Calm Down Strategy Cards Set A • Cards 1–4
Pocket Reset Strategy Cards
Cut along dotted borders • Hole punch in corner for key ring
Breathe #01
Five-Finger Star
Tracing Somatic Breath
Trace Up
Inhale through nose
Trace Down
Exhale out mouth
1 Hold out your hand like an open star.
2 Use your other pointer finger to trace up your thumb while breathing in .
3 Trace down the thumb while breathing out . Repeat for all 5 fingers.
Body Check: Feel your heartbeat slow down as you finish thumb to pinky.
Grounding #02
5-4-3-2-1 Radar
Sensory Room Scan
5 LOOK: Name 5 things you can see right now.
4 TOUCH: Feel 4 textures (desk, clothes, shoes).
3 HEAR: Notice 3 quiet sounds around the room.
2 SMELL: Identify 2 scents or fresh airflow.
1 SELF: Say 1 kind, true thing about yourself.
Anchor: This brings your thinking brain back into the present moment.
Body Release #03
Ice to Warm Water
Progressive Muscle Release
FREEZE (5 sec)
Squeeze all muscles
➔
MELT (10 sec)
Let limbs go loose
1 Tighten your fists, shrug your shoulders up to your ears, and scrunch your face.
2 Hold tight like an ice cube frozen solid for 5 seconds.
3 Exhale with a gentle sigh and melt into warm sunshine. Repeat 3 times.
Body Check: Notice how heavy and soft your shoulders feel as you melt.
Safe Space #04
The Turtle Shell
Sensory Shield Reset
Step 1: Tuck In
Block distractions
Step 2: Breathe
3 quiet belly breaths
1 Cross your arms gently over your chest or rest your forehead softly on folded arms.
2 Lower your gaze or close your eyes to give your brain a quiet pause.
3 Think: "I am safe inside my shell. I can take all the time I need."
Ready to peek: Lift your head when you feel your breath steady and slow.
Calm Corner Reset • Self-Regulation Toolkit Page 1 of 2
Set B • Cards 5–8
Pocket Reset Strategy Cards
Cut along dotted borders • Hole punch in corner for key ring
Rhythm Breath #05
Box Breathing
4-Count Navy SEAL Reset
HOLD (4s)
INHALE (4s)
EXHALE (4s)
REST (4s)
1 Breathe in through nose for 4 counts: 1... 2... 3... 4.
2 Gently hold the breath still for 4 counts.
3 Breathe out through mouth for 4 counts, pause 4 counts. Repeat 3 times.
Science Fact: Even rhythm signals your heart to lower adrenaline immediately.
Motor Reset #06
Lemon Squeeze
Fist & Finger Release
Squeeze Lemons!
Clench tight fists
➔
Drop & Shake!
Release all juice
1 Imagine you hold a giant, juicy lemon in each hand.
2 Squeeze out all the juice! Make your hands as tight as possible for 5 seconds.
3 Drop the lemons! Shake your fingers out like cooked spaghetti. Feel the warmth.
Use when: Feeling angry, frustrated, or like your body wants to clench up.
Mind Vision #07
Ride the Wave
Urge Surfing & Acceptance
Rises ➔ Peaks ➔ Washes Away
No feeling stays forever. Big feelings always peak and pass.
1 Close your eyes and picture a rolling ocean wave.
2 Imagine standing balanced on a surfboard at the top of the wave.
3 Ride the crest down smoothly into calm, warm, still water on the shore.
Mind Motto: "I don't have to fight the wave; I can surf it."
Self-Talk #08
Brave Mantras
Positive Cognitive Anchors
Place one hand over your heart. Whisper or think one of these true statements:
"I am safe right now, and this feeling will pass."
"It is okay to feel upset. I can handle hard things."
"I can pause, take my time, and start fresh."
Power Habit: Your brain believes the kind words you tell it!
Calm Corner Reset • Self-Regulation Toolkit Page 2 of 2
Calm Reset Slides Self-Regulation Lab
Lesson 1
Emotional Toolkit
Calm Down Toolkit:
Finding Your Reset
Learn how your brain handles big feelings and discover power tools to bring your body back to calm.
Breathwork Body Awareness Grounding Tools
Brain Science Slide 2
All Feelings Are OK
Every human brain experiences surprise, anger, frustration, and worry.
The Brain Alarm
The Amygdala
Tries to protect you! When it senses danger or big stress, it shouts: "Freeze, fight, or run!"
The Wise Captain
Prefrontal Cortex
Your calm thinking brain. Helps you make choices, solve math problems, and listen to friends.
💡 Our goal: When the alarm rings, we use our calm tools to wake the Captain back up!
Body Radar Slide 3
Catch the Early Warning Clues
Your body always speaks to you before you flip your lid. What do you feel?
Racing Heart
Chest thumping like a fast drumbeat.
