Superpower Facilitator Guide
Session 1 of 5
Meet the Change
Theme: Normalizing routine shifts & deep breathing
20 MINUTES
Brave Brain Superpowers
Learning Objectives
Students will identify what a substitute teacher is, realize that nervous feelings are natural, and practice 'Cookie Breathing' to calm their bodies.
1
The Routine Check-In
4 Mins
Gather students in a comfortable circle. Introduce yourself as their coping guide. Introduce the concept of a routine using visual schedules.
Counselor Script: "Have you ever eaten something with a different recipe or played a game with slightly new rules? Today we are talking about what happens when our classroom schedule changes, like when our teacher needs to take a rest day and we have a special guest teacher—a substitute!"
2
Cookie Breathing Practice
11 Mins
Explain that changes can make our bodies feel tight, fluttery, or nervous. Teach Cookie Breathing as a superpower to relax.
Interactive Walkthrough: 1. Imagine: You have a fresh, warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie in your hands. 2. Breathe In: Lift the imaginary cookie to your nose, taking a deep, slow breath in through your nose to smell that amazing warmth. (Hold for 3 seconds) 3. Breathe Out: It's a little too hot! Softly blow out through your mouth to cool it down, making your exhale twice as long.
Distribute the Cookie Breathing Board. Have students trace the cookie outline with their finger as they repeat this 3 times.
3
The Cool-Down Reflection
5 Mins
Check in with students about how their bodies feel before and after breathing. Remind them that they can use this superpower anywhere, anytime.
Key Questions: "Where in your body did you feel the nervous fluttery feelings? How does your body feel now after cooling down our imaginary cookies?"
Brave Brain Superpowers Counselor Sequence Page 1
Session 2 of 5
Brave Brain Talk
Theme: Cognitive reframing & identifying self-talk
20 MINUTES
Brave Brain Superpowers
Learning Objectives
Students will learn to catch worried thoughts ("Worry Whimpers") and replace them with strong, encouraging statements ("Brave Brain Talk").
1
Cookie Breathing Refresher
3 Mins
Warmly welcome back the students. Have them practice 2 quick rounds of Cookie Breathing to settle down and prepare their minds for brave work.
Counselor Check-In: "Welcome back, Sub-Day Superheroes! Let's pull out our imaginary cookies. Breathe in that sweet smell... now blow on it gently to cool it down. Ah, now our brains are ready and focused!"
2
Worry Whimper vs. Brave Talk
12 Mins
Introduce the concept of inner self-talk. Explain that our brain tells us stories when things change. Some thoughts are tiny Worry Whimpers (quiet, nervous, scared), and some are Brave Brain Talk (loud, protective, strong).
Worry Whimper:
"What if the substitute is mean? I won't know what to do and everything will be ruined."
Brave Brain Talk:
"Different can be okay! I can use my cookie breathing and ask for help if I get stuck."
Practice reframing common worry statements together. Have students repeat the Brave Brain statements out loud with confident posture (shoulders back, chin up!).
3
The Brave Seal
5 Mins
Consolidate today's learning. Emphasize that we control the words inside our head. Introduce the phrase: "Change is different, but I am strong!"
Reflective Question: "What is one Brave Brain Talk phrase you want to carry with you this week?"
Brave Brain Superpowers Counselor Sequence Page 2
Session 3 of 5
My Brave Blueprint
Theme: Role-play, synthesis, and family connection
20 MINUTES
Brave Brain Superpowers
Learning Objectives
Students will synthesize coping tools by solving change scenarios, mapping out their personal 'Brave Blueprint' plan, and preparing to take their guide home.
1
Superpower Synthesis
4 Mins
Run a lightning round. "Who can show me Cookie Breathing?" (Scent, hold, cool). "Who can say a Brave Brain Talk statement?" Praise their immediate responses.
Counselor Encouragement: "Look at how strong you've become! You have two incredible superpowers in your tool belts now. Let's see how we use them in action!"
2
The Role-Play Showdown
10 Mins
Pull out the Brave Talk Scenario Cards. Draw one card and read it. Have students act out the scenario and model using their coping strategies.
