Pause Power Teacher Guide Teacher Guide • Grade 3 SEL
Pause Power
Mastering the Art of the Mindful Pause
Duration: 45 Mins
Early-Year Skill Development
Objectives
Identify physical body cues of dysregulation.
Apply the "Pause Button" metaphor.
Select personalized cool-down tools.
Materials Needed
Pause Power Playbooks
Pause Power Anchor Chart
Crayons or colored pencils
A physical bell or chime
Core Metaphor
The "Mind Remote" : When body signals warn us we are heating up, we hit PAUSE before reacting!
1
The Soda Bottle Spark • Warm-Up
5 Mins
Hook: Stand in front of the classroom holding an imaginary soda bottle. Demonstrate shaking it vigorously.
Teacher Script:
"Imagine someone bumps into us in line, or we can't get our work done. Our feelings get shaken up like this soda bottle. If we open it right now, what happens? Ssshhhh-BOOM! Soda everywhere, right? That is reactive behavior. Today, we're going to learn how to put a magic 'Pause' on that bottle so we don't explode."
2
Body Clues & Sensation Signals
15 Mins
Explain that our bodies know we are getting angry or upset before our brains do. These are called Sensation Signals .
Key Connection Points:
• The Heart: Beating fast like a racecar.
• The Hands: Clenching tightly into tight walnuts.
• The Breathing: Short, fast, hot breaths.
Interactive Action:
Have students make tight fists for 10 seconds, then release. Have them jump up and down for 15 seconds to feel a racing heart.
"Notice how that feels? That is your body starting to fizz. When we feel that, we must press PAUSE!"
Unit 1: Self-Regulation Foundations Page 1 of 2
Teacher Guide • Grade 3 SEL
Pause Power Lesson Flow
Part 2 of 2
3
Classroom Skits & Role-Play
15 Mins
Practice pausing in real-time. Read these scenarios. Have student volunteers act out the "shaken up" reaction, then have the class yell "PAUSE!" and freeze like statues.
Scenario A: The Missing Scissors Interactive skit
The Setup: Maya leaves her desk for a second, and Leo uses her special shiny scissors. Maya feels her face getting hot and her fists tightening.
Practice Action: Maya takes a step forward to yell, but the teacher rings the chime. The class yells "PAUSE!" Maya freezes, models a deep star breath, and calmly asks for them back.
Scenario B: The Ruined Tower Interactive skit
The Setup: Toby spent 10 minutes building a tall block tower. During recess cleanup, a student accidentally trips and knocks it over. Toby's heart starts racing and he wants to throw a block.
Practice Action: Toby raises his arm, the class yells "PAUSE!" Toby freezes, places his hands flat on his legs, counts to 5, and says "It was an accident."
4
Designing the Cool-Down Kit
10 Mins
Distribute the Student Playbooks . Guide students in choosing their favorite regulation strategies and drawing them inside their custom kits.
Coaching Prompts:
"What does calm feel like?"
"Do you prefer slow breathing, or squeezing a stress ball?"
"Draw 3 tools that fit you best."
Teacher's Quick Tips:
Praise Effort: Reinforce that there are no "wrong" tools. Differentiate by letting students focus entirely on drawing instead of writing.
5
Reflective Closing & Classroom Integration
5 Mins
Have students point to the newly hung Pause Power Anchor Chart in the classroom. Remind them that they have permission to press **PAUSE** anytime they feel shaken up.
How to keep this alive all year:
Use the phrase "Let's take a Pause Power moment" when the class gets noisy or transitions get rough. Model using your own virtual remote control.
Unit 1: Self-Regulation Foundations Page 2 of 2
Pause Power Student Playbook My Pause Power Playbook • Part 1
Sensation Signals!
Name
Date
Before a shaken-up soda bottle explodes, it makes a tiny fizzing sound . Our bodies do the same thing! When we get upset or angry, our bodies give us Sensation Signals . Let's find yours!
Circle & Color Your Signals
Read each body area and circle the pictures or words that feel true when you start to get upset, mad, or stressed.
My Heart beats like:
🏎️ A Racecar Super Fast
🐢 A Turtle Slow & Steady
My Hands feel like:
✊ Tight Walnuts Clenched Fists
🍝 Loose Noodles Soft & Relaxed
My Face/Head feels:
🌋 A Volcano Hot & Flushed
🧊 An Ice Cube Cool & Calm
My Breathing feels:
🚂 Fast Train Short & Quick
🍃 Soft Breeze Slow & Deep
My Sensation Map
Draw a circle or color in red the parts of the body outline below where you feel stress first (like hands, chest, head, or tummy!).
Student Drawing Space Color your sensation zones on the human shape!
Pause Power Playbook Page 1 of 2
My Pause Power Playbook • Part 2
My Remote Control & Cool-Down Kit
Press "PAUSE" on Your Remote!
Your mind has an internal Remote Control. When your Sensation Signals start to alert you, you have the superpower to press the PAUSE button . This gives you a moment to think and make a great choice!
Mind Remote
PAUSE
PLAY STOP
My Personal Cool-Down Kit
Inside your imagination, you can carry a Cool-Down Kit . What 3 magic tools will you pack? Draw and write them in your suitcase compartments below.
