Worry Detectors Lesson Plan Session 1 • Counselor Guide
Worry Detectors
Focus: Identifying physical symptoms of anxiety in K-2 students
Worry Wranglers
Target Grade: K-2
Pacing
30-40 Minutes
Key Goal
Locate somatic feelings
Materials
Body Map, crayons
Learning Objectives
Students will define "worry" as a helpful warning system that can sometimes get too loud.
Students will name at least two somatic signals (e.g., butterflies in stomach, fast heartbeat) of anxiety.
Students will locate and color where they feel worries using the "Worry Body Map."
Facilitation Flow
1. Welcome & Group Rules (5 mins) 0:00 - 0:05
Introduce yourself and welcome the "Worry Wranglers" group. Explain that a wrangler is someone who gently rounds up and takes care of things—today, we are learning to round up our worries! Establish three simple rules: 1) Kind Words, 2) Listening Ears, 3) Share what's okay with you.
2. Opening Activity: "Worry Check-in" (7 mins) 0:05 - 0:12
Pass around a soft sensory ball. Have each student share their name and how they are feeling today on a 1-5 scale (using hand gestures: 1 is super calm, 5 is high worry/excitement). Read a short, age-appropriate introductory story prompt or use a metaphor: "Worries are like small, fuzzy creatures that jump on our shoulders and whisper silly 'what-ifs'."
3. Core Lesson: "The Body Alarm" (10 mins) 0:12 - 0:22
Explain that worries don't just stay in our thoughts—they send signals to our bodies. Use the "Worry Detectors" metaphor: our bodies are like detectors that light up when we feel worried. Ask: "What happens to your tummy when you are nervous? What about your hands or heart?" List symptoms on a chart (butterflies, cold hands, rapid heart, shaky legs, tight shoulders).
4. Active Practice: "My Worry Body Map" (12 mins) 0:22 - 0:34
Distribute the Worry Detectors Body Map Worksheet and colored crayons. Guide students to think of a time they felt worried (e.g., first day of school, a loud noise). Have them identify where they felt that worry in their body and color that spot. Use colors to match sensations: Red for hot/fast, Blue for shaky/cold, Yellow for fluttery/butterflies.
5. Reflection & Closing Circle (6 mins) 0:34 - 0:40
Gather back. Have students share one part of their body map. Emphasize validation: "Everyone feels worries in their body, and it's our body's way of trying to keep us safe. Next week, we will learn how to teach our body alarm to quiet down!" Collect maps and close with a gentle group deep breath.
Counselor Pro-Tip for Grades K-2
Keep explanations concrete. Avoid using clinical terms. Instead of "somatic anxiety," use "our body's alert system." If a student gets distressed during the mapping, encourage a giant belly breath ("smell the flower, blow out the candle").
Worry Detectors Body Map Worksheet NAME:
DATE:
Session 1
My Worry Detector Map
Where do you feel worries in your body? When a worry pops up, our "Body Alarm" lights up to show us. Color the spots on your detector map where you feel it!
DETECTOR SCREEN
Worry Clues & Keys
Thumping Heart
Feels like a drum pounding inside my chest.
Tummy Butterflies
Feels fluttery, bubbly, or tickly inside my belly.
Cold / Shaky Hands
Feels like ice or wiggly jelly in my fingers.
Heavy Shoulders
Feels like carrying a heavy, snug backpack.
Swirling Thoughts
Feels like my head is a spinning playground carousel.
Wrangler Talk & Share
Show your map to your neighbor. Do you color the same spots? Remember, everyone's detector is a little bit different, and that is totally normal!
Worry Wranglers Small Group • Grades K-2 I can read my body's signals!
Calm Down Toolbox Slides Worry Wranglers
Session 2
The Calm Down
Toolbox!
Today we are opening our secret toolbox! We will learn how to wrangler our worries using deep breathing and sensory powers.
Get ready to practice with your group!
