Engine Tuners Teacher Guide Special Education • Grade 4
ENGINE TUNERS
Lesson Plan: High-Gear Self-Regulation & Sensory Tools
Duration
45 MIN
Lesson Focus
This lesson introduces the concept of the "Engine Speed Dial" to help 4th-grade students with neurodiverse needs (ADHD, ASD, sensory processing differences) recognize their physiological arousal states (Too Slow, Too Fast, or Just Right) and actively choose sensory tools to regulate back to their optimal learning zone.
Objectives
🏎️ Identify current energy level as Too Slow, Too Fast, or Just Right.
🛠️ Select 1 sensory tool matching their current engine speed.
Teacher Prep & Materials Checklist
Visual Aids: Engine Speed Slides loaded
Dashboards: Printed "Dial Dashboard" (1/student)
Craft Kits: Brads & arrow cut-outs for dials
Sensory Bin: Fidgets, chewies, heavy work cards
Lesson Pacing & Steps
0-10 MIN
Pit Stop Warm-Up (Tune-In)
Gather students at the rug. Play a quick "Red Light, Green Light" variation called "Slow Gear, Fast Gear, Ready Gear" to mimic movement speed. Introduce the concept: "Our bodies have engines. Sometimes they run too fast, sometimes too slow, and sometimes just right."
10-20 MIN
Interactive Slide Deck (Identify Zones)
Use the Engine Speed Slides to define the zones. Connect physical sensations to the speedometer: Blue Zone (Too Slow/Sleepy), Red Zone (Too Fast/Hyper), Green Zone (Just Right/Focused). Model facial expressions and body postures for each gear.
20-35 MIN
Build Your Dashboard Activity (Hands-on)
Distribute Dial Dashboard Activity pages. Students color their dashboards, cut out their tachometer arrows, and attach them using metal paper brads. Guide them to customize their dashboards by checking off sensory tools they enjoy for each speed setting.
35-45 MIN
Engine Check-In & Practice (Reflection)
Instruct students to dial their arrows to how they feel *right now*. Practice choosing a sensory tool (e.g., deep breathing, using a fidget). Hand out the Pit Stop Cards to tape onto their desks as permanent visual reminders.
Page 1 • Engine Tuners Teacher Guide
ENGINE TUNERS Teacher Support Tools
Verbal Prompting & Questioning Framework
Avoid telling a student "you are too hyper." Instead, help them build self-awareness by using inquiries that refer to the engine speed dial. Use these targeted, non-judgmental prompts:
Too Slow (Blue)
"I notice your head is resting on the desk."
"How is your engine running? What tool can help us get back to the Green Zone?"
Just Right (Green)
"Your body is calm and your eyes are on the task."
"How does your body feel right now? This is a great Green Zone moment!"
Too Fast (Red)
"I see fast bouncing legs and high hands."
"Is your engine in high gear? What brake tool can we use to slow it down?"
Classroom Sensory Tool Matrix
Different engines need different fuels. Pre-load these sensory options in your classroom space to make the student dashboards immediately actionable:
Engine State Sensory Need Recommended Classroom Strategies Too Slow (Blue) Alerting & Activating Chair push-ups, cold water sip, wall stretches, brain breaks, peppermint scent, fast pacing on a line. Just Right (Green) Maintaining & Focusing Velcro under desk, visual timer, chewing gum, comfortable seating wedge, quiet background music. Too Fast (Red) Calming & Organizing Weighted lap pad, deep breathing cards, wall push-ups, resistance bands, noise-canceling headphones, dim lighting.
Special Education Accommodations & Modifications
Tactile Dial Option: Attach adhesive Velcro to the engine zones of the student's dashboard to provide sensory input when they toggle their dial dial indicator.
Non-Verbal Cueing: Laminate a small dashboard and keep it on your clipboard. Point to the zone to prompt a silent self-check-in without singling the student out.
Pre-Teaching: Walk through physical sensations (heart beating fast, feeling sluggish) 1-on-1 before the whole-group lesson to build baseline body vocabulary.
Page 2 • Engine Tuners Teacher Guide
Engine Speed Slides ENGINE TUNERS
SESSION 1
Tune Your
Body Engine!
How is your engine running right now? Let's learn how to find our perfect gear.
SPEEDOMETER
Use your internal dashboard to check your energy.
SLIDE 1
BLUE GEAR
TOO SLOW
Is Your Engine
Feeling Sluggish?
When our engine runs in Blue Gear, everything feels slow and heavy. It can make learning and focusing really tough.
🥱 Body Signals
Yawning, heavy eyes, low head, moving slowly, feeling tired.
⚡ Quick Shift Tools
Chair push-ups, cold water sip, wall stretches, stand and shake.
Goal: Add a little fuel to your engine to wake it up!
SLIDE 2
RED GEAR
TOO FAST
Is Your Engine
Running Wild?
When our engine is in Red Gear, we feel hyper, super bouncy, or frustrated. Our bodies are moving too fast to focus.
🤪 Body Signals
Bouncing legs, fast breathing, loud voice, wiggly hands.
🛑 Quick Brake Tools
Deep balloon breathing, heavy work wall-pushups, sensory squeeze.
Goal: Apply some gentle brakes to slow your engine down!
SLIDE 3
GREEN GEAR
JUST RIGHT
Cruising in the
Ready Gear!
When our engine is in Green Gear, we are ready to play, listen, and learn. Our bodies are steady and our minds are calm.
🎯 Body Signals
Calm breathing, relaxed posture, steady gaze, smiling face.
🔧 Maintenance Tools
Visual timetables, sensory velcro pads, light fidgets, task checklist.
Goal: Maintain this steady pace. You are in control!
SLIDE 4
TUNE UP PRACTICE
ACTION PLAN
Let's Practice Tuning Our Engines!
1
Check the Speed
Look at your speed dial. Where is your arrow pointing right now?
2
Grab Your Tool
Choose a tool from your dashboard checklist to help you tune your engine.
3
Notice the Shift
Do you feel closer to the green zone now? Adjust your arrow to match!
Ready to build your personal Dial Dashboard?
SLIDE 5
Dial Dashboard Activity DIAL DASHBOARD
TUNE YOUR BODY ENGINE
Name
Date
How to Build: 1. Color your Speed Dial below. 2. Cut out the Dashboard Needle at the bottom of the page. 3. Punch a hole and attach the needle to the center dot using a metal brass brad.
MY ENGINE SPEED DIAL
TOO SLOW Blue Gear
JUST RIGHT Ready Gear
TOO FAST High Gear
CUSTOMIZE MY DASHBOARD TOOLBOX
Check off at least 2 sensory tools you would like to use for each engine speed:
🟦 BLUE TOOLS
Chair Push-Ups Sip Cold Water Wall Stretch Stand & Shake
🟩 GREEN TOOLS
Velcro Desk Strip Quiet Work Space Fidget Ring Visual Timer
🟥 RED TOOLS
Weighted Lap Pad Wall Push-Ups Squeeze Fidget Balloon Breath
DASHBOARD NEEDLE (CUT-OUT)
Carefully cut out this needle shape. Use a pencil to press a hole through the black dot, then secure it to the speedometer using a brass metal paper brad.
Pit Stop Cards Printable Desk Tools
PIT STOP VISUAL CARDS
Cut along dotted lines
These desk cards are durable visual aids. Instructions: Cut out each card, laminate it, and tape it to the student's desk. Students can slide a paperclip along the top edge of their card to indicate their current gear, or use a dry-erase marker to check off their selected sensory tool.
CARD A
📎 SLIDE PAPERCLIP TO CHECK GEAR 📎
SLOW READY FAST
DESK ENGINE SPEEDOMETER
My Quick Coping Choices:
🥤 Sip cold water
🎈 3 Balloon Breaths
💪 Chair Push-Ups
🍩 Squeeze fidget
CARD B
📎 SLIDE PAPERCLIP TO CHECK GEAR 📎
SLOW READY FAST
DESK ENGINE SPEEDOMETER
My Quick Coping Choices:
🥤 Sip cold water
🎈 3 Balloon Breaths
💪 Chair Push-Ups
🍩 Squeeze fidget
CARD C
📎 SLIDE PAPERCLIP TO CHECK GEAR 📎
SLOW READY FAST
DESK ENGINE SPEEDOMETER
My Quick Coping Choices:
🥤 Sip cold water
🎈 3 Balloon Breaths
💪 Chair Push-Ups
🍩 Squeeze fidget
CARD D
📎 SLIDE PAPERCLIP TO CHECK GEAR 📎
SLOW READY FAST
DESK ENGINE SPEEDOMETER
My Quick Coping Choices:
🥤 Sip cold water
🎈 3 Balloon Breaths
💪 Chair Push-Ups
🍩 Squeeze fidget
✂️ CUT ALONG MARGINS AND LAMINATE FOR DURABILITY • ENGINE TUNERS COOP ✂️