Soft Landings Teacher Guide
Therapeutic Classroom Foundations
Soft Landings Facilitation Guide
Facilitator Manual
Core Principles for First-Day Connection
1. Low Exposure Avoid icebreakers that force students to stand up, speak alone, or share deeply. Side-by-side tasks are safest.
2. Absolute Choice Allow students to pass or use an alternative "quiet" option. Forced sharing triggers flight-or-fight.
3. Co-Regulation Match high energy with structured releases, and transition back with rhythmic, soothing prompts.
4. Clear Boundaries Keep time boxes visible. Predictability reduces anxiety. Use a visual timer or checklist on the board.
Cohort C1: Spark & Soften (Elementary • 1 Hour)
Designed for **two 3rd graders (high-energy)** and **one 5th grader**. Since it's a 3-student cohort, participation must feel warm, informal, and deeply collaborative with you as a co-creator.
Min 00 - 15
The Cozy Check-In & Shield Creation Transition
Set names on the board. Introduce the "My Personal Shield" worksheet. Students sit at tables. Keep background music calm. Fill in name, date, and draw three simple icons of things they like.
💡 Facilitator Note: Let the 5th grader lead as "Captain" or mentor by being the first to share, which gives them a sense of maturity.
Min 15 - 35
The Giant Doodle Map (Side-by-Side Co-Regulation) Collaborative
Lay out a large butcher paper or tape together three "Doodle Map" worksheets. Students draw connecting "paths" between their houses, favorite animals, or dream castles. No talking required, just collective creating.
💡 Facilitator Note: Channels the 3rd graders' high energy into physical drawing space. Do not restrict them to strict lines; let them stretch.
Min 35 - 50
"Roll-an-Icebreaker" & Structured Movement Active
Use a large foam die. Roll to determine a physical action (e.g., "Do a slow-motion astronaut jump", "Balance on one foot for 10 seconds"). This channels the 3rd graders' energy in a highly structured, non-chaotic container.
💡 Facilitator Note: Explicitly teach "Ready Position" (hands on lap, quiet body) before each roll to establish physical co-regulation.
Min 50 - 60
The Grounding Circle & Pack-Up Cool-Down
Review the visual checklist. Give out a "Gratitude Token" or sticker to place on their personal shields. Clean up coloring supplies together. End with deep breathing or a 1-word reflection on how they feel.
Unit: Soft Landings • Therapeutic Icebreakers Page 1 of 2
Therapeutic Classroom Foundations
Cohort C2 Facilitation & Clinical Best Practices
Cohort C2: Live Debate & Autonomy (7th & 8th Grade • 2 Hours)
Adolescents in treatment are highly sensitive to vulnerability. This **2-hour block** leverages **physical co-regulation** and **structured choice**—combining independent music work with a safe, light-hearted physical debate arena.
Activity 1: Reflective Solo
The Soundtrack & Anchor Kit
Students use the **C2 Activity Pack** to map out coping music and list/draw three personal anchors (tactile, safe media, and body routines) that ground them on tough days.
🧠 Clinical Goal: Identify coping strategies without performance anxiety.
Activity 2: Interactive Whole Group
Corner-to-Corner Debate
Teacher reads a debate round. Students physically move to "Corner A" (Agree) or "Corner B" (Disagree) on controversial, light-hearted topics. Supports safe physical activation.
🧠 Clinical Goal: Connect on neutral, highly structured topics using movement.
Activity 3: Expression Written Defense
Defense Log & Tallies
After taking their physical positions, students use Page 2 of the connection pack to jot down their defense argument and log their votes, providing cognitive grounding after movement.
🧠 Clinical Goal: Cognitive regulation and structural processing.
Activity 4: Regulating Calming Solo
Post-Debate Chill Down
Quiet completion of the post-debate briefing (humor analysis, peer appreciation) accompanied by a optional mindful coloring station or isometric breathing exercises.
🧠 Clinical Goal: Autonomic nervous system regulation after high engagement.
⏰ 2-Hour Breakdown Recommendation
00-25m: Intro, check-in, and Soundtrack & Anchor Kit (Page 1) individual completion.
25-60m: Round 1 & 2 of Corner-to-Corner physical debates. Students move to corners and write arguments.
60-90m: Round 3 & 4 of the debates, encouraging friendly defense and laughter.
90-120m: Post-debate briefing completion (Page 2 bottom), quiet cool-down with mindful coloring.
Clinical Response & Crisis Mitigation Matrix
Scenario A: Complete Refusal Student refuses to move or stand. Pivot: "Perfectly fine. You can stay sitting and be our official Supreme Court Judge, marking votes from your bench." Avoid force.