Facilitation Script: "Here's a card. 'The sub sits down and says we are doing reading before math today!' Oh no, that's not our normal order! Who wants to act out taking a Cookie Breath? Now, who wants to tell the group their Brave Brain statement?"
Give every student a chance to participate in role-playing a card or cheering for their peers.
3
Brave Blueprint & Caregiver Link
6 Mins
Distribute the My Sub-Day Plan Worksheet. Have students complete their personal choices (coloring or checking off their primary strategies).
Distribute the Caregiver Guide Handout. Challenge students to explain 'Cookie Breathing' to their parent or guardian tonight.
Home Connection: "Take this plan and caregiver guide home! Practice Cookie Breathing together before bedtime so they know your superpower too!"
Brave Brain Superpowers Counselor Sequence Page 3
Session 4 of 5
Body Weather Forecast
Theme: Physical anxiety awareness & muscle relaxation
20 MINUTES
Brave Brain Superpowers
Learning Objectives
Students will identify the physical signs of anxiety in their bodies and learn 'Squeeze and Release' (progressive muscle relaxation) to calm body stress.
1
The Weather Report
4 Mins
Gather students in a circle. Introduce the metaphor of physical feelings as "internal weather" (sunny, rainy, stormy, cloudy).
Counselor Explanation: "Just like the sky can have sunny days, storms, or cold winds, our bodies have feelings weather! When we feel worried, our hearts might beat fast like lightning, or our stomachs might twist like a stormy wind."
2
Body Mapping & Lemon Squeezing
11 Mins
Distribute the Body Weather Map worksheet. Guide students to identify their symptoms (stormy brain, lightning heart, fluttery tummy) and color them on the body map.
Teach the **Squeeze and Release** physical superpower using the "Lemon Squeezer" metaphor:
Squeeze & Release Steps: 1. Hands: Pretend you are squeezing a sour lemon in each hand! Squeeze tight for 3, 2, 1... now drop them and feel the warm sunshine relaxation. 2. Shoulders: Pull your shoulders up to your ears like a turtle hiding in its shell! Hold tight... and drop. Ah, feel the calm!
3
The Calm Body Pledge
5 Mins
Have students notice how relaxation feels physically. End with a physical release pledge: **"My body is strong, my body can find calm!"**
Reflective Question: "Which muscle group felt the most relaxed after we squeezed and released our lemons?"
Brave Brain Superpowers Counselor Sequence Page 4
Session 5 of 5
Worry Bubble Blowout
Theme: Locus of control & letting go of uncontrollable worries
20 MINUTES
Brave Brain Superpowers
Learning Objectives
Students will distinguish between worries they can control (choices, breaths, words) and worries they cannot control (other people, schedule, substitute teacher).
1
The Bubble Machine
4 Mins
Blow actual soap bubbles (or pretend bubbles). Ask students what happens to a bubble after it's blown. (It floats, pops, and disappears!).
Counselor Metaphor: "Look at these beautiful bubbles! Once they leave the wand, we can't tell them where to float or make them stay forever—they are uncontrollable, so we just have to watch them pop and let them go. Some of our worries are just like bubbles!"
2
The Control Sorter & Pop-It!
11 Mins
Distribute the Worry Bubble Sorter. Guide students through each bubble statement. For each bubble, ask: "Can we control this? Or is it a bubble we need to let float away?"
I Can Control: My cookie breaths, my words, my helpful posture, raising my hand for help.
I Let It Go: The weather, the substitute teacher, other kids' loudness, classroom schedule order.
3
The Worry Blowout Ceremony
5 Mins
Gather students back in the circle. Have them pretend to blow a giant, invisible worry bubble representing their biggest uncontrollable worry. On the count of 3, have them take a deep breath and "BLOW" it away, clapping to "POP" the worry!
Curriculum Graduation: "Congratulations, Worry Warriors! You now have five incredible superpowers. Wear your brave brains with pride every single day!"
Brave Brain Superpowers Counselor Sequence Page 5
Brave Talk Scenario Cards
Session 2 & 3 Tool
Brave Talk Scenario Cards
Cut along the dotted lines. Use in role-play activities to practice Brave Brain Superpowers!
