Body Clues Session Guide Classified: Level 3
Session 1 Guide
The Case of the Body Clues
CURRICULUM: CLUE CLUB
FOCUS: PHYSICAL CUES
Mission Objective
Introduce the detective theme and teach students to scan their bodies for "clues" (racing heart, cold hands, butterflies) that show anxiety is creeping in.
Detective Gear Needed
✔ Body Clues Case File (Worksheet)
✔ Red colored pencils/markers
✔ 1 hand lens (magnifying glass)
✔ "Secret Agent" stickers/badges
Detective Lingo
Body Clues: The early physical alerts our nervous system sounds to let us know worry is approaching.
Weekly Case Breakdown (30 Mins)
05M
Briefing (Warm-Up): "Welcome Detectives"
Introduce yourself as the Lead Detective. Explain that worry is like a sneaky culprit that tries to disrupt our day, but our bodies drop early physical "clues" before we even notice the worry.
10M
The Brain Alarm Code (Psychoeducation)
Explain the brain's "alarm system" (amygdala). It rings to protect us, but sometimes triggers a false alarm. It causes changes in our heartbeat, breathing, muscles, and temperature.
10M
Active Investigation: "Body Scan Dossier"
Distribute the Body Clues Case File . Guide students to think about the last time they felt nervous/worried. Color in the regions on their body map where they felt these clues.
05M
Debrief & Detective Pledge
Have students take the Detective Pledge (see footer). Hand out the Clue Club member badge sticker to celebrate completing their first assignment!
Detective Questioning Blueprint
"If your body clues could talk, what would they be warning you about?"
"Why is finding a body clue early like solving a mystery before it gets messy?"
"Who is a Trusted Assistant (adult) you can share your body clues with?"
Weekly Clue Club Oath
"As a certified Body Detective, I promise to search for early physical clues, trust my body alerts, and deploy calming tools whenever needed."
CLUE CLUB
Body Clues Worksheet TOP SECRET / CASE #001
Official Dossier
Clue Club: Body Clues Case File
AGENT NAME:
DATE:
CODE: DET-3RD
Mission: When worry creeps in, your brain alarm triggers physical changes in your body. Read the Clue Log, check off the physical signs you experience, and use a red pencil/crayon to color in the areas on the body map where your brain alarm rings strongest!
Body Scan Mapping Area
Tip: Think of a recent worry moment. Did your hands shake? Head hurt? Stomach twist? Color those spots red.
Physical Clue Log
💨 Rapid Breathing (Fast breath)
💓 Racing Heart (Thump-thump)
🦋 Butterflies (Stomach tightness/ache)
💧 Sweaty Palms or Cold Hands
🪨 Tight Shoulders or Neck
🔥 Warm Face or Rosy Cheeks
📳 Shaky Hands or Jittery Legs
My Main warning signal:
Write the #1 clue that lets you know worry is approaching:
My First Action Step
When my brain alarm triggers and I notice my body clues, I can team up with a Trusted Assistant to crack the case.
I will tell this helper:
✔ CASE DECLARED OPEN
Worry Suspects Session Guide Investigative Log: #002
Session 2 Guide
Unmasking the Worry Suspects
CURRICULUM: CLUE CLUB
FOCUS: TRIGGERS / SITUATIONS
Mission Objective
Help students identify and categorize their specific anxiety triggers (Worry Suspects) so they are no longer mystery threats, making them easier to manage.
Detective Gear Needed
✔ Worry Suspects Profile (Worksheet)
✔ Pencils & Highlighters
✔ "Case Solved" ink stamp (optional)
✔ Sticky notes or index cards
Detective Lingo
Worry Suspects: The people, places, things, or expectations that trigger our body alarms to go off.
Weekly Case Breakdown (30 Mins)
05M
Briefing (Warm-Up): "Checking the Clue Log"
Review the Body Clues from Session 1. Have students share which physical alert (racing heart, butterflies, etc.) they noticed during the week. Emphasize that finding clues means they are becoming master detectives!
10M
Who Sent the Clue? (Trigger Concept)
Explain that every clue is sent by a "Worry Suspect" (a trigger). Discuss suspects like: The Test Terrorizer (tests/grades), The New Crowd Phantom (trying new things), or The Perfect-Pixie (worrying about mistakes).
10M
Active Investigation: "Lineup of Suspects"
Distribute the Worry Suspects Profile . Read through each suspect card together. Ask students to rate how active each suspect is in their lives by checking the boxes and outlining their main suspects.
