Calm Station Choice Board TK Energy & Calming Visual Support
Calm Station Choice Board
Point to how your body feels, then choose 1 calm down tool!
Step 1: Check Your Engine How are you running right now?
Turbo Fast Wiggly, jumping, zooming
Just Right Calm, listening, ready
Slow Engine Tired, sleepy, resting
Big Feelings Mad, upset, overwhelmed
Step 2: Pick 1 Safe Power Tool Use for 1-2 minutes
Wall Push
Heavy Work
Push wall hard for 10 counts
Starfish Hand
Deep Breathing
Trace 5 fingers in and out
Bear Hug
Firm Pressure
Squeeze arms tight & rock
Turtle Tuck
Quiet Reset
Curl up small & rest head
Water Sips
Sensory Reset
Drink 5 slow, cool swallows
Stress Squeeze
Hand Squeeze
Squeeze ball 5 times tight
Is your body ready to rejoin the group?
Take 1 deep breath. When engine is "Just Right", give teacher a thumbs up!
Ready
1 More Min
Mighty Movers Activity Cards Set 1 • Heavy Work & Safe Movement
Mighty Movers Activity Cards
Cut or Display • TK Cards 1–4
Heavy Work
Bear Walk
#1
1 Put hands and feet flat on floor.
2 Lift hips high in the air!
3 Walk 10 slow, heavy bear steps.
Coach Cue: "Push hard into the rug like a strong brown bear!"
Wall Push
Wall Bulldozer
#2
1 Plant both feet shoulder-width.
2 Place flat hands against the wall.
3 Push with strong arms for 10 counts!
Coach Cue: "Can you move the wall? Give it all your muscle power!"
Controlled Jumps
Frog Landing
#3
1 Squat down low with hands on floor.
2 Jump forward onto the next spot.
3 Freeze in silent frog squat! (3 jumps)
Coach Cue: "Frogs make no sound when they land on lilypads!"
Proprioception
Robot Carry
#4
1 Hold book bin or heavy basket close.
2 Stand tall with strong robot legs.
3 Deliver item with slow stomps.
Coach Cue: "Beep-boop! Strong robot helpers carry safely with two hands."
Use during transition lines, outdoor-to-indoor arrival, or wiggle breaks.
Page 1 of 2
Set 2 • Calming Down & Body Stillness
Mighty Movers Activity Cards
Cut or Display • TK Cards 5–8
Quiet Space
Turtle Shell
#5
1 Kneel on the rug and sit on heels.
2 Curl body small & tuck forehead down.
3 Take 3 quiet breaths in your shell.
Coach Cue: "Safe and quiet inside your sturdy green shell."
Vocal Exhale
Snake Sizzle
#6
1 Sit criss-cross and put hands on belly.
2 Breathe in deep through your nose.
3 Blow out slow: "Sssssssssssss..."
Coach Cue: "How long can your gentle snake hiss last?"
5-Finger Trace
Starfish Hand
#7
1 Open one hand wide like a starfish.
2 Trace up finger: Breathe in!
3 Trace down finger: Breathe out!
Coach Cue: "Trace all 5 fingers to fill your body with calm."
Body Control
Ice Statue
#8
1 Wiggle fingers and toes for 3 beats.
2 Teacher whispers: "1, 2, 3... FREEZE!"
3 Hold completely still like ice for 5 counts.
Coach Cue: "Ice statues don't blink or wobble! Solid as a rock."
Use right before rug time, circle story, or resting station to build focus.
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Energy Reset Teacher Guide TK Behavior & Sensory Toolkit
Teacher Resource • Page 1 of 2
Energy Reset Teacher Guide
Developmentally responsive strategies to channel 4–5 year old physical energy into focus, calm, and confidence.
The TK Energy Truth
TK students do not misbehave because they have "too much energy"—their developing nervous systems are actively seeking proprioceptive (body position) and vestibular (movement) input. Giving them structured "heavy work" satisfies that sensory hunger safely.
1
Heavy-Work Classroom Jobs Menu
Proactive Sensory Input
Assign high-energy students purposeful, physical classroom tasks 5–10 minutes before seated activities:
Library Book Mover
Carry a bin of 6–8 picture books between reading tables or to the teacher's rug.
Table Washing Captain
Spray bottle squeeze + firm two-handed circular wiping with damp cloth.
Chair Stacker Helper
Push or stack lightweight student chairs with a peer partner (provides deep muscle joint push).
Heavy Door Anchor
Hold classroom or recess door firmly open using whole-body leaning resistance.
2
Predictable Transition Chants with Physical Motions
Audio + Motor Sync
Pair spoken cadence with distinct physical gestures to shift TK attention smoothly:
1. "Wind Up, Wind Down" Rug Arrival
"Wind your body fast, fast, fast! (roll arms fast)
Wind your body slow, slow, slow! (roll arms slow)
Hands on your lap, and down we go!" (clap lap, freeze)
2. "Marshmallow Toes" Hallway Line-Up
"Big giant stomps! 1, 2, 3! (3 heavy floor stomps)
Now bubble in your mouth, shh with me! (puff cheeks)
Marshmallow toes, soft as can be." (silent tip-toes)
Golden Rule: Never tell a high-energy TK student simply "sit still"—replace the fidget with an active safe action (holding a beanbag, squeezing hands, hugging knees).
TK Behavior & Sensory Toolkit
Teacher Resource • Page 2 of 2
De-Escalation & Classroom Environment
4-step co-regulation protocol when physical energy boils over, plus easy classroom modifications.
3
4-Step Co-Regulation Protocol (When Energy Overflows)
Crisis to Calm
1
Protect Space & Drop Your Volume (Seconds 0–15)
Crouch down to eye level, 3 feet away. Do not talk loudly over the student. Whisper: "You are safe. My hands are here to keep your body safe." Remove fragile items quietly.
2
Offer Heavy Grounding Input (Seconds 15–45)
High energy cannot be "talked down"—it must be discharged physically. Offer a firm physical reset: "Push the wall with me!" or invite them to squeeze a weighted plushie or pillow tightly.
3
Visual Choice Reset (Minute 1–2)
Hand them the Calm Station Choice Board . Do not ask open-ended questions like "Why did you do that?". Instead ask: "Do you want Starfish Breathing or Cool Water Sips?" (Two concrete choices only).
4
Low-Demand Re-Entry (Minute 3)
Re-enter the group with an easy win: "Can you carry my clipboard over to the circle rug?" Praise the effort immediately: "Your engine is Just Right now. Thank you for helping."
4
Classroom Environment Tweaks for High-Energy TK
Environmental Supports
Visual Rug Boundaries
Use painter's tape boxes or individual poly-spots. Sit wiggly students on the outer edge where they can stretch legs without bumping peers.
Flexible Fidget Options
Tie a thick resistance band around chair legs so feet can bounce silently. Offer bumpy wiggle seat cushions for circle time.
Cozy Sensory Harbor
Create a semi-enclosed corner with pillows, pop-up tent, noise-reducing headphones, and the Calm Station Choice Board for voluntary breaks.
Review these strategies during team meetings and share with paraprofessionals for consistent classroom routines.
Mighty Movers Toolkit
