Lost Calm Counselor Guide Counselor Facilitation Guide
The Case of the Lost Calm
Grade 2 Emotional Regulation Escape Room
Target Audience 1-4 Students (Grade 2)
Mission Briefing
The school mascot's "Calm Energy" has gone missing right before a major school event! Students take on the role of **Calm Cadets** to search the school counseling office (or classroom) to solve four hidden clues. Each clue tests a vital emotional regulation skill.
By finding the clues and recording answers in their Detective Case Journals , they decode the final lockbox combination to recover the Lost Calm and unlock their own inner regulation superpowers.
Skills Targeted
• Station 1: Naming & Sorting Emotions (Physical cues)
• Station 2: Size of the Problem (Small/Med/Big)
• Station 3: Positive Self-Talk (Reframing thoughts)
• Station 4: Deep Breathing & Calming (Tracing)
Setup Materials Needed
Printed Detective Case Journals (one per student)
Printed Station Cards (cut and placed at stations)
Printed Clue Sheets (hidden around the room)
Crayons, pencils, and clipboard for student
A box (lockbox) wrapped with paper with a lock graphic
Custom Hiding Blueprint
Station 1: Behind the softest seat in the room (e.g. pillow cushion, soft armchair).
Station 2: Inside the heaviest book you can read in a place where books are stored.
Station 3: Behind something on the whiteboard (e.g. taped behind a whiteboard magnet or eraser).
Station 4: Behind the place to go outside (e.g. behind the exit door, or handle framework).
Escape Room Gameplay Loop
Step 1 Briefing & Slides Introduce case, distribute case file journals
Step 2 Search & Solve Find 4 clues around room and complete exercises
Step 3 Crack the Code Use solved letter locks to unlock the box
Step 4 Badge & Breathe Recover Mascot's calm, award cadet badges
The Case of the Lost Calm — Counseling Escape Room Series Page 1 of 2
Facilitation Script & Action Steps
Follow this script to guide the Grade 2 student through the movement-based experience.
1. Briefing the Cadet (5 Minutes)
"Cadet, we have a major emergency! Counselor Cooper's office was visited by the 'Chaos Creature,' and the school mascot's Calm Energy has been locked away! To break the codes, we must search this room and find the four hidden clues. Here is your Detective Case Journal and a clipboard. Are you ready to find Clue #1? I'll give you a hint: it is hidden behind the softest seat in the room!"
2. Supporting the Search & Solving (15-20 Minutes)
Allow the student to physically search the room for each clue card using the riddle guide.
Riddle Prompts: If they get stuck, read the next clue out loud:
3. Cracking the Code (5 Minutes)
"You have solved all four clues and compiled your regulation keys! Look at your code decoder wheel in your journal. Use your answers to decode the final 4-letter word. Once we spell it out, we will unlock the Mascot's calm!"
Codebreaking & Solution Key
Station / Clue Hiding Spot Riddle Correct Answer Code Letter 1: Emotion Sorting Behind the softest seat Fists & Red Face = Angry C 2: Size of Problem Inside heaviest book in bookcase Pencil spill = Small Problem A 3: Positive Self-Talk Behind whiteboard magnet/eraser Reframed: "I will try my best!" L 4: Breathing Maze Behind the door to outside Traced successfully, felt Calm M
Final Lockbox Password Assemble letters in clue order (1-2-3-4) to spell:
C A L M
Counselor Clinical Notes
This activity targets physical, cognitive, and somatic regulation. If the student gets frustrated or hyperactive while searching, use it as a real-time teaching moment: "We need to activate our detective focus. Let's do a quick deep breath together before we solve the next clue."
The Case of the Lost Calm — Counseling Escape Room Series Page 2 of 2
Detective Case Journal Detective: ___________________________
Date: ____________
CALM CADET
CASE JOURNAL
Help solve the mystery of the Lost Calm by cracking clues and discovering your inner emotional regulation superpowers!
My Regulation Badge Board
#1
Emotion Namer Clue Code: [___]
#2
Problem Solver Clue Code: [___]
#3
Self-Talk Shield Clue Code: [___]
#4
Calming Captain Clue Code: [___]
My Station Search Clues:
🔍 Station 1: Hidden behind the softest seat in the room!🔍 Station 2: Hidden inside the heaviest book you can read where we store books!🔍 Station 3: Hidden behind something on the whiteboard !🔍 Station 4: Hidden behind the place where we go to step outside !
Calm Cadet Academy — Case Journal Page 1 of 4
STATION 1
Body Signal Decoder
Emotion Sorting
When we feel big emotions, our bodies give us signals! Look at the card at Station 1. Draw a line from the physical body signals to the silhouette below. Decode the mascot's emotion on the Station Card to find your first Code Letter!
Tight, squeezed fists
Frowning face or tears
Fast, pumping heartbeat
Body Map
My Station 1 Code Letter: Find this letter on the Station 1 card!
STATION 2
The Problem Scale
Size of Problem
Look at the scenario on the Station 2 card: "My yellow pencil breaks during drawing time." Trace the correct problem size on the scale below. Then write the matching Code Letter from the Station Card!
SMALL
Spilled snack or broken pencil
MEDIUM
Scrape or argument with friend
BIG
Injured or emergency
My Station 2 Code Letter: Find this letter on the Station 2 card!
Calm Cadet Academy — Case Journal Page 2 of 4
STATION 3
The Power Shield
Self-Talk
Negative thoughts can feel like an arrow hitting us! But we can block them with a Power Shield containing a positive self-talk statement. At Station 3, choose the helpful, empowering phrase and write it on your shield below.
Station Clue Cards STATION 1
Body Signal Decoder
🔍 DETECTIVE CHALLENGE:
Our mascot was seen clenching their fists tight like rocks and their face was turning bright red . What emotion were they experiencing in their body?
ANGRY Tight fists & hot face
SCARED Shaking hands & wide eyes
If your answer is Angry , write your first code letter:
C
Cut along line to separate cards
STATION 2
The Problem Scale
🔍 DETECTIVE CHALLENGE:
The Chaos Creature whispered: "Oh no! My yellow pencil broke during drawing time!" How big of a problem is this? Match it to the right size and check the secret letter.
SMALL Easily fixed with a sharpener.
MEDIUM Needs help from an adult.
BIG An emergency, unsafe!
If your answer is Small , write your second code letter:
A
The Case of the Lost Calm — Escape Room Station Cards Page 1 of 2
STATION 3
The Self-Talk Shield
🔍 DETECTIVE CHALLENGE:
The Chaos Creature whispers: "You can't do this! It's too hard!" We must block this negative arrow with a Power Shield. Which self-talk statement is helpful and empowering?
"I will try my best!" Blocks worry, gives power.
"I'll give up right now." Makes the worry feel bigger.
If your answer is "I will try my best!" , write your third code letter:
L
Cut along line to separate cards
STATION 4
The Deep Breathing Maze
🔍 DETECTIVE CHALLENGE:
The Calm Mascot uses deep breathing squares to settle their racing heart. Follow the maze on your journal page 3 to trace and practice the square breath. Once you complete 2 full cycles, how does your body feel?
CALM & STEADY Slow, deep air inside
TIRED & BORED No air movement at all
If your answer is Calm , write your fourth code letter:
M
The Case of the Lost Calm — Escape Room Station Cards Page 2 of 2
Case Briefing Slides ACTIVE CASE FILE
Counseling Mission Brief
The Case of the
Lost Calm
Attention, Calm Cadets! The school mascot's inner peace has been locked away inside a secret chest. We need your detective skills to find the clues and crack the code!
SUSPECT #1
Chaos Creature Likes big tantrums & noisy spaces
"I hid the keys and locked the box! You'll never learn how to stay calm and solve my puzzles!"
Calm Cadet Training Academy — Mission Briefing Slide 1 of 4
ACADEMY DIRECTIVE
How to Solve the Mystery
1. Search Quietly
Find the 4 hidden clue cards around the room. Walk slowly and look carefully!
2. Check Journal
Complete each worksheet task to unlock the matching station's secret code letter.
3. Spell the Code
Combine all 4 secret letters to spell the final word and unlock the Mascot's calm!
Calm Cadet Training Academy — Instructions Slide 2 of 4
TACTICAL SKILL
Coping Tool Training
SQUARE
BREATHING
When detectives face a tough challenge, they use deep breaths to quiet their heart and keep their thinking mind clear. Try this with me now!
Breathe in deeply through your nose
Hold for four slow beats
Breathe out slowly like blowing a candle
IN (4s)
HOLD (4s)
OUT (4s)
PAUSE (4s)
Steady Mind
Calm Cadet Training Academy — Coping Tool Slide 3 of 4
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Master of Calm Unlocked!
You successfully found all the clues, solved the riddles, and recovered the school mascot's Lost Calm! You are officially a certified Master of Calm! Keep using your superpowers!
Emotion Sorting Sizing Problems Self-Talk Shield Square Breathing
Calm Cadet Training Academy — Case Solved! Slide 4 of 4
Calm Inspector Certificate Official Graduation Document
CALM CADET ACADEMY
This certifies that the courageous Cadet
Cadet Name
has successfully completed all movement tasks, decoded the physical emotion signals, mastered the problem scale, designed an empowering self-talk shield, and cracked the final code to unlock the School Mascot's Lost Calm.
Therefore, they are officially decorated with the rank of
MASTER OF CALM Emotional Regulation Specialist
Awarded Date
Academy Counselor
