Reaction Gauge Lesson Plan SEL Curriculum • Grades K-2 Duration: 45 Mins
The Reaction Gauge: Teacher Guide
CASEL Competencies Self-Management • Self-Awareness
Learning Objectives (SWBAT)
• Identify & Categorize: Differentiate between a Tiny Glitch , Small Bump , Medium Hiccup , and Big Emergency .
• Calibrate Reactions: Match bodily and emotional reaction sizes to problem severity.
• Self-Regulate: Apply a quick calm-down breathing strategy before reacting to minor upsets.
Essential Question
“Does a broken pencil need a fire-drill reaction? How do I make my reaction match the real size of the problem?”
Focus Key: Size matching Rule: Match, don't mismatch!
Anchor Framework: The 4 Reaction Levels
Visualized on student mats & slide deck
Level 1
Tiny Glitch
Pencil snaps, shoe untied, dropped paper.
Action: Fix in 5 sec. Deep breath, keep going!
Level 2
Small Bump
Lost game, cut in line, glue spilled on desk.
Action: Belly breath, use your words or ask peer.
Level 3
Medium Hiccup
Scraped knee, unkind teasing, feeling unwell.
Action: Pause, tell a trusted adult / teacher calmly.
Level 4
Big Emergency
Fire alarm, serious injury, unsafe situation.
Action: STOP everything, yell for adult help, freeze!
Instructional Pacing: Part 1
1 Hook & Body Movement Game: “Body Shrink & Grow” (10 mins) Whole Class Movement
Have students stand on the rug. Introduce physical body sizes: Tiny Glitch = pinch index finger and thumb; Small Bump = hands cupped together; Medium Hiccup = arms outstretched chest-wide; Big Emergency = arms stretched wide overhead jumping into a star pose.
Teacher Script: “Imagine your pencil tip snaps. If I scream and run out of the classroom like a five-alarm fire, did my body match the problem? No! Show me with your fingers how big that problem really is!”
2 Guided Slide Walkthrough & Calibration Practice (12 mins) Slides 1 – 6
Project the slide deck. Walk through the gauge levels. Guide students through interactive scenarios: “Leo dropped his jacket on the floor,” “Mia hurt her wrist on the monkey bars.” Have students physically display the level using finger/hand signals before revealing the calibrated answer.
The Reaction Gauge • Social-Emotional Learning Page 1 of 2
Instructional Pacing: Part 2 & Implementation
Activities, Differentiation, and Assessment
Printable Materials Included
3 Partner Sorting Mat Hands-On Activity (13 mins) Pairs • Activity Mat
Distribute the Problem Sorter Activity Mat and scenario cards to student pairs. Partners take turns drawing a scenario card, reading or looking at the visual icon, discussing: “Can I fix this by myself in 10 seconds? Do I need a teacher? Is someone in danger?” and placing it into the correct gauge zone.
Facilitator Tip: Walk around listening for language calibration. When students place an item, prompt them: “What breath or self-talk words will you use before taking action?”
4 Individual Application: Reaction Meter Worksheet (7 mins) Independent Practice
Students return to their desks to complete the Reaction Meter Worksheet . Students color code 4 real-world problem scenarios, illustrate a personal "glitch" they faced recently, and record their chosen calm-down superpower.
5 Debrief & The “Reset 3-Count” Ritual (3 mins) Wrap-Up
Gather back on the rug. Practice the Reset 3-Count : (1) Spot the size, (2) Breathe in deep like smelling a flower, (3) Blow out slow like cooling hot soup. End with the class chant: “Match the size, keep my cool, I am safe and smart in school!”
Targeted Differentiation & Accommodations
Kindergarten / Emerging
Use picture-only cards. Focus primarily on the 2-way contrast: Glitch (I can fix) vs. Emergency (Call teacher) .
Grades 1 – 2 Extension
Challenge students to write exact dialogue phrases ("I feel upset because...", "Excuse me, I was sitting there") for Level 2 & 3 problems.
Sensory & Behavioral
Provide desktop mini-gauges with a sliding clothespin so students can visually indicate their emotional level silently during transitions.
Formative Assessment & Look-Fors
Proficient (Target)
Correctly sorts 5+ scenarios; explains why a broken crayon is a glitch rather than an emergency.
Developing
Identifies big emergencies easily but confuses small bumps with medium hiccups; needs adult prompt to calm down.
Needs Support
Consistently reacts to Level 1 glitches as Level 4 emergencies; struggles to disengage without 1-on-1 calming support.
The Reaction Gauge • Social-Emotional Learning Page 2 of 2
Reaction Gauge Slides Super Self-Regulation
Grades K – 2
Calibrate Your Reaction Power
The Reaction Gauge
Matching the size of our feeling to the real size of the problem!
1. Tiny Glitch
2. Small Bump
3. Medium Hiccup
4. Big Emergency
Get your bodies ready to show the sizes!
The Golden Rule
Do They Match?
Reaction vs. Problem
Mismatch!
Broken Pencil Tip
Screaming, crying, kicking the desk, and stopping work for the rest of the day.
⚠️ Problem is tiny, but reaction is giant!
Perfect Match!
Broken Pencil Tip
Take one calm breath, grab another pencil or walk to the sharpener, and keep creating!
