Pause Power Slides
Kindergarten SEL • Brain Power
You Are In Charge of You!
Stop • Think • Choose
My Super Pause Power!
How to make smart, kind choices—even when our friends make tricky ones!
1 STOP Body
2 THINK Inside
3 CHOOSE Wise
Warm-Up Question
What Happens On The Rug?
A friend starts rolling or doing silly noises...
It looks so funny! Your body wants to copy them right away.
What does your brain feel like doing?
The Copy-Cat Trap!
When friends do something silly or not safe, our mirror brain wants to copy!
⭐ Super Power: We can like our friends without copying tricky choices!
Circle Share: "Has a friend ever tried to get you to do something tricky?"
Remember Every Day
The Boss of Your Body!
My Hands
Only I decide what my hands touch, hold, or build!
My Feet
Only I decide where my feet walk, jump, or stay!
My Words
Only I decide what words come out of my mouth!
"Friends can make their choice. I make my own good choice!"
Our Superpower Formula
How Pause Power Works
Practice With Teacher!
STEP 1
STOP!
Freeze your body like a statue. Take one big, slow belly breath in and out.
Motion: Hold up hand ✋
STEP 2
THINK!
Ask inside your head:
• Is it safe?
• Is it kind?
• Will someone get hurt?
Motion: Tap your temple 🧠
STEP 3
CHOOSE!
Do the helpful thing! Walk away, use kind words, or find a safe activity.
Motion: Thumbs up 👍
Let's try our 3 motions together: Hand up ✋ • Tap temple 🧠 • Thumbs up 👍
Practice Scenario 1 Hallway Time
The Hallway Race
Your line partner, Liam, yells, "Race you to the water fountain!" and starts sprinting down the slick hallway. He waves his hand for you to sprint with him!
Choice A
Run fast after Liam so you don't lose the race.
What could happen? Slipping, bumping others!
Choice B
Freeze, use walking feet, and stay safe in line.
Pause Power! Liam made his choice, you make yours!
Show with your fingers: Choice 1 or Choice 2?
Practice Scenario 2 Center Time
The Tower Crash
Ella built a tall wooden tower. Another friend runs up, knocks it down with a big smash, and laughs: "Come on, kick the rest down!"
Option 1
Kick the tower too because everyone is laughing.
😢 Ella might feel sad, and blocks could hit someone's toes.
Option 2
Stop your feet, say "I don't knock towers," and help Ella rebuild.
🌟 Kind words + safe hands = Super Pause Power!
What kind words could you say to Ella? Turn and tell your elbow partner!
Kind Words Shield
What Can You Say?
You don't have to be mean. Just be clear and kind!
"No thank you, that isn't safe."
Calm & clear voice
"I am going to make a helpful choice."
Choosing your own way
"Let's go ask our teacher to help."
When someone is unsafe
Repeat after me: "I like being your friend, but I choose to be safe!"
Classroom Chant & Movement
Our Pause Power Promise!
🛑
STOP! (Freeze hands and feet)
Take one deep breath and stay neat!
🧠
THINK! (Tap your thinking head)
Is it safe and kind instead?
👍
CHOOSE! (Two thumbs up high)
I am the boss of ME, that's why!
Today I will use my Pause Power!
Pause Power Choice Activity
Name:
Date:
Kindergarten SEL • Stop • Think • Choose
Pause Power Choice Activity
Directions: A friend is making a tricky choice! Use your Pause Power. Stop and think, then circle the smart choice you will make!
1
Circle Time: A friend whispers silly jokes and pokes your shoulder while the teacher reads.
A
Poke your friend back and make loud monster sounds.
B
Keep your hands in your lap and eyes on the storybook.
2
Recess Time: A friend tells you to climb over the big fence to get a red ball.
A
Tell your friend, "That is not safe. Let's ask the teacher!"
B
Climb high on the fence quickly before anyone notices.
3
Clean-Up Time: The bell rings. A friend runs away from centers and leaves toys out.
A
Run away too and hide under the table.
B
Pause your feet and put the toys neatly into the bin.
Remember: You are the boss of your own hands and feet!
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Name:
Date:
My Pause Power in Action!
Draw and show how you can make a smart, kind choice today.
Draw: You making a smart choice even if a friend does not! (at the rug, in line, or at recess)
My Superpower Pledge (Color or check your choices):
Safe Hands
Walking Feet
Kind Words
Cut & Color • Take-Home Super Badge
Wear or stick on shirt!
I HAVE PAUSE POWER!
"I can Stop, Think, and Choose!"
I remembered that I am in charge of ME! Color your badge and share what you learned with someone at home.
Pause Power Champion Badge
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Pause Power Lesson Guide
Teacher Facilitation Guide • Grade K • SEL Self-Management
Pause Power Lesson Guide
30–35 Minutes
Whole Group + Activity
CASEL Competency Self-Management & Decision-Making
Key Skill Stop, Think, Choose (Impulse Pause)
Materials Slide Deck, Activity Sheet, Crayons
Big Idea & Core Objectives
Young children naturally imitate peers due to mirror neurons and social connection drives. This lesson empowers students to separate their identity and behavior from peers, establishing body autonomy without shaming their friends.
✓ Identify the 3-step routine: Stop, Think, Choose.
✓ Resist the urge to copy unsafe or disruptive choices.
Pacing & Step-by-Step Delivery
1 Hook & Circle Time Launch (5 mins) — Slide 1 & 2 Carpet
Teacher Script: "Kindergartners, have you ever seen a friend make a super silly face or start rolling on the rug? What does your body feel like doing? (Wait for answers: Copying them! Laughing!) It’s totally normal to want to copy friends. But today, we are unlocking our greatest brain superpower: Pause Power."
2 Direct Instruction: The 3 Motions (8 mins) — Slides 3 & 4 Movement
Teach the kinesthetic anchor motions. Physical gestures anchor SEL routines in muscle memory:
1. STOP ✋ Freeze feet, hold up palm, take 1 deep belly breath.
2. THINK 🧠 Tap temple: "Is it safe? Is it kind? Will someone get hurt?"
3. CHOOSE 👍 Thumbs up: Make the helpful choice for your body!
3 Active Movement Game: "Freeze & Think" (7 mins) Gym / Rug
Play music or beat a tambourine. Children dance and wiggle. When music stops, call out a silly prompt: "A silly monster tells you to roll in the mud!" Children immediately do the 3 motions: freeze palm up (STOP), tap temple (THINK), show thumbs up (CHOOSE) and shout: "I use my Pause Power!"
Pause Power • Kindergarten SEL Resource Page 1 of 2
Scenario Guidance & Differentiation
Application, Formative Checks, and Family Connection
Facilitation Toolkit
Student Activity Guide & Key
Scenario 1 (Circle Time)
Correct: Choice B (Hands in lap, eyes on book).
Discuss: You can still be their buddy at recess, but right now it's listening time.
Scenario 2 (Recess Fence)
Correct: Choice A (Say "Not safe, let's ask teacher").
