Flight Lesson Plan
First Grade Transition Lesson
First Grade Flight
Target Kindergarten
Duration 30 Minutes
Focus Anxiety & Coping
Delivery Counselor/Teacher
Learning Objectives
- Identify & normalize mixed transition feelings.
- Practice "Balloon Breathing" to manage anxiety.
- Reflect on growth & goals for 1st grade.
Required Materials
- First Grade Flight Slides
- Transition Balloon Activity Worksheet
- Crayons/markers (student use)
Lesson Timeline
Hook (5m) Warm-up & Intro
Story (10m) Read-Aloud
Coping (5m) Breathing
Apply (10m) Workbook
Step 1: Welcome & Warm-up (5 mins)
Gathering: Have students sit in a circle. Introduce yourself as their captain or pilot for today's flight to first grade.
Teacher Script: "Hello, amazing explorers! We are getting ready for an exciting journey. Soon, we are going to float up, up, and away from our kindergarten classroom and land right in First Grade! How does that sound?"
Discussion Prompt: Ask students to give a thumbs up if they feel excited, a thumbs sideways if they feel unsure, and a thumbs down if they feel nervous. Highlight that it is okay to feel many different feelings at the same time!
Step 2: Custom Story Read-Aloud (10 mins)
Story Title: "The Great Balloon Launch"
Use the lesson slide deck to display the illustrations while reading the story script below:
- Slide 2: Meet Barnaby the Bear. Barnaby loved his kindergarten cave. It had familiar blocks, his favorite tree stump seat, and his kind teacher, Mrs. Maple. But today, Mrs. Maple was talking about moving to the First Grade forest. Barnaby felt a strange flutter in his tummy.
- Slide 3: Barnaby's heart did a little bounce. "What if I get lost?" he worried. "What if there are no blocks?" His friend Bella the Bluebird landed nearby. "I feel worried too," Bella chirped. "But I also feel super excited for bigger trees!" Barnaby was confused. "How can we feel worried AND excited?"
- Slide 4: Mrs. Maple gathered the class. "When we go to 1st grade, we are like hot air balloons," she smiled. "We pack our best memories to keep us steady, and we use deep breaths to help us fly safely through the clouds of change."
First Grade Flight Lesson Guide Page 1 of 2
Step 3: Balloon Breathing Strategy (5 mins)
Teach students how to use "Balloon Breathing" when they feel a fluttery tummy or worried thoughts about first grade.
1
Blow Up
Place hands on tummy. Breathe in slow and big, filling your tummy like a round balloon.
2
Hold it Steady
Hold that sweet fresh air for two seconds, letting the balloon float perfectly in place.
3
Slow Release
Breathe out slowly through the mouth, making a soft "shhh" wind sound.
Script: "Let's try it together! Put both hands on your tummy. Now, sniff in through your nose like you are smelling a giant flower... fill that balloon up! Hold it... now let the air out with a gentle wind whisper... shhhhhh. Wow, look at how calm our classroom air feels now!"
Step 4: My Transition Balloon Worksheet (8 mins)
Distribute the My Transition Balloon Activity Sheet. This worksheet helps reinforce the lesson by letting children draw and color.
- Feelings Check-in: Have students look at the friendly emojis at the top and circle how they feel about starting first grade. Remind them they can circle more than one feeling!
- Kindergarten Keepsake: Instruct them to draw one beautiful memory from kindergarten inside the basket of their balloon (e.g., a friend, recess, a favorite activity).
- First Grade Hope: Instruct them to draw or write one thing they are excited to do in 1st grade inside the balloon canopy.
Step 5: Flight Cheer (2 mins)
Close the class with a supportive group chant to end on a positive, confident note!
"Hands on tummy, breathe in deep,
Kindergarten memories we will keep!
First Grade is coming, we're ready to fly,
Brave little balloons in the sunny sky!"
Counselor Tips
- For High Anxiety: Partner anxious students with a highly positive peer during worksheet time.
- Story Extension: Point out that Barnaby the Bear felt better just by sharing his worries out loud.
- Home Connection: Encourage kids to show their parents the Balloon Breath at bedtime.
First Grade Flight Lesson Guide Page 2 of 2
Flight Slides
K-1
First Grade Transition
First Grade
Flight!
An interactive journey about growing up, managing worries, and getting ready for takeoff!
Welcome, Kindergarten Explorers!
Slide 1 of 5
Story Time
Part 1: The Kindergarten Cave
Barnaby the Bear Kindergarten Student
Barnaby loved his cozy Kindergarten Cave. He loved building block towers, eating apples on the green carpet, and singing goofy songs with Mrs. Maple.
But today, his tummy felt a little fluttery. He heard that soon, it would be time to fly away to First Grade!
Have you ever felt a fluttery feeling in your tummy too?
First Grade Flight Slide 2 of 5
Story Time
Part 2: Bella's Secret
"I feel worried," Barnaby whispered to his friend Bella the Bluebird. "What if First Grade is too big?"
Bella chirped with a smile, "I'm worried too, but I am also excited! I can't wait to learn big kid games and read brand new stories!"
Barnaby was surprised. "You can be worried AND excited at the exact same time?!"
✨ Fun Fact: Feeling worried AND excited is called "Nervous-cited"! It is totally normal!
Bella the Bluebird Ready for Adventure
😰 Nervous
🥳 Excited
First Grade Flight Slide 3 of 5
Super Strategy
How to Practice: Balloon Breathing
Mrs. Maple taught Barnaby a magical trick! When your tummy flutters or your chest feels tight, try this Balloon Breath to calm your mind:
1
Blow Up
Put hands on your tummy. Breathe in slow and deep. Feel your tummy grow big like a giant, round balloon!
2
Hold & Hover
Hold your breath for a count of 1... 2! Keep your balloon floating perfectly in the quiet sky.
3
Slow Release
Breathe out slowly and make a soft wind sound: "shhhhh..." Let the balloon float safely back down.
Let's try one practice breath together! In... hold... shhhhh.
Slide 4 of 5
Your Turn!
My Transition Balloon Worksheet
Color, Draw, and Fly!
1
Circle Your Feelings
Look at the emojis at the top. Color or circle the ones that show how you feel about starting first grade!
Flight Worksheet
My First Grade Flight!
Ready for Lift Off
🎈 Kindergarten → 1st Grade
Name:
Date:
Step 1: How do you feel about moving to First Grade?
Color or circle all of your feelings. You can choose more than one!
🥳 Excited
😊 Happy
😰 Nervous
😢 Sad
🦁 Brave
Step 2: Draw Your Transition Hot Air Balloon
🎈 Inside the Balloon Draw one exciting thing you want to do in 1st Grade!
🧺 Inside the Basket Draw your favorite memory from Kindergarten!
My Balloon Breath Tool
When my tummy flutters, I can breathe slow to stay calm!
1 In
2 Hold
3 Out
