Body Signals Slides Power to Pause
Session 1
My Body Signals
Learning how our bodies talk to us when we are upset, and how to use our Power to Pause.
Focus: Body Awareness
Slide 1 of 6
Today's Plan
30 Minutes
1
Body Scan
Checking in on how our muscles, heart, and breathing feel right now.
10 Minutes
2
Spot Signals
Spotting the clues that show our body is moving from calm to tense.
10 Minutes
3
Star Breath
Learning a simple visual breath pattern to slow down our systems.
10 Minutes
Consistent, predictable structure helps us learn. Slide 2 of 6
Body Check-In
Step 1: Body Scan
Calm & Safe
• Breathing is slow and easy
• Heart feels steady and quiet
• Hands and shoulders are loose
Tense & Fast
• Breathing feels fast or tight
• Heart feels like it is running
• Hands or jaw are squeezed shut
Let's talk: Point to the side that feels closest to your body right now.
Spotting Signals
Step 2: Spot Signals
Fast Heart
Your chest feels thumping or pounding like you have been running.
Fast Breath
Breathing gets short, fast, or you feel like you cannot catch your breath.
Tight Hands
Hands squeeze into fists, shoulders pull up tight toward your ears.
Ask: Which signal do you notice first when you start to feel upset?
The Power to Pause
Step 3: Star Breath
Four-Count Star Breath
We can slow down our fast heart and fast breathing using a predictable pattern. Let's practice tracing the path:
1
Breathe IN slow as we go UP (Count 1, 2, 3, 4)
2
HOLD at the peak (Count 1, 2, 3, 4)
3
Breathe OUT slow as we go DOWN (Count 1, 2, 3, 4)
Trace & Breathe
Up • Down
Let's practice together: We will trace the star on our tables and breathe slow 3 times.
Review & Check-Out
Group Wrap-up
What We Learned
Our body signals tell us when we are starting to get upset.
Squeezed hands, fast heart, and short breaths are signs to pause.
A 4-count tracing breath helps bring our body back to a calm slate.
Next Action
We will now fill out our My Body Signals Map. This helps us customize our tracker so teachers can help us pause.
Ready to write!
Use colors to show your warning signs.
Great participation today! Slide 6 of 6
Body Signals Worksheet Power to Pause • Week 1
My Body Signals
Self-Awareness Tool
Name:
Date:
1. Check Your Body Warnings
When you feel upset, angry, or worried, what happens? Squeeze your crayons or markers to color or check your warning signs below.
Head and Face
Heavy eyes, tight jaw, or frowning.
Fast Heartbeat
Thumping, fast heart, or hot chest.
Fast Breathing
Short, fast, or tight breathing.
Tight Hands
Hands squeezing tight, tense muscles.
2. Trace and Breathe
Keep your finger on the star. Follow the lines. Practice taking four-second breaths to help steady your body.
Start
Breathe In
Breathe Out
Slow down and count to 4 as you trace.
Student and Facilitator Practice Goal:
Trace the star path 3 times together. When my body is tense, I can pause and breathe.
Student Worksheet
Calm Tools Slides Power to Pause
Session 2
My Calm Tools
Learning how to use physical exercises and safe sensory tools to cool down our body's warning signals.
Focus: Physical Calming Strategies
Slide 1 of 6
Today's Plan
30 Minutes
1
Recap Signals
Remembering our warning signals (heart, breathing, tight hands).
5 Minutes
2
Squeeze & Release
Practicing a physical "squeeze" to let go of tension in our muscles.
15 Minutes
3
Sensory Choices
Testing physical tools like stress balls or walks to cool down.
10 Minutes
Consistent routines make learning feel safe. Slide 2 of 6
Tool 1: Muscle Release
Step 2: Squeeze & Release
How to Squeeze & Release
When hands or shoulders feel tight, we can trap the energy and drop it on purpose.
1
Squeeze your fists and shoulders up super tight (Count 1, 2, 3, 4)
2
Let it ALL go and make your hands totally soft (Count 1, 2, 3, 4)
1. SQUEEZE TIGHT
Hold the lemon in your fists!
2. DROP & RELAX
Drop the lemon. Soft hands.
Let's practice: Squeeze tight like a lemon... 1, 2, 3, 4... and release. Ahh.
Tool 2: Sensory Choices
Step 3: Safe Choices
Squeeze Tool
Squeezing a stress ball or sensory toy at your desk to move the energy.
Cool Drink
Taking a slow drink of cold water to chill down your warm throat and chest.
Calming Walk
Walking to the water fountain and back to stretch your tight legs.
Which is yours? Point to the sensory tool you would like to test today.
Visual Choice Boards
Your Personal Tools
My Go-To Choice Board
Having choices ready before you get upset keeps you in control.
Today, we will set up your desk-sized Choice Board. You can keep it at your desk or workstation to point to whenever you need a sensory pause.
CALM DOWN CHOICE
Breathe
Squeeze
Water
Pick one tool to start
All choices are safe and okay to use when we need to cool down.
Review & Wrap-Up
Session 2 Complete
Calm Tools Choice Board Power to Pause • Week 2
Calm Choice Board
Visual Support Board
Name:
Date:
When you spot your body warnings, you are in control! Look at your choices below. Color or circle the tools that make you feel relaxed.
Star Breath
Trace and breathe slow.
Lemon Squeeze
Squeeze tight, then relax.
Cold Water
Slow sips of cold water.
Squeeze Fidget
Squeeze desk stress ball.
Calming Walk
Walk to fountain & back.
Quiet Break
Go to designated quiet spot.
My #1 Calm Tool (Draw or write below):
Instruction: Circle your favorite from the 6 cards above, then write or sketch it in the box.
Classroom / Workspace Connection:
Point to your desk-size Choice Board when you need a pause. Teachers and job coaches will see your choice and support you!
Calm Choice Board • Desk Tool
Speak Slides Power to Pause
Session 3
Speak Without Words
How to tell teachers, job coaches, or friends what you need without having to speak when you feel dysregulated.
Focus: Functional Communication
Slide 1 of 6
Today's Plan
30 Minutes
1
Why Use Cards
Understanding how hard it is to talk when we are feeling tense or angry.
5 Minutes
2
Meet the Cards
Learning the four high-contrast communication cards and their meanings.
15 Minutes
3
Roleplay Practice
Handing a card to a teacher when we need a short sensory break.
10 Minutes
Clear visuals take the stress out of speaking. Slide 2 of 6
Why Use Cards?
Step 1: Introduction
Talking is Hard
When our heart beats fast and muscles are tight, our brains struggle to find the right words to speak.
This can lead to shouting, freezing, or walking away.
Pointing is Easy
Giving or pointing to a pre-printed visual card uses almost zero physical or verbal energy.
You communicate instantly and get exactly what you need.
Have you ever felt this? Do you find it hard to talk when you are overwhelmed?
Meet Your Cards
Step 2: Meet the Cards
HELP
"I am stuck on a task or need an adult's assistance."
BREAK
"I need a short 5-minute pause from my workspace."
QUIET
"I need to go to our safe calming sensory corner."
DONE
"I finished my work and am ready for next steps."
Which card: Which of these four do you think you will use most often?
The Break Routine
Step 3: Roleplay
1
Spot Warning
Your chest feels hot or hands get tight.
Recognize
2
Hand Card
Hand the BREAK card to your teacher or coach.
No Speaking Needed
3
Calm Space
Go to your calm space. Use a desk calm tool.
Pause for 5 Min
4
Return
Return to your workstation when body is calm.
Ready to Learn
Let's roleplay: Practice handing the "Break" card to your group leader right now.
Communication Cards Printable Power to Pause • Week 3
Communication Cards
Print, Cut, & Laminate
Name:
Date:
Instructions: Color the background cards, cut along the dashed black lines, laminate, and attach to a keyring or place on your workstation desk.
HELP
Hand this card to get assistance from an adult.
BREAK
Hand this card to get a 5-minute sensory pause.
QUIET
Hand this card to move to the calming zone.
DONE
Hand this card to show you finished your task.
YES
Point to this card to say yes to a choice.
NO
Point to this card to say no or stop a choice.
Student Goal & Roleplay Practice:
Let's practice pointing to cards. When I am stuck on a math problem, I can point to "HELP." When I am hot and need a break, I can point to "BREAK."
Printable Communication Deck
Problem Meter Slides Power to Pause
Session 4
The Problem Meter
Learning how to distinguish between Small Glitches and Big Emergencies so we know how to react.
Focus: Cognitive Reframing
Slide 1 of 6
Today's Plan
30 Minutes
1
My Signals
Quick check-in on body warnings and our preferred calm tools.
5 Minutes
2
The Meter
Introducing the meter to sort problems into Glitches or Emergencies.
15 Minutes
3
Sorting Game
Practicing sorting transition-age scenarios into Big vs. Small.
10 Minutes
Predictable structures keep sessions flowing. Slide 2 of 6
Small Glitches
Easy to Fix
Small Glitches
These are minor bumps in the road. They might make you feel warm, but they are easy to solve and don't hurt anyone.
• You can fix these yourself or with 1 calm step.
• Your workspace is still safe.
Pencil Breaks
Just sharpen it or grab a new one.
Slow Internet
Wait a moment or ask for help with a card.
Think: What is another "Small Glitch" that happens at school or on the job?
Big Emergencies
Immediate Action
Big Emergencies
These are rare events where someone is hurt, in danger, or there is a real safety hazard.
• You MUST tell an adult immediately.
• Safety is the first priority.
Fire Alarm Rings
Stop work immediately and walk out safely.
Someone is Injured
Get a nurse or supervisor right away.
Important: We do not need to yell for small glitches. We save our loud voices for Big Emergencies.
The Problem Meter
Step 2: The Meter
Measure the problem before choosing your response!
1-2: Small Glitch
Pencil breaks, spelling error, computer lag.
Use Calm Tool & Keep Working
4-5: Big Emergency
Fire, bleeding injury, dangerous safety hazard.
Tell an Adult Immediately
Let's practice: A peer takes the chair you wanted. Is that a Glitch or an Emergency?
Sequence Graduation
4 Weeks Complete
My Calming Checklist
✓ I can spot my Body Signals.
Problem Meter Worksheet Power to Pause • Week 4
Problem Meter Worksheet
Cognitive Reframing Tool
Name:
Date:
Every problem has a size! Before reacting, we check the size of the problem. Learn the sizes below and complete the drawing boxes.
The Problem Scale:
1
Tiny Bump
Pencil breaks
2
Small Glitch
Slow internet
3
Medium Snag
Peer takes chair
4
Big Issue
Power outage
5
Emergency
Fire alarm / Hurt
Small Glitch (1-2)
Easily solved using 1 calm step. Work area is still safe.
Draw or write a Small Glitch you can solve with Star Breathing.
Big Emergency (4-5)
Rare event. Someone is in danger. You MUST tell an adult.
Draw or write a Big Emergency where you must get adult help instantly.
Graduation Goal Accomplished:
I know my body signals, I know my desk tools, I have my non-verbal request cards, and I can measure problems! I am a Coping Champion.
My Problem Meter • Graduation Worksheet
