Calm Down Crew Slides
Social Emotional Learning
Grades K–2
Calm Down Crew
Discover how your body feels big emotions and learn four superpower tools to reset and feel peaceful!
Notice
•
Pause
•
Reset
Feelings Are Like Weather
Check-In
Sunny
Happy, playful, calm, and ready to learn.
Stormy
Angry, frustrated, yelling, or ready to burst.
Rainy
Sad, lonely, tired, or needing a hug.
Windy
Worried, nervous, wiggly, or fast heart.
Every feeling is normal! Weather passes, and so do big feelings.
Body Clues: Where Do You Feel It?
Body Signals
Hot Cheeks & Head
Your face gets warm, red, or your head feels full of steam.
Thump-Thump Heart
Your heartbeat speeds up like a galloping horse or a race car.
Tight Fists & Shoulders
Your hands squeeze tight into balls and your shoulders rise up.
Twisty Tummy
Your stomach feels tied in knots, butterflies flutter, or it aches.
When you spot a body clue, it's time to choose a calm-down tool!
Tool 1: Balloon Belly Breathing
Tool #1
1
Hands on Belly
Place both hands gently over your stomach like you are holding a giant balloon.
2
Breathe In Deep
Breathe in through your nose for 3 seconds. Watch your belly blow up like a balloon!
3
Slow Whoosh Out
Open your mouth and breathe out slowly: "Whoooosh" as the balloon deflates.
Try it right now: 3 slow balloon breaths together!
Tool 2: Starfish Finger Tracing
Tool #2
Open Your Hand
Spread your 5 fingers wide like a friendly starfish in the sea!
Trace UP = Breathe IN
Trace slowly up your thumb as you breathe in deeply.
Trace DOWN = Breathe OUT
Trace down the other side as you slowly let air out.
Trace all 5 fingers for 5 mindful breaths!
You always have your hands with you wherever you go!
Tool 3: Ground Your Senses
Tool #3
5
SEE
Spot 5 things you can see right now.
4
TOUCH
Feel 4 things (desk, pants, shoes).
3
HEAR
Listen for 3 gentle sounds around you.
2
SMELL
Notice 2 scents in the air.
1
KIND
Think 1 sweet thing about yourself!
Grounding brings your busy brain back to this safe room!
Tool 4: Visit Your Cozy Spot
Tool #4
Sunny Meadow
Warm sunshine, soft green grass, and birds singing gentle songs.
Calm Ocean Beach
Gentle waves rolling in and out, warm sand beneath your toes.
Blanket Fort
Fluffy pillows, cozy stuffed animals, soft lights, and quiet safety.
Close your eyes, breathe, and picture your favorite peaceful spot!
Your Calm Down Mission
Crew Badge
1
Notice the Clue
Feel your fists, heart, cheeks, or belly warning you.
2
Pick a Tool
Balloon breath, starfish trace, 5 senses, or cozy spot.
3
Reset & Ask
Feel your calm body return, then talk to a safe helper.
You are strong, you are safe, and you are in the Calm Down Crew!
Calm Down Toolkit Worksheet
My Calm Down Toolkit
Calm Down Crew • Social-Emotional Learning Activity
Name:
Date:
1
My Weather Today • Circle how your inside feels:
Sunny Happy & Calm
Stormy Mad or Frustrated
Rainy Sad or Tired
Windy Nervous or Wiggly
2
My Body Clues • Check the boxes that happen to you:
Hot cheeks or warm face
Fast thump-thump heartbeat
Tight fists or stiff shoulders
Twisty tummy butterflies
3
My #1 Calm Tool • Star your favorite superpower tool:
Balloon Breath ☆ Star Me
Starfish Trace ☆ Star Me
5 Senses ☆ Star Me
Cozy Spot ☆ Star Me
4
Draw Your Peaceful Safe Place:
(a cozy blanket fort, beach, sunny meadow, or puppy room)
Crew Promise: "When feelings get big, I can stop, breathe, and reset!"
Page 1 of 2
My Pocket Calm Cards
Color, cut along the dashed lines, and keep in your pocket or desk!
4 Cards to Keep
Balloon Breath
CARD 1
1. Hands on belly.
2. Breathe in: 1 - 2 - 3. Feel belly grow!
3. Breathe out: "Whooooosh" slow & calm.
Do 3 big balloon breaths! 🎈
✂ Calm Down Crew Pocket Card
Starfish Trace
CARD 2
1. Spread fingers wide like a star.
2. Trace UP a finger = Breathe IN.
3. Trace DOWN a finger = Breathe OUT.
Trace all 5 fingers! ⭐
✂ Calm Down Crew Pocket Card
5 Senses Grounding
CARD 3
5: 5 things you can SEE around you
4: 4 things you can TOUCH right now
3: 3 sounds you can HEAR softly
2: 2 scents you can SMELL in the room
1: 1 kind word to say to yourself! ❤️
✂ Calm Down Crew Pocket Card
Helper Whisper Card
CARD 4
Use these words when you need to talk to a teacher or grown-up helper:
"I feel like my weather is ."
"Right now I need ."
✂ Calm Down Crew Pocket Card
Calm Down Crew Teacher Guide
Calm Down Crew Teacher Guide
Early Elementary SEL • Pacing, Scripts, and Facilitation
Grades K–2 • 40–45 Mins
Core Learning Objectives
- • Identify emotional states without shame using the weather metaphor.
- • Recognize early physical body signals (racing pulse, tight fists, warm face).
- • Demonstrate at least two somatic calming tools (Balloon Breath, Starfish Trace).
Lesson Pacing
7 min: Weather Check
12 min: Slide Instruction
15 min: Toolkit Worksheet
8 min: Practice & Wrap
1 Phase 1: Weather Check-In & Hook (Slides 1–2)
7 Minutes
Teacher Script: "Friends, look outside. Does the sky look sunny every single day? No! Sometimes it rains, sometimes thunder rumbles, and sometimes wind blows hard. Our inside feelings are just like weather! All weather is natural, and every feeling is okay. But what do we do when a storm makes our inside feel out of control? We use our Calm Down Crew tools!"
2 Phase 2: Body Signal Detective Game (Slide 3)
6 Minutes
Teacher Script: "Our bodies give us secret warning lights before we shout, cry, or knock over blocks! Put your hands on your cheeks—do they ever feel like hot toast? Put a hand over your heart—does it ever thump like a rabbit running? Squeeze your fists tight—now let them go loose like wet noodles. When you feel a body clue, that is your brain saying: 'Pause and pick a tool!'"
3 Phase 3: The 4 Superpower Tools (Slides 4–7)
12 Minutes
Guide students through each tool with full-body modeling. Stand or sit tall, lower vocal volume, and use slow, rhythmic speech. Ensure every child tries 3 balloon breaths and conducts starfish tracing with both hands.
4 Phase 4: Independent Toolkit & Pocket Cards (Worksheet)
15 Minutes
Students complete Page 1 (Weather circle, body signals checklist, cozy spot drawing). Then they cut and color the 4 pocket cards on Page 2. Place completed cards on student ring binders or taped inside desk cubbies for immediate access.
Prep Checklist: Slides loaded Worksheets printed (2-sided) Crayons & child scissors
Page 1 of 2
Co-Regulation & Classroom Setup
De-escalation Protocols, Calm Corner, and Individual Accommodations
Support Guide
Trauma-Informed Co-Regulation & De-Escalation
What to Avoid During Big Feelings
• Avoid asking "Why did you do that?" (the thinking brain is offline).
