Calm Plan Teacher Guide My Calm Plan
Facilitator Guide: Calm Plan & Reflection
6th Grade
Time
45 Minutes
Approach
Hands-on creation & role-play
Objective
Personalized Resilience
Why This Matters
This lesson empowers students to identify triggers, build coping strategies, and commit to real‐life goals—boosting self‐awareness, resilience, and help‐seeking skills.
Preparation & Materials
To Do
Familiarize yourself with the session flow.
Print all student-facing materials (One-Pager, Support Map, Rubric, Cards, Survey, Contract).
Queue the slide deck on your display.
Set up pairs/trios for the role-play activity.
Resources
• My Calm Plan Slides
• Personal Calm Plan One-Pager
• Success Criteria Rubric
• Scenario Role-Play Cards
• My Support Map & Help Lines
• 10-Item Likert Post-Survey
• Commitment Contract
Instructional Flow
5m
1. Welcome & Celebrate Success
Greet students and review micro-goals. Invite 2–3 volunteers to share a small success from this week. Frame today’s work: creating a concrete plan to handle stress.
10m
2. Create Your Personal Calm Plan
Distribute the Personal Calm Plan One-Pager . Guide students to list 2–3 triggers/cues, choose 3 strategies, and write "When I notice... I will..." steps. Use the Rubric to provide active feedback.
5m
3. Map Your Support Network
Hand out My Support Map and Help Lines . Ask students to identify 3–5 trusted people or resources (names, contact info). Emphasize that no one has to handle stress alone.
15m
4. Role-Play Scenarios
Divide students into trios with Scenario Role-Play Cards . Roles: Trigger, Calm Plan User, Observer. Observers use the rubric to give one strength and one suggestion. Rotate roles every 3-4 mins.
5m
5. Post-Survey & Reflect
Students complete the 10-Item Likert Post-Survey individually. Encourage them to reflect on their confidence level now compared to before learning these skills.
5m
6. Commit & Celebrate
Distribute Commitment Contracts . Students write one 30-day specific goal. Volunteers share aloud, then pin contracts to a classroom "Commitment Wall."
My Calm Plan Slides My Calm Plan
Ready for Real Life
6th Grade | 45-Minute Lesson
Teacher Notes: Welcome everyone! Introduce today’s lesson: My Calm Plan. Explain that we’ll build a personalized plan, practice it, and set real-life goals.
Learning Objectives
Synthesize your learning into a one-page Personal Calm Plan .
Role-play one challenging scenario using your chosen strategies.
Complete the 10-Item Post-Survey to measure your growth.
Lesson Agenda
1 Welcome & Celebrate Wins
2 Create Your Personal Calm Plan
3 Map Your Support Network
4 Role-Play Scenarios
5 Post-Survey & Reflection
6 Commitment & Celebration
Welcome & Celebrate
Think back to the micro-goal you set last time.
What small win did you have this week?
Share one success with the class!
What Is a Calm Plan?
A Calm Plan helps you:
Identify stress triggers & cues
Choose personalized strategies
Write clear action steps
Feel prepared for real-life stress
It's your "In Case of Emergency" toolkit for your brain!
Create Your Personal Calm Plan
1
Grab your One-Pager template.
2
List 2–3 triggers & early cues .
3
Pick 3 coping strategies .
The Action Step:
"When I notice ...,
Map Your Support Network
Identify 3–5 trusted people or resources.
Include names, roles, and contact info.
Connection is a super-power!
Your Support Map
Role-Play Scenarios
A
The Trigger
Plays the stressful situation from the card.
B
The User
Uses strategies from their Calm Plan.
C
The Observer
Watches and gives feedback using the rubric.
"Rotate roles so everyone gets a turn to practice!"
Post-Survey & Reflect
Complete the 10-Item Likert Post-Survey.
Personal Calm Plan One-Pager Personal Calm Plan
My toolkit for handling stress with confidence
Name:
Date:
1 Stress Triggers & Early Cues
List 2–3 situations, thoughts, or feelings that signal you’re starting to feel stressed.
2 Coping Strategies
Circle or check your top 3 strategies to use when triggers appear.
Deep Breathing
Positive Self-Talk
Physical Stretching
Mindful Visualization
Counting Backwards
Talk with an Adult
Listen to Music
Brief Walk
Other: ________
3 My Action Steps
Strategy 1
When I notice
, I will
.
Strategy 2
When I notice
, I will
.
Strategy 3
When I notice
, I will
.
4 Support Network
5 Visual Reminder
Draw an icon or symbol that reminds you to stay calm
Keep this plan somewhere visible (locker, binder, or desk).
Practice your plan daily. Small steps lead to big changes!