05M
Closing Debrief: "Naming the Threat"
Explain that once we identify our suspects, they lose their power of surprise! Next week, we will start inventing gadgets (coping tools) to arrest or disarm them.
Detective Questioning Blueprint
"Which Worry Suspect seems to show up at school the most?"
"How does knowing your trigger ahead of time help your brain plan its response?"
"Do any of these suspects ever trick you into thinking things are worse than they are?"
Weekly Clue Club Oath
"By identifying my worry triggers, I take away their element of surprise. I am the one in charge of my investigations!"
TRIGGERS
Worry Suspects Worksheet CASE FILE: #002 / LINEUP
Suspect Lineup
Clue Club: Worry Suspect Dossier
AGENT NAME:
DATE:
STATUS: INVESTIGATING
Mission: Worry isn't just a random feeling—it gets triggered by specific events, situations, or thoughts. We call these our Worry Suspects . Read the files below and rate how much each suspect triggers your body alarm!
Suspect A
📝 The Test Terrorizer
Shows up during hard assignments, quizzes, reading out loud, or speaking in front of the classroom.
SUSPECT ACTIVITY LEVEL:
Color 1 (Low) to 5 (High)
Suspect B
🤝 The Social Shadow
Creeps in when eating in a loud cafeteria, finding people to play with at recess, or worrying about friend drama.
SUSPECT ACTIVITY LEVEL:
Color 1 (Low) to 5 (High)
Suspect C
🌀 The New Situation
Appears when schedules change, there is a substitute teacher, or you go to a new place for the first time.
SUSPECT ACTIVITY LEVEL:
Color 1 (Low) to 5 (High)
Suspect D
🎯 The Perfect Pixie
Whispers that mistakes are bad. Triggers when you make a small error, draw something "wrong", or lose a game.
SUSPECT ACTIVITY LEVEL:
Color 1 (Low) to 5 (High)
PRIMARY TARGET
Agent Debrief: Investigating My Number One Suspect
Which Suspect is loudest in your world?
Where or when does this Suspect usually show up?
Which Body Clue lets you know this Suspect is nearby?
Suspect Sketch or Symbol
Draw here!
Deep Breath Session Guide Gadget Spec: #003
Session 3 Guide
The Deep Breath Decoder
CURRICULUM: CLUE CLUB
FOCUS: PHYSICAL REGULATION
Mission Objective
Equip students with their first "defensive gadgets": physiological breathing strategies that send an "All-Clear" code to reset an active brain alarm.
Detective Gear Needed
✔ Deep Breath Decoder (Worksheet)
✔ Crayons/pens to trace pathways
✔ Balloons (deflated, for prop visual)
✔ "All Clear" checkmark stickers
Detective Lingo
The Decoder Code: A secret combination of inhales, pauses, and slow exhales that manually powers down our physical stress response.
Weekly Case Breakdown (30 Mins)
05M
Briefing (Warm-Up): "Checking Suspect Activity"
Ask students if they spotted any of their "Worry Suspects" during the week. Did The Test Terrorizer or The Perfect-Pixie try to sneak up? Remind them that identifying suspects is half the battle!
10M
The Decoder Hack (Deep Breathing Psychoeducation)
Explain that when we panic, we take short, shallow breaths. This keeps the alarm sounding. Taking slow, deep belly breaths is like typing an "All-Clear Code" directly into our brain's computer. It tells the heart to slow down.
10M
Active Investigation: "Testing the Decoders"
Distribute the Deep Breath Decoder . Teach and practice two tools:1. Belly Balloon: Breathe into the belly to inflate an imaginary balloon, then slowly let the air hiss out.2. Box Breathing (The Square Code): Follow the square paths (breathe in, hold, breathe out, hold).
05M
Closing Debrief: "Registering the Gadgets"
Have students rate which gadget they liked best on their worksheet. Challenge them to test this gadget at least three times before our final session next week!
Detective Questioning Blueprint
"How does your body feel different after we do the Box Breathing Code?"
"Which gadget is easier to use secretly at your school desk?"
"If a friend was experiencing a false brain alarm, how would you teach them to use the Belly Balloon?"
Weekly Clue Club Oath
"I hold the key to reset my body alarm. My breath is a powerful gadget that can slow down my heartbeat and clear my mind."
