice to help calm our minds by paying attention to our breathing and senses.
Belly Breathing
1
Place your hands on your tummy.
2
Breathe in slowly (1-2-3).
3
Breathe out slowly (1-2-3).
Repeat 3 Times
Teacher: Demonstrate placing hands on belly. Model slow breathing in (nose) for 3 and out (mouth) for 3.
Listen Carefully
Close your eyes and listen quietly.
Teacher: Ask students to close eyes. After 10–15 seconds, prompt them to share one sound they heard.
Notice with Your Eyes
Look around and name 3 things you see.
Colors
Shapes
Objects
Teacher: Guide students to look around the Calm Corner. Encourage them to name three specific things.
Feel Inside
Place a hand on your heart.
Close your eyes and notice how you feel.
Name one feeling: calm, quiet, happy...
Teacher: Have students place a hand on their heart. Invite them to describe any feelings or sensations in one word.
Reflect and Draw
Open your journal.
Teacher: Encourage students to open journals. Ask them to draw or write about how they feel now compared to before.
Sensory Bottle Activity Guide Station 2: Sensory Bottles
Observation and Stillness Practice
Sensory Station
Materials
• 1 sensory bottle per student
• Towels or cloths
• Table mats or trays
Overview
Students explore glitter-filled bottles as a calming tool. By shaking and observing how the glitter slowly settles, they practice patience and focus.
Activity Steps
1. Introduction
1 MIN
Show the group a completed bottle. Explain:
“When we feel upset or wiggly, we can shake this bottle and watch the glitter settle. It helps us slow our breath and calm our minds.”
2. Shake & Watch
3 MIN
Give each student a bottle on their mat.
Prompt students to shake gently and then place it down.
Encourage them to watch silently as it settles.
Teacher Prompts:
“What do you notice inside your bottle?”
“How do you feel while the glitter is moving?”
“What colors or shapes can you see?”
3. Share & Reflect
1 MIN
Invite volunteers to share one word to describe how they feel after the glitter settles. Record responses on a sticky note.
Differentiation
Extra Input: Allow exploration of two bottles (one with larger beads, one with fine glitter).Challenge: Predict how many seconds it takes for glitter to settle and time it.
Cleanup
Place bottles back on the drying rack.
Wipe down mats or trays if needed.
Ensure bottles are capped tightly.
Guided Breathing Script Guided Breathing Script
Flower & Bubbles Technique
Station 3
Teacher Introduction
“Friends, let’s get comfy for five big, slow breaths. First, sit up tall and place one hand on your belly. Feel how your hand moves as you breathe. Ready? Let’s begin!”
Breath 1
“Breathe in slowly through your nose like you’re smelling a bright flower... 1-2-3... (pause) Now blow out through your mouth like you’re gently blowing bubbles... 1-2-3... (pause)”
Breath 2
“Again—breathe in like a flower... 1-2-3... (pause) and out like bubbles... 1-2-3... (pause)”
Breath 3
“In through your nose—smell that flower... 1-2-3... (pause) Out through your lips—blow those bubbles... 1-2-3... (pause)”
Breath 4
“Breathe in—fill your belly like a big balloon with flower scent... 1-2-3... (pause) Breathe out—let the bubbles float away... 1-2-3... (pause)”
Breath 5 (Final)
“Last one—smell the flower as you breathe in... 1-2-3... (pause) and blow out gently like blowing soft bubbles... 1-2-3... (pause)”
Teacher Closing
“Wonderful job! Keep your hand on your belly and notice how it feels—up and down, up and down. How does your body feel now? (Pause for responses.) You all did a fantastic job calming your bodies with your breath!”
Pro-Tip: Use a calm, gentle voice and maintain a slow, steady pace. Match your count to the children's natural inhalation/exhalation speeds.
Feelings Check-In Journal My Feelings Journal
Name:
Date:
Calm Corner Station 4
1
How do I feel before Calm Corner?
Draw or write about your feeling in the big box below:
2
How do I feel after Calm Corner?
Draw or write about your feeling in the big box below:
3
Which calming tool was your favorite?
🧘
Mindfulness
🔍
Sensory Bottle
🌬️
Breathing
✏️
Drawing
4
Why was this your favorite tool?
Draw your reason here
Texture Exploration Activity Guide Station 5: Texture Exploration
Tactile Grounding and Sensory Awareness
Texture Station
Materials
• Assorted tactile items (stress balls, fabrics, pom-poms, stones, etc.)
• Small baskets or trays
• Cleaning wipes
Overview
Students use their sense of touch to explore textures. Feeling different materials can be soothing and help them notice sensations in their bodies.
Activity Steps
1. Introduction
1 MIN
“We’re going to use our hands to feel each texture and notice how it makes us feel.”
2. Feel with Eyes Closed
2 MIN
Invite students to close their eyes. Give each student a tray.
Prompt:
“Pick one item and feel it slowly—smooth, bumpy, soft, or hard.”
Prompts:
“What words describe how it feels?” / “Does touching this make you feel calm?”
3. Explore & Swap
2 MIN
Open eyes and look closely at the item's colors and patterns. On prompt, swap items and repeat.
4. Share & Reflect
1 MIN
Which texture was your favorite? Which one helped you feel most calm?
Differentiation
Extra Pressure: Include putty or weighted items.Light Touch: Offer feathers or silk scarves.
Cleanup
Return all items to baskets. Wipe down trays and hands. Rotate to the closing circle on the chime signal!
