Emotion Ownership Slides
Classroom Superpower
I Am the Boss of My Body:
Owning Our Feelings at School!
Every feeling is welcome. What you choose to DO with your feeling is up to you!
1. Helps ME
Feel calm and proud
2. Helps FRIENDS
Stay safe and happy
3. Helps LEARNING
Keeps our brains ready
The Golden Rule
Feelings vs. Choices
❤️
Your Feelings
ALL Feelings Are OK!
Mad, sad, super excited, worried, or jealous? They happen naturally inside our hearts.
✨ "You never get in trouble for having a feeling!"
🚦
Your Actions
YOU Are in Charge!
What your hands do, what your mouth says, and how loud you scream is ALWAYS your choice.
🎯 "Being accountable means: I own what I do!"
Say it together: "Feelings come and go, but I choose how I act!"
The Big Picture
The 3 Ripples
Why Does Owning Our Feelings Matter?
When you react, it sends ripples across the entire classroom:
🧒
1. You!
Your body calms down faster. You don't say mean things you wish you could erase later.
You Feel Proud
👫
2. Classmates!
Friends feel safe around you. Nobody feels scared, hurt, or made fun of.
Everyone Stays Safe
📚
3. Learning!
The room stays peaceful so your teacher can teach and all of us can think and grow.
Brains Ready to Learn
Look Inward
Ripple #1: You
How It Affects YOU
What happens to your body and day when you make a choice?
💥
When I Lose Control
- • My tummy hurts and my heart pounds fast.
- • I miss out on recess or fun free-time.
- • I feel embarrassed about what I screamed.
🌟
When I Own My Action
- • My breathing slows down and my body calms.
- • I feel proud that I solved a problem like a boss.
- • Teachers and friends trust me with big responsibilities!
💪 Superpower Check: You are the driver of your body bus!
Our Community
Ripple #2: Classmates
How It Affects Our Friends
Feelings spread like yawns or smiles! What are you spreading?
🛡️
Feeling Safe
When nobody slams desks or yells, everyone feels cozy and safe at their tables.
🤝
Making Friends
Kids love playing with friends who play fair and use words when they get sad or mad.
🎉
Happy Celebrations
When you win a game, high-five your buddy without bragging or teasing others!
💛 Kindness Rule: Treat your classmates the way you want them to treat you!
Our Brains
Ripple #3: Learning
How It Affects Our Learning
Can you do tricky math when sirens are blaring? Neither can your brain!
🛑
Stormy Brain
When anger or panic explodes, your brain's "thinking guard" locks the door.
- ❌ You can't remember directions.
- ❌ Tricky reading looks impossible.
- ❌ Whole class has to stop working.
💡
Thinking Brain
When you pause and breathe, your brain unlocks its creative thinking powers!
- ✅ You can solve hard problems step-by-step.
- ✅ You can ask the teacher for help nicely.
- ✅ Everyone gets to finish their fun art or lab.
🧠 Brain Fact: A calm room means smart, growing brains for everybody!
Spot the Choice
Accountable or Not?
Same Feeling — Two Different Choices!
Which choice is accountable (owning it)?
✏️ Broken Pencil
Feeling: Frustrated
👎 Not Accountable: Throws pencil at floor, crosses arms, pouts.
👍 Accountable: Takes a breath, grabs the sharpener or a spare pencil.
⚽ Out in Tag
Feeling: Mad / Upset
👎 Not Accountable: Yells "You cheated!", shoves friend, ruins game.
👍 Accountable: Says "Good tag!", counts to 10, cheers on friends.
🏆 Won the Game
Feeling: Super Excited
👎 Not Accountable: Laughs at other team: "Haha, you are losers!"
👍 Accountable: Big smile, silent happy jump, high-fives everyone!
Notice: You can be mad or excited and still be a great friend!
My Action Plan
The 4 Super Steps
How to Be the Boss of Your Feeling
When a big feeling hits, follow these 4 steps:
1
STOP 🛑
Freeze hands and feet! Take 1 slow turtle breath in... and out.
Hit the Brakes
2
NAME IT 🏷️
Say it inside your head: "I am feeling frustrated right now."
Name to Tame
3
CHOOSE 🚦
Pick a choice that keeps me and my classmates safe and learning!
Steer the Wheel
4
FIX IT 🩹
If you made a mistake, say a real apology and help clean or repair it.
Make It Right
🐢 Turtle Power: "Stop, Breathe, Name It, Choose, and Fix It!"
Game Time
Scenario Cards Activity
Detective Mission: Sort the Scenarios!
Work with your partner to inspect 12 school situations:
1
Read & Spot
Read the card together. What emotion is the student feeling inside?
2
Thumbs Up or Down?
Sort it! Did they Own It (Accountable) or did they Lose Control?
3
The Fix-It Lab
Pick 2 "thumbs down" cards. How could they fix it and turn it into an accountable choice?