GADGETS
Deep Breath Decoder Worksheet GADGET SPECIFICATION #003
Coping Gadget Lab
Clue Club: Deep Breath Decoder
AGENT NAME:
DATE:
GADGETS: FULLY LOADED
Mission: Shallow breathing keeps your body alarm ringing. Slow, deep breathing acts like a manual override code to quiet the alarm. Let's test two powerful Breathing Decoders together and record their cooling powers!
Gadget #1: The Belly Balloon
Place your hands on your stomach. Pretend your stomach is a balloon that you are blowing up and deflating.
1. INHALE Belly pushes out like a balloon (4s)
2. EXHALE Slowly hiss the air out like a leak (4s)
PRACTICE RUNS (COLOR ONCE DONE):
Gadget #2: The Square Decoder
Trace your finger along the sides of the square as you match your breathing to the secret decoding signals!
💨 Inhale 4s →
🛑 Hold 4s
← Exhale 4s
🛑 Hold 4s
PRACTICE RUNS (COLOR ONCE DONE):
My Primary Defensive Decoder selection:
🎈 Belly Balloon
🔳 The Square Decoder
Agent Lab Report: How did your body signals respond?
Before utilizing a Decoder:
After utilizing a Decoder:
Grounding Gadgets Session Guide Final Case File: #004
Session 4 Guide
Grounding Gadgets
CURRICULUM: CLUE CLUB
FOCUS: SENSORY REGULATION
Mission Objective
Teach students the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique to reconnect with the present moment, then transition to group closure and a badge-making graduation ceremony.
Detective Gear Needed
✔ Grounding Gadgets Badge (Worksheet)
✔ Colored markers & safety scissors
✔ Safety pins or tape (for badges)
✔ Gold certificate seals (optional graduation flourish)
Detective Lingo
Grounding Gadgets: Tools that anchor our thoughts in the safe "now" using our five physical detective senses.
Weekly Case Breakdown (30 Mins)
05M
Briefing (Warm-Up): "The Decoder Review"
Review the Deep Breath Decoders practiced last week. Have each student share where or when they used their belly balloon or square code over the last seven days to lower their alarm.
10M
The 5-4-3-2-1 Sensory Scan (Grounding Concept)
Explain that when we feel overwhelmed, our minds get trapped in future worries. Grounding is a "magnifying glass scan" that brings us back to the room. Practice searching the immediate space: 5 sights, 4 touches, 3 sounds, 2 smells, 1 taste/positive word.
10M
Active Investigation: "Assembling the Badges"
Distribute the Grounding Gadgets Badge worksheet. Students write down their personal coping tools on their Shield and write their names on the Official Badge. Cut out and color the badge to wear home.
05M
Graduation Ceremony & Farewell
Have students stand for the Lead Detective graduation. Read the official oath of the Clue Club together. Award their completed, laminated, or taped badges with a high-five and congratulations!
Detective Questioning Blueprint
"Why does looking for 5 blue things in the room stop a worry thought in its tracks?"
"How will you remind yourself to use your Grounding Gadget when you graduate today?"
"What is the most important clue-hunting secret you learned in Clue Club?"
Weekly Clue Club Oath
"When my mind wants to wander to worry land, I will use my five senses to anchor myself right where my feet are planted."
CLUE CLUB
Grounding Gadgets Worksheet FINAL MISSION / GRADUATION
Graduation Assignment
Clue Club: Grounding Shield
AGENT NAME:
DATE:
RANK: MASTER DETECTIVE
Mission: When a worry suspect triggers your body alarm, anchor yourself using your Grounding Gadget (the 5-4-3-2-1 Sensory Scan) . Fill out your scan results below, then customize your official badge to take home!
Sensory Scan Activation
5
Things I can see around me:
4
Things I can feel/touch:
3
Sounds I can hear right now:
2
Smells I can detect or imagine:
1
Calming sentence I can repeat:
✂️ CUT-OUT ZONE ✂️
Official Member Shield
CLUE CLUB
MASTER AGENT
AGENT: ________________
I control my alarm
Color, cut out along the dotted border, and wear with pride!
My Calming Arsenal:
✔ I know my body warning clues.
✔ I can unmask my worry triggers.
✔ I hold the secret breathing decoders.
The Certified Body Detective Oath
"I am now a certified member of the Clue Club. I can scan my body for signals, name my worries, use my breathing code, and ground myself when worry strikes."
SIGNATURE:
★ CERTIFICATE ISSUED ★