Hot Cheeks
Face feels warm, red, or tingly.
Tight Fists
Hands clench or shoulders hike to ears.
Fast Breathing
Short, quick gasps at the top of chest.
👉 When you spot a body clue, it is time to grab a strategy card!
Classroom Practice Slide 4
Let's Try: Five-Finger Star Breath
Hold up your hand right now. Follow along together.
1
Open Star
Spread 5 fingers wide like a starfish resting on your desk.
2
Trace Up
Trace up the thumb while breathing in deep through your nose.
3
Trace Down
Trace down the other side while slowly blowing air out your mouth.
Repeat for all 5 fingers. Feel your shoulders drop down!
Classroom Practice Slide 5
Let's Try: Lemon Squeeze & Melt
Use muscle tension to squeeze out big, stormy energy.
1. Squeeze Tight (5 sec)
Grab two imaginary sour lemons! Squeeze them with all your power. Make your fists, arms, and face super tight!
2. Drop & Melt (10 sec)
Drop the lemons! Let your hands flop open. Wiggle your soft fingers like limp cooked noodles. Breathe out softly.
🌊 Notice: Releasing tight muscles sends a direct signal to your brain:
Calm Compass Activity Worksheet My Calm Compass Plan
Personal Self-Regulation & Reset Guide
Name:
Date:
1
My Body Warning Signs
Check (✓) all the clues your body sends you when upset:
Fast heartbeat / chest drum
Hot cheeks / red ears
Knots in stomach
Clenched fists / tight hands
Shoulders hiked up tight
Loud breathing / sighing
Another clue my body gives me:
2
My Top 3 Go-To Reset Tools
(Choose from your cards: Star Breath, Box Breath, Ice Melt, Lemon Squeeze, Radar, Turtle Shell, Wave, Brave Mantras)
Tool #1 Strategy Name: First Choice
How I will do it:
This tool helps me because:
Tool #2 Strategy Name: Second Choice
How I will do it:
This tool helps me because:
Tool #3 Strategy Name: Emergency Backup
How I will do it:
This tool helps me because:
3
My Reset Pledge & Safe Space Agreement
When I feel big feelings bubbling up, a kind thing I can tell myself is:
A helper I can ask for support:
My Calm Corner timer limit:
[ ] 3 Minutes [ ] 5 Minutes
Student Signature: Teacher/Guide Initials:
Calm Corner Reset • Student Practice Worksheet Keep this compass inside your desk or folder for quick reference
Peace Station Teacher Guide Educator Facilitation Guide
Peace Station & Reset Toolkit
Explicit Modeling, Somatic Instruction, and Self-Regulation Routines
Grades: K–5 (Adaptable)
Time: 45–50 Minutes
CASEL: Self-Management
1. Identify Cues
Notice early physiological signs of stress before emotional overwhelm strikes.
2. Somatic Practice
Rehearse 8 tactical calm-down strategies through guided multi-sensory modeling.
3. Personal Action
Assemble a personalized Calm Compass plan and practice independent corner routines.
Lesson Flow & Scripted Prompts
Phase 1: Hook & The Brain Alarm (10 Min) Slide Deck 1–3
Scripted Prompt: "Have you ever felt like a boiling kettle ready to whistle? In our brains, the amygdala is like a smoke alarm. It doesn't mean you are bad—it just means your body is trying to protect you! Today, we are learning how to turn the alarm down gently."
Phase 2: Whole-Group Somatic Modeling (15 Min) Slide Deck 4–5 & Cards
Directly lead students through Five-Finger Star Breathing and Ice to Warm Water . Facilitator Note: Emphasize slow exhalations. Exhaling longer than inhaling stimulates the vagus nerve and downregulates the sympathetic nervous system in under 60 seconds.
Phase 3: Calm Compass Personalization (15 Min) Student Activity Sheet
Distribute the Calm Compass Activity Worksheet . Students identify their personal bodily warning flags (e.g., tight chest vs. hot ears) and choose their top 3 preferred tools. Circulate and support students in choosing complementary tools (e.g., 1 breathing + 1 muscle + 1 mental).
Phase 4: Calm Corner Walkthrough & Pledge (10 Min) Slide Deck 6–7
Introduce the physical calm corner. Demonstrate setting the 3–5 minute sand timer, picking a card, completing the exercise, and returning to the group without shame or fanfare.
The Golden Rule of Co-Regulation
Children cannot access self-regulation tools when fully in "fight-or-flight" panic. If a student is screaming, crying, or shut down, co-regulate first (lowered voice, soft eye contact, open posture, sitting nearby in silence). Introduce cards once breathing begins to stabilize.
Calm Corner Reset • Teacher Facilitation Guide Page 1 of 2
Environment & Systems
Calm Corner Architecture & Protocols
Setting Up a Trauma-Informed, Restorative Space
Section 2: Daily Operations