Tool #1
Tool Name
Draw Your
When do you use this?
Tool #2
Tool Name
Draw Your
When do you use this?
Tool #3
Tool Name
Draw Your
When do you use this?
Pause Power Playbook Page 2 of 2
Pause Power Anchor Chart Classroom Anchor Chart
PAUSE POWER!
When your inner soda bottle gets shaken up, you have the magic power to stop, scan, and select!
1
PAUSE
Stop your body instantly. Freeze like a statue. Give your mind a moment to think!
2
NOTICE
Check your Sensation Signals: racing heart, tight fists, hot face, fast breathing?
3
CHOOSE
Select a favorite cool-down tool from your personal kit to bring yourself back!
High-Power Cool-Down Tools
🌟
Star Breathing
Trace a star. Breathe in on ups, out on downs.
🧱
Wall Pushes
Push the wall for 10 seconds to let energy out.
💬
Positive Talk
Whisper: "I can handle this. I am safe."
💧
Water Sip
Take three slow, cool sips of fresh water.
Pause Power is My Superpower Post in the Calm Corner
Pause Power Jr Teacher Guide Teacher Guide • Kindergarten SEL
Pause Power Jr.
Taming Big Feelings with Tiny Turtles
Duration: 30 Mins
Early Childhood Development
Objective
Help K students recognize "hot/fast" body sensations and learn to pull into their turtle shell to take deep breaths.
Kid Metaphor
"The Cozy Turtle" : When feelings get wild, we cross our arms, tuck our chin, and take 3 turtle breaths.
Core Tools
Squeeze the Lemon
Smell the Flower
The Turtle Tuck
1
The Cozy Turtle Story • Warm-Up
8 Mins
Gather students in a circle. Introduce **Tucker the Cozy Turtle** (use a plush toy or a drawing).
Interactive Read-Aloud Script:
"This is Tucker. Tucker loves playing with blocks, just like you! But sometimes, when another turtle knocks his block tower down, Tucker's heart thumps like a scared rabbit (tap chest quickly) , and his hands get hard like angry rocks (squeeze fists) . When that happens, Tucker doesn't bite or kick. Do you know what he does? He goes: Sloooow-moooo , pulls his arms and legs in close, and tucks into his warm shell to breathe!"
2
Sensation Animals • Game
10 Mins
Kindergarteners learn through play and physical action. Use this movement game to help them connect emotions with physical sensations.
🐰
The Thumping Bunny
Have kids place their hands on their heart and pat rapidly. "This is what our heart does when we get scared or angry!"
🦁
The Angry Lion
Have kids squeeze their fists like tight claws. "This is how our hands feel when we want to grab or hit. Let's squeeze, then let them go!"
Pause Power Jr Curriculum Page 1 of 2
Teacher Guide • Kindergarten SEL
Teaching the Cool-Down Tools
Part 2 of 2
3
Playground Scenarios & The "Turtle Tuck"
7 Mins
Practice the "Turtle Tuck" physical movement. Tell students: "When you hear me chime, we all go slow-mo, pull our hands in, tuck our chins, and breathe!"
Skit 1: Sharing the Tricycle
"Sam is riding the red tricycle. Toby comes up and pulls the handlebars to make Sam get off. Sam feels his tummy get tight."
Interactive Action: Teacher sounds chime. All students tuck their arms across their chests, pull their heads down, and blow out 3 slow candles.
Pause Power Jr Student Playbook Pause Power Jr • My Playbook
I Can Pause!
My Name:
Trace or write here...
🐢
Meet Tucker the Cozy Turtle!
When Tucker feels angry or sad, he hits the PAUSE button! He pulls in his hands and takes 3 slow-mo deep breaths . Let's color his cozy world!
1 Color Your Body Signal Friends
Which animals do you feel inside your body when you are upset? Color them in!
🐰
Thumping Bunny
My heart thumps fast!
Color Me!
🦁
Angry Lion Claws
My hands squeeze tight!
Color Me!
🌋
Hot Volcano Face
My face feels hot!
Color Me!
2 Trace the Path to Your Safe Space
Trace the dots to help the fizzy soda drop settle down into a cozy, cool turtle!
🥤 Fizzy Soda
1
2
3
🐢 Cozy Turtle
🌟
My Turtle Practice Challenge
Did you practice pulling in your hands and blowing out 3 candles today?
Kindergarten Self-Regulation Series Post/Save on fridge
Pause Power Jr Anchor Chart 🐢 Turtle Power S.O.S
TUCK & BREATHE!
When you get a big, fizzy feeling, do the Turtle Tuck!
1 Stop
🛑
STOP & FREEZE
Stop your feet and freeze your hands like a cool statue.
2 Tuck
🐢
TURTLE TUCK
Cross your arms. Tuck your head in close to your cozy shell.
3 Breathe
🌬️
3 COZY BREATHS
Smell the flowers (breathe in) , then blow out the birthday candles (breathe out) !
🌟
I Have Cozy Power!
My mind and body can choose to be calm and happy.
❤️ 💛 💚
My Body is Safe & Calm Post in the Cozy Corner