Scenario B: Over-Excitement Teens start horseplaying during moves. Pivot: Introduce "The Slow-Mo Glitch" rule: students must move to corners as if the gravity knob is turned down to 10%. Channels physical energy.
Scenario C: Social Fear Student looks anxious standing on an isolated side. Pivot: Encourage side changes mid-round: "You can move to the other side anytime if someone makes a convincing argument." Reduces pressure of isolation.
Unit: Soft Landings • Therapeutic Icebreakers Page 2 of 2
C1 Spark Pack Worksheet
Cohort C1 • Day One
My Personal Shield
Name:
Date:
Welcome to our class!
Fill your shield below with colors, drawings, or words that represent **YOU**. There are no wrong answers! Take your time, draw what you feel, and make it colorful.
Makes Me Smile
Favorite Song
My Power
How I Relax
Anchor Word of the Day
Choose a word from the box below—or write your own—that matches how you want to feel in our class today.
Calm Creative Strong Curious Safe Brave
Today, I choose to be:
C1 Spark Pack • Connection & Safety Page 1 of 2
Cohort C1 • Active & Mindful Play
The Adventure Board
Play & Ground
Roll-an-Icebreaker Action Cards
Roll a giant foam die with your teacher! When your number lands, complete the action card in a calm, focused way. Let's do it together!
1
Slow Moon Jump: Do one slow jump in place, taking 5 seconds to land.
2
Quiet Victory: Show your best happy dance using only silent movements!
3
Doodle Spark: Draw a small star or spiral in any corner of this page.
4
Balloon Breath: Take three slow, deep breaths, pretending to fill a big balloon!
5
Room Detector: Name three green or blue things you see in this room.
6
Double Spark: Give a double thumbs up to the ceiling, then to a neighbor!
Exit ticket!
When our minds feel full of energy or anxiety, we can anchor ourselves using our senses. Find and write down items for each sensory anchor around our classroom.
3 Things I See
2 Things I Touch
Grounding Tip: If your energy levels start to feel too high, take slow, deep breaths and gently touch the desk surface. Focus on how smooth and solid it feels under your hand.
C1 Spark Pack • Connection & Safety Page 2 of 2
C2 Connection Pack Worksheet
Cohort C2 • Adolescent Grounding
Soundtrack & Survival Kit
Name
Date
Soundscapes & Personal Anchors
Music and personal coping rituals are powerful co-regulators. Use this workspace to map out the tracks that anchor your mood, and identify your personal go-to grounding objects.
The Coping Playlist
Track 01
Morning Baseline The song that matches your energy when you first wake up.
Track 02
Grounding Chord A calming track to slow down your thoughts when anxious.
Track 03
Power Anthem A song that makes you feel brave, strong, or fully yourself.
Track 04
Decompression A track to safely release anger, frustration, or heavy moods.
Track 05
Connection Wave A song that connects you to a great memory, friend, or place.
Mindful Note
"Music communicates directly with our nervous system. Creating a baseline playlist can lower daily baseline anxiety levels by up to 40%."
CO-REGULATION SYSTEM
My Personal survival Kit
Sketch / List / Write
When school or life feels loud or overwhelming, personal anchors keep us safe and grounded. Design your core survival kit by drawing or listing your go-to anchors inside each container below.
Tactile Comfort
A physical item you hold, touch, or wear to feel calm (e.g. favorite hoodie, ring, crystal).
Safe Media Escape
A specific show, game, music genre, or video that allows your mind to decompress.
Grounding Routine
A quick physical action you do (e.g. box breathing, splashing cold water, pacing, stretching).
C2 Connection Pack • Structured Autonomy Page 1 of 2
Cohort C2 • Movement Connection
Corner-to-Corner Debate
Stand Up & Stance
Let's take the debate live! When the teacher reads a round, physically walk to the **AGREE** corner or the **DISAGREE** corner of our classroom. After taking your position, mark your stance below and write your ultimate defense argument!
Round 1 The Pizza Pineapple Controversy
Does pineapple belong on pizza base? (Agree: Culinary Masterpiece vs. Disagree: Culinary Crime!)
Agree (Corner A) Disagree (Corner B)
MY DEFENSE:
Round 2 The Hot Dog Sandwich Clause
Is a hot dog fundamentally a sandwich? (Agree: Bread + meat = sandwich! vs. Disagree: Hot dogs are their own category!)
Agree (Corner A) Disagree (Corner B)
MY DEFENSE:
