Dashboard Detectives Teacher Guide Teacher Resource
Dashboard Detectives
Self-Regulation Lesson Plan (Grades 3–5)
Duration
45 Minutes
Core Objective
Students identify their emotional "rpm" and select matching self-regulation tools.
SEL Domain
Self-Management & Self-Awareness (CASEL aligned).
Materials
Dashboard Slides, Student Worksheets, Desk Cards, Coloring pencils.
Essential Questions
How does paying attention to my body help me understand my emotions?
What actions can I take to change my energy when it is too high or too low?
01
The Hook: What's On Your Dashboard?
10 Minutes
Begin by displaying Slide 2 (The Car Dashboard) . Ask the class: "What do the dials and meters in a car do? Why does a driver need to look at them?" Allow students to share answers. Connect their responses to their own minds and bodies.
Teacher Talk (Script):
"Just like a car has a dashboard to tell us if we are running low on fuel, driving at a safe speed, or if the engine is overheating, our bodies have their own internal dashboard! Our dashboard tells us how much energy we have and what emotion we are running on. Today, we are going to become Dashboard Detectives to check our own meters and learn how to adjust them!"
02
The Three Speedometers
15 Minutes
Introduce the three operational modes of our internal dashboard using Slides 3–5 . Work through each state systematically:
Low Power (Blue Dial)
How it feels: Tired, bored, sad, moving slow, sluggish. Fuel tank is near empty.
Goal: Rev up the engine gently with a charging strategy (e.g., stretching, drinking water).
Cruising / Just Right (Green Dial)
How it feels: Focused, calm, ready to learn, happy, balanced. Cruising at optimal speed.
Goal: Maintain this state! This is the peak learning zone.
DASHBOARD DETECTIVES © 2026 PAGE 1 OF 2
Teacher Resource
Dashboard Detectives
Instructional Delivery & Strategies
Subject
Self-Regulation
Overheating / Redline (Yellow & Red Dial)
How it feels: Angry, hyper, overly silly, anxious, frustrated. The engine is redlining.
Goal: Apply the brakes! Use a cool-down strategy (e.g., box breathing, heavy work).
03
Guided Practice: Calibrating the Instruments
10 Minutes
Present students with a few quick scenarios to check for understanding. Use a physical "thumbs-up, thumbs-down, thumbs-flat" scale or ask students to make dial shapes with their hands to indicate which zone the scenario falls into:
Scenario A
"It's right after recess. Max is running around the classroom, talking extremely fast, and can't sit still."
Answer: Overheating (High Zone) - Needs brakes
Scenario B
"Mia is laying her head on the desk during morning announcement time. She yawns and says she doesn't feel like moving."
Answer: Low Fuel (Low Zone) - Needs recharge
04
Independent Practice & Exit Ticket
10 Minutes
Step 1: Hand out the Dashboard Detectives Worksheet . Students color their gauges and label symptoms/physical signals of their energy zones.
Step 2: Students draft their "Emergency Tool Box" of specific strategies to adjust their dials. Encourage personalized coping tools.
Step 3: Distribute the Desk Cards . Have students customize them, cut them out, and tape them to the corners of their desks for daily non-verbal check-ins with you.
Teacher Pro Tips & Differentiation
For Extra Support:
Provide a pre-written list of sensory tools and actions (e.g., "squeeze a stress ball", "do 5 jumping jacks", "take 3 deep breaths") for students to select and paste rather than writing from scratch.
Extension / Daily Integration:
Implement "Dashboard Checks" twice a day. Prompt students: "Dashboard Detectives, calibrate your dials! Point to where you are right now." Use this to guide prompt-to-strategy transitions.
DASHBOARD DETECTIVES © 2026 PAGE 2 OF 2
Dashboard Detectives Slides SYSTEM SCAN: ON
Dashboard Detectives
Reading our emotional meters & unlocking our inner superpower controls!
MISSION: SELF-REGULATION SLIDE 1
MISSION CONTROL
What is a Dashboard?
Vehicles have dashboards to monitor speed, temperature, and fuel.
Our Body has a Dashboard too!
Our emotions and energy levels act like engine readings. When we pay attention to them, we know exactly how to stay on track.
ACTIVE INTERNAL METERS
Low
Ideal
High
Scanning system signals...
DASHBOARD PRINCIPLE SLIDE 2
ZONE BLUE
Low Fuel / Sluggish Mode
When our engine is running in Low Fuel Mode, our internal system feels slow and low-energy.
How it might feel:
Tired or Sleepy
Sad or Lonely
Bored or Spaced Out
RECHARGE ACTION PROTOCOLS
To get back to optimal cruising energy, we need to add fuel!
Stretches
Drink Water
METER CLASSIFICATION SLIDE 3
ZONE GREEN
Cruising / Ready Mode
In Cruising Mode, your engine is balanced and operates at absolute peak efficiency.
How it might feel:
Focused and Alert
Calm and Patient
Happy and Helpful
MAINTENANCE PROTOCOLS
This is the best state for learning, creating, and cooperating!
Stay Focused
Share Joy
METER CLASSIFICATION SLIDE 4
ZONE RED / YELLOW
Overheating / Redline Mode
When your system enters Redline Mode, the engine is running too fast and is starting to overheat.
How it might feel:
Angry or Frustrated
Hyper or Wild
Worried or Anxious
COOL-DOWN ACTION PROTOCOLS
We need to apply the internal brakes immediately to cool off!
Deep Breathing
Take a Break
METER CLASSIFICATION SLIDE 5
MISSION COMPLETED
You Are the Driver!
1. Notice
Check your dashboard and see where your arrow is pointing.
2. Choose
Decide if you need to add fuel, steer straight, or use brakes.
3. Act
Dashboard Detectives Worksheet MISSION ASSIGNMENT
My Internal Dashboard
DETECTIVE RANK: CADET
Pilot:
Star Date:
Co-Pilot:
1. Calibrate Your Three Core Gauges
Color each gauge's indicator and list 2 physical body signs (how your muscles, heart, or breathing feel) for each zone:
LOW FUEL (BLUE)
CRUISING (GREEN)
OVERHEAT (RED)
2. System Scan: Body Signals Match
Match the physical body signal to the dial zone by drawing a line connecting them (every dial can match more than one):
Heavy, drooping eyelids
Fast, racing heartbeat
Slow, relaxed breathing
LINK SENSORS
Tight, clenched fists
Calm, smiling face
Slumped body / yawning
3. My Emergency Coping Toolbox
Brainstorm specific actions you can perform to steer your vehicle back to Cruising Mode when you drift off-course:
FUEL-UP ACTION
What can I do when my engine is lagging to get my energy levels up?
BRAKE-APPLY ACTION
What can I do when my engine is redlining to settle down safely?
DASHBOARD DETECTIVE FLIGHT DATA WORKSHEET FORM AA-1
Dashboard Detectives Desk Card Teacher Instructions
Print this page in color. Cut along the middle dotted line to create 2 individual desk mats . Students can use a paperclip, clothes pin, or counter to track their active dial zone!
UNIT 1
MY DESK DASHBOARD
PILOT STATUS CHECK
CLIP ACTIVE ZONE
LOW FUEL
Charge up: stretch, drink water
CRUISING MODE
Keep learning: focus, share joy
OVERHEATING
Brake: take breaths, relax muscles
SQUARE BREATH BRAKES
BREATHE IN
BREATHE OUT
HOLD
HOLD
4 SEC EACH
COGNITIVE CONTROL DECK v1.0 PILOT ASSISTANCE SYSTEM
CUT HERE FOR STUDENT DECK CARDS
UNIT 1
MY DESK DASHBOARD
PILOT STATUS CHECK
CLIP ACTIVE ZONE
LOW FUEL
Charge up: stretch, drink water
CRUISING MODE
Keep learning: focus, share joy
OVERHEATING
Brake: take breaths, relax muscles
SQUARE BREATH BRAKES
BREATHE IN
BREATHE OUT
HOLD
HOLD
4 SEC EACH
COGNITIVE CONTROL DECK v1.0 PILOT ASSISTANCE SYSTEM
DASHBOARD DETECTIVES SYSTEM SUPPORT FORM CARD-V1