Calm Plan Success Criteria Rubric Success Criteria Rubric
Personal Calm Plan & Role-Play
Max Score: 12 Points
Instructions: Use this rubric to provide feedback during the Calm Plan creation and role-play activity. Score each criterion from 1–3 based on the descriptions below.
Criterion 1 – Beginning 2 – Proficient 3 – Exemplary Completeness Includes fewer than 2 triggers or skips major sections of the plan. Lists 2–3 triggers and fills out most sections of the template. Fully completes all sections with 2–3 triggers and detailed responses. Relevance Triggers or strategies are vague, unrealistic, or unrelated to needs. Most triggers and strategies relate clearly to the student’s actual needs. All triggers and strategies are highly relevant, specific, and personalized. Clear Action Steps “When I notice…” statements are missing, incomplete, or confusing. Action steps are stated but may lack specific detail or practical realism. Action steps are clear, specific, practical, and easy to follow. Role-Play Practice Struggles to apply chosen strategies during the scenario. Successfully applies 1–2 strategies when triggered in the role-play. Confidently and effectively applies chosen strategies to manage the trigger.
Scoring Guide
10–12 Points Excellence
7–9 Points Solid Understanding
4–6 Points Developing
0–3 Points Beginning
Feedback Notes
One Strength:
One Suggestion:
Total Score:
/ 12
Scenario Role-Play Cards Role-Play Scenario Cards
Instructions for Students:
1. Divide into groups of 3 (User, Trigger, Observer).
2. One student plays the Trigger (acts out the prompt).
3. One student is the User (applies their Calm Plan).
4. One student is the Observer (gives 1 strength and 1 suggestion).
5. Rotate roles every 3–4 minutes and pick a new card.
School
Surprise Quiz
"You walk into math class and discover a quiz you didn’t study for. Your heart races and your palms get sweaty."
Scenario 1
School
Project Deadline
"The teacher reminds everyone that the science fair project is due tomorrow. Your group hasn’t started yet. You feel panic rising."
Scenario 2
School
Forgotten Homework
"During English class, you realize you left your homework at home. The teacher asks for volunteers to share answers, and you worry you’ll be called on."
Scenario 3
Home
Sibling Interrupts
"You’re quietly reviewing your Calm Plan when your sibling barges in needing help, breaking your focus and making you feel frustrated."
Scenario 4
Home
Chore Overload
"Your parents ask you to finish three extra chores right before bedtime. You feel overwhelmed and wish you had more time."
Scenario 5
Social
Exclusion at Lunch
"You notice your friends planning a weekend outing at lunch and realize you weren’t invited. You feel hurt and left out."
Scenario 6
My Support Map and Help Lines Support Map & Help Lines
Identifying my trusted circle for when things get tough
Name:
Date:
1 Draw Your Support Map
Me
Draw circles around "ME" for the people or resources you can turn to.
Network Details
1
Trusted Person / Resource
Name:
Relationship/Role:
Contact (Phone/Email):
2
Trusted Person / Resource
Name:
Relationship/Role:
Contact (Phone/Email):
2 Help Lines & Resources
List 2–3 additional support lines, hotlines, or apps you can use (e.g., Crisis Text Line, School Counselor office).
Name of Resource / Phone or Website
Name of Resource / Phone or Website
3 Reflection
Which person or resource will you reach out to first when you feel stressed? Why?
Your network is your strength. Keep this map close.
Stress Management Post-Survey Post-Survey
Stress Management & My Calm Plan
Name:
Instructions: Please read each statement carefully and circle the number that best describes how you feel now , after completing your Calm Plan.
Statement Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 1. I feel confident identifying situations that trigger my stress.
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| 2. I can recognize early cues (thoughts, feelings, or physical signs) of stress. |
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| 3. I have at least three coping strategies I can use when I’m stressed. |
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| 4. I feel comfortable using deep breathing or positive self-talk from my plan. |
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| 5. I know who to talk to (friend or adult) when I feel overwhelmed. |
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| 6. I can draw on my support network and resources for extra help. |
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| 7. I believe my Personal Calm Plan will help me in real-life situations. |
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| 8. I feel prepared to handle unexpected challenges using my plan. |
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| 9. I notice stress affecting my body and can take steps to address it. |
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| 10. I am motivated to review my Calm Plan regularly over the next 30 days. |
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Short Reflection
What is the most important thing you learned about yourself today?
Your voice matters. Thank you for sharing your growth.
Commitment Contract and Celebration Commitment Contract
Personal Growth & Resilience Pledge
Student Name
Effective Date
My 30-Day Commitment
I commit to the following specific goal to better manage my stress over the next 30 days:
Steps I will take to achieve this goal:
1
2
3
Positive Affirmation
Write an encouraging statement to remind yourself why you can succeed:
"I am __________________________."
Celebration Plan
Small Reward:
Check-in Date (30 Days Out):
Signature of Commitment
