Cool Down Choices Slides
Grade 3 Life Skills • SEL
Safe Minds & Kind Hands
Cool Down Choices
What to do when big feelings happen: pausing, respecting property, and making things right.
1. Calm Down
Pause your body and take deep belly breaths before choosing an action.
2. Respect Belongings
Never grab, take, or break what belongs to someone else.
3. Repair Harm
Own your choices, make an honest apology, and ask a trusted adult for help.
Big feelings are normal. Hurting others or stealing is never the answer. Slide 1 of 8
Foundation
Feelings vs. Choices
Slide 2 of 8
All Feelings Are Allowed
- Feeling furious when things seem unfair
- Feeling jealous when another kid gets a turn
- Feeling your heart race and your face heat up
Inside you, feelings happen automatically. You are never bad for feeling upset!
Not All Actions Are Safe
- Hitting, pushing, kicking, or shoving bodies
- Taking, hiding, or breaking someone's supplies
- Yelling cruel insults to make others hurt
Actions are always a decision. You are the boss of your hands, feet, and mouth!
Golden Rule: Feel the hot feeling inside, but freeze your outside body until you are safe!
Skill 1
Calm Down First
Slide 3 of 8
STEP 1
Freeze
Lock your hands in your pockets or on your lap. Stop moving toward the problem.
"Hands still, feet grounded."
STEP 2
Breathe
Smell the warm pizza (in for 4), blow out the candle (out for 4). Repeat 3 times.
"Slow air cools the brain."
STEP 3
Name It
Silently tell yourself: "I am feeling frustrated right now, and that is okay."
"Name the storm inside."
STEP 4
Step Back
Take two steps back. Give yourself physical room so no collision happens.
"Space brings clear thinking."
Let's Try It Right Now: Place one hand on your belly... Breathe in for 4... Breathe out for 4!
Practice Time
Skill 2
Respect Property
Slide 4 of 8
The "Taking" Trap
When upset or feeling treated unfairly, tricky thoughts whisper:
- "They didn't share, so I will grab it!"
- "Nobody is watching, so I can keep this."
- "They hurt my feelings, so I'll ruin their thing!"
Taking or hiding items is stealing. It breaks trust instantly.
What to Do Instead
Honorable people protect other people's belongings, even when mad:
- 1. Calm Words: "Can I please use that when you are done?"
- 2. Pick Choice B: Find another book, marker, or game to enjoy.
- 3. Ask Adult Help: "Can you help us take turns fairly?"
Trust grows every time you keep hands off what isn't yours.
Classroom Motto: If it belongs to a classmate or the school, ask first and treat it with care.
Action Toolkit
Safe Ways to Release Mad Energy
Slide 5 of 8
Body Resets
Release intense physical energy without touching anyone:
- • Squeeze and unclench fists 5 times
- • Press palms flat together firmly
- • Drink a cool cup of water
Target: Calm muscles
Brain Coolers
Switch your brain out of fight mode into thinking mode:
- • Count backwards: 20, 19, 18, 17...
- • Draw your mad feelings on scrap paper
- • Find 5 blue items in the classroom
Target: Calm thoughts
Quiet Space
Step away safely until your heart beats at normal speed:
- • Sit in the classroom calm corner
- • Ask: "May I have 2 quiet minutes?"
- • Hold a sensory fidget tool gently
Target: Safe restart
Never use fists, feet, or mean words to let energy out. Safe releases keep you out of trouble!
Skill 3
Repair Harm
Slide 6 of 8
1. Own It & Apologize • Say what you did without making excuses
"I am sorry I yelled and grabbed that. It was wrong and made you feel unsafe."
2. Make It Right • Take real action to fix the damage
Return the item immediately, help clean up what spilled, or help rebuild what was knocked over.
3. Involve a Trusted Adult • Ask your teacher or counselor to guide peace
"I made a bad choice when I was angry. I want to fix this fairly. Can you help us talk it out?"
Courage Fact: Anyone can lose their temper. It takes real strength and bravery to admit it and fix it!
Classroom Scenarios
What Would You Do?
Slide 7 of 8
Scenario 1: The Ruined Tower
Maya spent 20 minutes building a giant block tower. Kevin accidentally trips and knocks it down. Maya feels hot anger in her chest and wants to push Kevin.
Discussion Questions:
Q1: What should Maya do in the first 10 seconds?
Q2: What can Kevin do right away to repair harm?
Focus: Pause body first & make things right.
Scenario 2: The Shiny Marker
Leo brought metallic markers from home. Jordan really wanted to use one, but Leo said "No, these are mine." Jordan feels angry and thinks about slipping one into his backpack.
Discussion Questions:
Q1: Why is taking the marker wrong, even if Jordan feels left out?
Q2: What safe choices can Jordan make instead?
Focus: Respect personal property & pick Choice B.
Turn & Talk: Share your answers with your shoulder partner for 2 minutes!
Our Cool Down Pledge
Slide 8 of 8
I will pause my body: When hot feelings rise, I will freeze my hands and breathe before acting.
I will respect property: I will never grab, take, hide, or ruin things that belong to others.
I will protect people: I will never use my body or words as weapons when I feel angry.
I will repair my mistakes: If I slip up, I will apologize honestly, fix the harm, and ask an adult for guidance.
"I am strong. I am in charge of my choices. I choose to be safe, honest, and kind!"