Mindful Movement Plan Lesson Plan Mindful Movement Plan
Tier 3 Individual Support Lesson
Time 15 min
Objective
To teach a Kindergarten student simple calming techniques to manage strong emotions and physical urges.
Audience
Kindergarten Student (Individual Tier 3 session)
Why This Matters
Students will gain practical self-soothing strategies to empower them to regain control when impulses arise.
Approach: Hands-on practice and guided reflection.
Teacher Prep
Gather a small, soft toy or stuffed animal for the student.
Review the Calm Down Corner Ideas slide deck.
Familiarize yourself with Breathing Buddies Practice .
Review the My Calm Check-In questions.
Materials Needed
Stuffed Animal Slideshow Activity Sheet Check-In Sheet
Step-by-Step Instructions
2 min
Intro
What Does Calm Feel Like?
Ask the student: "What does it feel like when your body is calm? What about when it's not calm?"
Explain: "Today, we're going to learn special ways to help our bodies feel calm when big feelings or strong urges come along."
5 min
Activity
Breathing Buddies Practice
Guide the student through placing a small, soft toy on their belly.
Ask them to watch the toy move as they breathe.
Emphasize slow, deep breaths. "Can you make your buddy go up... and then back down?"
5 min
Lesson
Exploring Calm Down Corner Ideas
Present the Calm Down Corner Ideas slide deck.
Discuss each idea: "Which one of these do you think would help your body feel peaceful?"
Focus on simple actions: counting, gentle stretches, or quiet drawing.
3 min
Cool Down
My Calm Check-In
Ask the student to reflect on what they learned.
Ask: "Next time you feel a strong wiggle or a big feeling, which calm-down idea will you try?"
Complete the My Calm Check-In sheet together.
Individualized Support
Since this is a Tier 3 lesson, feel free to pause and spend more time on the technique that resonates most with the student.
Calm Down Corner Ideas Slideshow My Calm Place
Where can you go when you need to feel calm?
TEACHER NOTES: Welcome the student and explain that today we'll learn about making our own calm down space.
What's a Calm Down Corner?
It's a special place or a set of tools to help you feel peaceful and happy when you have big feelings or strong wiggles!
It's YOUR calm place.
TEACHER NOTES: Introduce the idea of a 'Calm Down Corner' - a special place or special tools that help us when we have big feelings.
Breathing Buddies
1
Put a soft friend on your belly.
2
Watch it go up and down.
3
Deep breath in... and out...
🧸
Feel your body get quiet
TEACHER NOTES: Talk about deep breathing using a breathing buddy. You can link this to the Breathing Buddies Practice activity.
Look and Squeeze
👀
Look at something pretty
✊
Squeeze a soft ball
What helps your eyes and hands feel calm?
TEACHER NOTES: Discuss simple sensory tools or activities like looking at a calm picture or squeezing a stress ball.
Gentle Stretches
☁️
Reach for the sky
🦶
Touch your toes
🔄
Roll your shoulders
Move your body slowly and gently
TEACHER NOTES: Introduce the idea of gentle movements, which can be part of 'mindful movement'.
Your Calm Choices
You have special ways to help yourself feel calm!
Which one will you try first?
TEACHER NOTES: Wrap up by asking the student what they liked and what they might try.
Breathing Buddies Practice Activity Breathing Buddies Practice
A Guided Calming Activity
Objective
To learn and practice deep belly breathing using a 'breathing buddy' to help calm your body.
Materials
A small, soft toy or stuffed animal (Your "Breathing Buddy")
How To Practice
1
Find Your Spot
Ask the student to lie down comfortably on their back or sit up straight in a chair.
2
Introduce Your Buddy
Hand the student their 'Breathing Buddy'. Say: "This buddy is here to help you breathe!"
3
Place Your Buddy
Gently guide the student to place the buddy on their belly, right over their tummy.
4
Deep Breath In
Ask them to take a slow breath through their nose. Imagine lifting the buddy to the sky!
5
Slow Breath Out
Breathe out through the mouth. Imagine the buddy and belly are sinking down gently.
6
Repeat and Observe
Do this 3-5 times. Notice how the buddy moves up and down.
Talk About It
🤔
"How did your belly move your buddy?"
😊
"How does your body feel right now?"
💡
"When can you use your Breathing Buddy to help you feel calm?"
My Calm Check-In Worksheet My Calm Check-In
Reflecting on my calm body
Name:
Date:
1. Which calming idea felt the most helpful for you today?
Draw your favorite way to be calm here!
2. Tell me one thing you learned about helping your body feel calm.
3. Next time you feel big feelings or strong wiggles, which calm-down idea will you try first?
Breathing Buddy
Look and Squeeze
Gentle Stretches
Quiet Space
Why this one?