🚀 Emotion Detectives... Ready, Set, Sort!
I Own My Choices!
Emotion Ownership Cards
Card Set 1 • Thumbs Up or Down? Emotion Ownership
Emotion Scenario Cards
✂️ Cut along dotted lines
Is it Accountable or Not Accountable?
CARD 01 😣 Frustrated
Broken Pencil & Tricky Math
Marcus is trying to finish a hard math problem. Suddenly, his pencil tip snaps off! He feels frustration bubbling up.
What Marcus Did: Marcus takes one slow turtle breath, puts the broken pencil aside, and quietly walks to the sharpener.
Affects: Marcus & Learning Card #1
CARD 02 😡 Angry
Four-Square Game Out
At recess, Maya bounces the ball on the line and the referee says she is "out." Maya feels hot anger in her chest.
What Maya Did: Maya kicks the ball into the muddy bushes, screams "You all cheat!", and refuses to let anyone else play.
Affects: Friends & Safety Card #2
CARD 03 🎉 Super Excited
Winning Trivia Game
Devon's science table wins the review game. Devon feels a burst of excitement and happiness!
What Devon Did: Devon jumps onto his chair, points at the other team and shouts: "Haha, you guys lost! We crushed you!"
Affects: Friends' Feelings Card #3
CARD 04 😢 Sad
Friend Picks Another Partner
During reading buddies, Sofia sees her best friend choose someone else first. Sofia feels tears in her eyes.
What Sofia Did: Sofia takes a sip of water, smiles at a new partner at table 3, and asks to read together nicely.
Affects: Sofia & Learning Card #4
CARD 05 😤 Frustrated
Tall Block Tower Falls
Leo spent 15 minutes building a wooden castle. When placing the last block, the whole tower crashes down!
What Leo Did: Leo kicks the wooden blocks across the carpet, hits a friend's shoe, and yells: "I hate this classroom!"
Affects: Friends & Safety Card #5
CARD 06 😠 Angry
Spilled Paint on Drawing
A classmate carrying blue paint accidentally drips wet paint right across Aiden's newly drawn picture.
What Aiden Did: Aiden clenches his fists, takes 2 slow breaths, and says: "I feel really mad, but I know it was an accident. Help me grab a paper towel."
Affects: Aiden & Friends Card #6
Emotion Scenario Cards • Kindergarten – 4th Grade Page 1 of 3
Card Set 2 • Thumbs Up or Down? Emotion Ownership
Emotion Scenario Cards (Set 2)
✂️ Cut along dotted lines
Does it help: Me, Friends, or Learning?
CARD 07 🥳 Excited
Emotion Ownership Teacher Guide
K–4 Elementary SEL Guide Emotion Ownership
Emotion Ownership: K–4 Teacher Guide
Target Grades: K–4th Grade
Total Time: 35–45 Mins
Elementary Learning Goals & Core Motto
Core Motto: "Feelings come and go, but I am the driver of my body bus!" All feelings are okay to experience; actions and words must always be safe and kind.
🛑 1. Practice the "Turtle Breath" to pause.
🔍 2. Notice impacts on Me, Friends, & Learning.
🛠️ 3. Fix mistakes with words and actions.
Classroom Pacing & Active Steps
00–07m
Hook & The Body Bus (Slides 1–2)
Ask: "Who drives a school bus? The driver! Who drives your body bus? YOU!" Teach the core rule: All feelings are normal, but we steer our hands, feet, and words.
07–18m
The 3 Ripples & Turtle Power (Slides 3–8)
Explain how our actions affect Me (body calm), Classmates (safe friends), and Learning (brain thinking). Teach the 4 steps: Stop, Name It, Choose, and Fix It with physical motions (arms crossed for stop, hands on belly for deep turtle breath).
18–32m
Card Sort: Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down? (Slide 9 & Cards)
K–1st: Complete as a whole-group pocket chart activity; read cards aloud and have kids show thumbs up (Accountable) or thumbs down.
2nd–4th: Paired cut-and-sort activity using the Sorting Mat and The Fix-It Lab.
32–40m
The Fix-It Roleplay & Closing Affirmation
Invite 2 volunteers to act out Card #5 (block tower) or Card #10 (lunch line) with the improved "Fix-It" choice. End with choral call-and-response: "I am the boss of my choices!"
The "Turtle Breath" Calming Routine
When an elementary student feels mad or upset: 1. Pull into your shell (tuck chin, cross arms gently). 2. Breathe in for 4 counts smelling the flower. 3. Blow out for 4 counts cooling the soup. 4. Peek out of the shell and use calm words.
Emotion Ownership K–4 Guide Page 1 of 2
Card Answer Key & Differentiation Cards 1–12
Scenario Master Key (K–4)
6 Thumbs Up 👍 • 6 Thumbs Down 👎
| Card # | Emotion | Sort | Why & What Helps (Self, Friends, Learning) |
|---|