Print & Cut
Card 1: Environment 🪑
The Guest Teacher's Chair
You walk into class and the substitute teacher is sitting in your teacher's favorite chair, wearing a big blue sweater.
Worry Whimper:
"This is wrong! My real teacher isn't here and today is going to be ruined."
Brave Brain Reframe:
"A new teacher can sit there, and I am still safe and ready to learn!"
Card 2: Routines 🏃
The New Recess Rule
The substitute teacher asks everyone to line up for recess in alphabetical order instead of our usual quiet line-up.
Worry Whimper:
"I won't get to stand next to my best friend! Recess won't be fun at all."
Brave Brain Reframe:
"Different lines are okay. I will still see my friend on the playground!"
Card 3: Attendance 🗣️
The Mispronounced Name
The guest teacher reads the roster and pronounces your name wrong. A few classmates giggle and look at you.
Worry Whimper:
"They don't know who I am! I feel embarrassed and want to hide."
Brave Brain Reframe:
"It's just a simple mistake. I can politely tell them my name!"
Card 4: Schedule 🕒
The Order Shake-Up
The schedule says we are doing reading before math today, but we ALWAYS do math first. It feels backward!
Worry Whimper:
"My brain is ready for numbers, not words! This makes me feel mixed up."
Brave Brain Reframe:
"The order is a little different, but I can do reading anytime!"
Card 5: Rewards ⭐️
The Missing Sticker
You work extra hard on your spelling paper, but the substitute collects it without putting a shiny star sticker on top.
Worry Whimper:
"The teacher doesn't think I did good. I did all this hard work for nothing."
Brave Brain Reframe:
"I know I did my best work, and my real teacher will see it soon!"
Card 6: Asking Help 🙋
The Scared Question
You need a new pencil because your tip broke, but you feel nervous raising your hand because you don't know the guest teacher.
Worry Whimper:
"If I ask, they might get mad at me, or I might say the wrong thing."
Brave Brain Reframe:
"Guest teachers are helper teachers. It is always safe to ask for a tool!"
Brave Days Caregiver Handout
Home Connection Guide
Brave Days Caregiver Handout
Supporting first-graders through classroom schedule changes
Sub Day Superpowers
Family Resource
🤝
Hello Families!
For young learners, having a substitute teacher can bring up big feelings of worry, confusion, or physical discomfort. Over the past three weeks, your child participated in a supportive small counseling group called Sub Day Superpowers. Together, we explored how change can make our bodies feel, and we built a personalized toolkit to help them feel safe, grounded, and confident when routines shift!
The Core Coping Superpowers
🍪
Cookie Breathing
A physical mindfulness exercise to calm a racing heart or nervous flutters. Ask your child to lead you through it!
1. Smell In: Breathe in slow and deep through your nose, pretending to smell a warm, sweet cookie. 2. Blow Out: Hold for a brief moment, then blow out long and gentle to cool the hot cookie down.
🧠
Brave Brain Talk
Cognitive reframing designed for 1st grade. We identified quiet, worried thoughts and swapped them with strong, protective statements.
Instead of: "My teacher isn't here, so everything will be wrong and bad today." We can say: "Different days can still be safe and okay. I can handle this change!"
How to Support at Home
Validate Feelings
Avoid saying "it's not a big deal." Instead, try: "It can feel really weird when a guest teacher is in. I understand why that makes you feel anxious."
Practice in Quiet Times
Don't wait for high anxiety to practice breathing. Do two rounds of Cookie Breathing before bed or during quiet homework moments so it feels natural.
Prep Ahead of Time
If you know a substitute will be there, give them a warm heads-up in the morning and review their blueprint plan: "Who is your helper teammate at school today?"
3 Conversation Starters
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- "Can you show me how you trace your Cookie Breathing Board? Let's do three deep cookie breaths together!"
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- "What is your favorite Brave Brain Talk statement that helps you feel strong when things change?"
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- "If you need a pencil or feel overwhelmed when a substitute is in, who is on your that you can ask?"
