Introducing Self-Regulation Lesson Plan
Mission Brief
Self-Regulation Superpowers
Time
30 Minutes
Audience
Kindergarten
Goal
Identify 2 emotions & 1 regulation tool.
Why This Mission Matters
Understanding and managing emotions is a fundamental life skill that helps children navigate social situations, focus on learning, and build resilience from a young age.
Preparation
10 Minutes Prep
Gather materials and review flow.
Gather picture cards of emotions, a small whiteboard, and markers. Review the slide deck, match-up activity, and journal to ensure familiarity. Prepare the learning space to be calm and inviting.
Gadgets & Tools
- My Feelings My Choices Slide Deck
- Feeling Faces Match-Up Activity
- My Calm Down Corner Ideas Journal
- Emotion Picture Cards
- Whiteboard/Markers/Crayons
Mission Instructions
1
Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling?
5 MIN
- Greet the student and ask, "How are you feeling today?"
- Show emotion cards (happy, sad, calm) and ask the student to point to one or describe it.
- Acknowledge their feeling: "I see you're feeling happy! That's wonderful."
2
Introducing Self-Regulation
10 MIN
- Use the Slide Deck to introduce self-regulation. Focus on Slides 1-3.
- Explain: "Self-regulation is being a superhero who notices feelings and chooses what to do with them."
- Emphasize that all feelings are okay, but some actions might not be helpful. We can learn ways to calm down.
3
Feeling Faces Match-Up
8 MIN
- Introduce the Match-Up Activity.
- Guide matching words to faces. Ask: "What does your face look like when you feel angry?"
- Discuss: "What might make someone feel surprised?"
4
My Calm Down Corner
5 MIN
- Introduce the Ideas Journal.
- Explain the calm down corner: "A special, safe place to go when you have big feelings."
- Guide the student to draw or list ideas (blanket, toys, books, drawing).
- Reinforce: Using a calm down corner is a brave and smart choice.
My Feelings My Choices Slide Deck
Mission Start
Self-Regulation Superpowers!
Being a feelings superhero means understanding your feelings and choosing what to do!
Teacher Note: Welcome the student and explain that today we will talk about feelings and how we can be feelings superheroes! Ask: "What is a superhero? What do they do?"
What Feelings Do You See?
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😠
Angry
😲
Surprised
😌
Calm
Teacher Note: Show this slide and ask: "What feelings do you see here?" Point to each face and ask the student to name the emotion. For example, "This face looks happy! What makes you happy?"
All Feelings Are Okay!
It's okay to feel happy, sad, or even angry.
But what do we do when we have BIG feelings?
Teacher Note: Explain that all feelings are okay. Ask: "When you feel angry, what does your body want to do? Is that helpful?" Guide them to understand that while feelings are okay, some actions might not be. Introduce the idea of "calm down" choices.
My Calm Down Choices
1
Take 3 deep breaths
2
Count to 5
3
Hug a favorite toy
4
Get a drink of water
5
Ask for a hug
What else?
Teacher Note: Introduce the idea of "Calm Down Choices." Ask the student to brainstorm some things they do when they need to calm down or feel better. Provide examples if they struggle.
You're a Feelings Superhero!
You can notice your feelings and make good choices!
Practicing makes you strong!
Teacher Note: Reinforce that practicing these choices makes them a "feelings superhero." Encourage them to try one of their calm-down choices the next time they have a big feeling. Give a specific example they might relate to.
Feeling Faces Match-Up Activity
Match the Mission!
Feeling Faces Match-Up
Superhero Name
Mission Date
Draw a line from the feeling word to the matching feeling face!
Happy
Sad
Angry
Surprised
Calm
😌
😊
😲
😢
😠
Teacher: Ask the student to act out each face after matching!
My Calm Down Corner Ideas Journal
My Power Base
Calm Down Corner Ideas
Superhero Name
Secret Date
Sometimes when I have big feelings, I need a special place to calm down.
In my Power Base, I feel .
My Power Base Blueprint
Draw your calm down corner here
Power Tools to include:
🧸
Soft Toy
📚
Books
🧘
Cushion
🖍️
Drawing
Practicing my superpowers every day!