✅ Small problem gets a quick, calm reaction!
“When problem sizes are small, we keep our reactions small!”
Body Movement Signals
The 4 Reaction Zones
Show With Your Body!
Level 1
Tiny Glitch
Shoe untied, dropped eraser, paper tear.
Body Pose:
Pinch index finger and thumb close together!
Level 2
Small Bump
Spilled water, lost turn in a game.
Body Pose:
Cup your two hands together in front of you!
Level 3
Medium Hiccup
Scraped knee, unkind words, feeling sick.
Body Pose:
Stretch both arms shoulder-wide!
Level 4
Big Emergency
Fire alarm, danger, serious injury.
Body Pose:
Stand tall with arms in a big star overhead!
Practice time: Teacher calls a level — everyone show your pose!
Scenario 1
What Size Is This?
Show with your body!
Story Problem:
“You are building a tall block tower. A friend bumps the table and the top three blocks fall down.”
Gauge Answer
Level 2: Small Bump
No one is hurt, blocks rebuild quickly!
Calm Action to Take
Belly Breath & Rebuild
Say: “That's okay, let's stack them again!”
Did your body pose match Level 2? Hands cupped together!
Scenario 2
What Size Is This?
Show with your body!
Story Problem:
Problem Sorter Activity Mat Partner Hands-On Mat Cut & Sort
The Problem Sorter Mat
Partner 1:
Partner 2:
Directions: Cut out the cards from Page 2. Talk with your partner and place each card in the matching zone!
Match the Size!
1
Tiny Glitch
Fix in 5 seconds by myself
Pencil breaks • Sock slips • Dropped paper
Place 2 Tiny Glitch Cards Here Reaction: Calm breath & fix it fast!
2
Small Bump
Can solve with words & breath
Spilled water • Lost game • Cut in line
Place 2 Small Bump Cards Here Reaction: Belly breath & peaceful words
3
Medium Hiccup
Need a teacher's help
Scraped knee • Mean teasing • Feeling sick
Place 2 Medium Hiccup Cards Here Reaction: Walk calmly to tell a grown-up
4
Big Emergency
STOP everything • Get loud help
Fire alarm • Big injury • Dangerous situation
Place 2 Big Emergency Cards Here Reaction: Freeze, yell for teacher, stay safe!
The Reaction Gauge • Activity Mat (Page 1) Keep this mat flat on your desk
Scenario Cards & Reaction Badges
Cut carefully along the dashed scissor lines!
8 Scenario Cards • 4 Badges
Card A
Your crayon snaps in half while you are drawing a rainbow.
Card B
A cup of water spills across your desk and drips onto the floor.
Card C
Your sneaker shoelace comes completely untied during recess tag.
Card D
Another student cuts in front of you in the cafeteria lunch line.
Card E
Someone says mean words to you twice and won't stop teasing.
Card F
A friend slips on blacktop, scrapes their knee, and is crying.
Card G
The fire alarm honks loud and emergency lights flash red.
Card H
You see smoke coming out of the staff kitchen doorway.
Action Badges: Match 1 to Each Zone!
Level 1 Match
5-Second Fix • Keep going!
Level 2 Match
Belly Breath • Use words!
Level 3 Match
Tell Teacher • Get help!
Level 4 Match
Freeze • Loud alarm help!
Partner Rule: Discuss before cutting or placing. Agree on each size together!
Teamwork SEL
The Reaction Gauge • Scenario Cards (Page 2) Cut along dashed lines • Paste or place on Page 1
Reaction Meter Worksheet Student Self-Regulation
Reaction Meter Worksheet
Name:
Date:
Read each problem below. Check the box that shows the REAL size of the problem!
Part 1
1
Your pencil tip snaps while you are writing your name on your paper.
Tiny Glitch
Small Bump
Medium Hiccup
Big Emergency
2
Someone accidentally knocks over your water bottle, spilling water on the table.
Tiny Glitch
Small Bump
Medium Hiccup
Big Emergency
3
A friend trips on the playground gravel and scrapes their knee, crying in pain.
Tiny Glitch
Small Bump
Medium Hiccup
Big Emergency
4
The fire alarm begins to ring loudly and the red warning lights flash on the walls.
Tiny Glitch
Small Bump
Medium Hiccup
Big Emergency
Part 2: The Matching Reaction
Choose the best match
When a Tiny Glitch happens (like dropping an eraser), which reaction matches?
(A) Scream, throw my pencil, and lay down on the floor.
(B) Take a calm breath, pick it up in 5 seconds, and keep working.
(C) Run out into the hallway to tell the principal right away.
The Reaction Gauge • Worksheet (Page 1) Turn over for drawing & pledge
Part 3 & Part 4
My Glitch Story & Superpower Badge
Name:
Part 3: Draw a Glitch You Solved
Draw a time you experienced a Tiny Glitch or Small Bump and kept your cool:
The problem was:
To stay calm, I used:
Part 4: My Calm Superpower Badge
Draw your personal calm-down symbol inside the badge (a flower, deep breath, shield, or happy star):
“I promise to match my reaction to the real size of the problem!”
Student Signature:
The Reaction Gauge • Worksheet (Page 2) Keep this badge as your calm-down reminder!