LET'S START
BREATHING TOOL
Star Breathing
Slide 2 of 4
Trace the star points with your finger! Breathe in as you go UP , and hold/out as you go DOWN .
1
Smell the flower (Breathe in slowly)
2
Blow out the candle (Breathe out gently)
TRACE ALONG WITH ME!
Breathe In • Breathe Out
Let's try 3 big Star Breaths together. NEXT STRATEGY →
SENSORY TOOL
High-5 Grounding
Slide 3 of 4
When worries swirl, look around your room and use your 5 senses to bring your thoughts back to safety!
High-5 Power!
Touch your hand to match each sense as we search!
5 THINGS
I Can See 👁️
4 THINGS
I Can Touch ✋
3 THINGS
I Can Hear 👂
2 THINGS
I Can Smell 👃
1 THING
I Love or Can Taste ❤️
These 5 senses are your super-detector powers. PRACTICE CHALENGE →
GROUP CHALLENGE
Wrangler Showdown!
Slide 4 of 4
Let's Try It Right Now!
Your counselor will name a sensory tool. As a team, let's practice it together for 10 seconds!
1 Star Breath
Find 3 Blue Things
Wiggle 10 Toes
Give a Self-Hug
Coping Superstars!
By practicing these, you can calm down your body's alarm any time you want!
Awesome work, Worry Wranglers! END OF SESSION 🎉
Coping Tool Cards Printable My Pocket Calm Down Toolbox
Directions: Color the cards, cut along the dashed lines, punch a hole in the top corner, and loop onto a ring!
Session 2 Craft
◯
TOOL 1: BREATHING
Star Breathing
Trace the star points with your finger!Breathe In as you go up.Breathe Out as you go down.
◯
TOOL 2: SENSES
High-5 Finder
Find 5 things around you:👁️ 5 Colors • ✋ 4 Textures 👂 3 Sounds • 👃 2 Smells • ❤️ 1 Joy
◯
TOOL 3: BODY SQUEEZE
Lemon Squeezers
Squeeze your hands as tight as you can, like you are making sour lemonade! Hold for 5 seconds...Then let go and shake them loose!
◯
TOOL 4: BRAVE WORDS
Brave Self-Talk
Whisper these brave thoughts to yourself:"I am safe right now." "My worries will pass like clouds." "I can handle this!"
Wrangler Assembly Tip
To make these last, print on sturdy cardstock. Help students cut out their cards, color each icon, and punch holes. These can be clipped to student backpacks as a physical visual cue they can reference at school!
Worry Wranglers Curriculum • Session 2 I have tools in my pocket!
Worry Sizers Lesson Plan Session 3 • Counselor Guide
Worry Sizers
Focus: Measuring worry size and sorting control (K-2)
Worry Wranglers
Target Grade: K-2
Pacing
30-45 Minutes
Key Goal
Sort big vs small worries
Materials
Thermometer worksheet
Learning Objectives
Students will differentiate between Small, Medium, and Big worries using a visual thermometer.
Students will categorize worries into "Things I can control" and "Things I can't control."
Students will identify a positive "sizing down" self-talk statement for their worry.
Facilitation Flow
1. Check-In & Practice Review (5 mins) 0:00 - 0:05
Welcome group back. Pass around the sensory ball. Ask each student to show a 1-5 worry level on their fingers. Ask if anyone used their Star Breathing or High-5 Grounding pocket cards this past week. Praise all attempts!
2. Core Lesson: "The Worry Thermometer" (10 mins) 0:05 - 0:15
Explain that worries come in different sizes, just like shoes! Some worries are Small (like a pebble in our shoe), some are Medium (like losing a toy), and some are Big (like starting a new school). Introduce the "Worry Thermometer." Read out scenarios and have students hop to the left for small, center for medium, and right for big!
3. Control Sorting Metaphor (10 mins) 0:15 - 0:25
Introduce the "Control Circle." Explain that we can only wrap our ropes (wrangle) around things we have control over. Ask: "Can we control the weather? No! Can we control if we choose a breathing tool? Yes!" Sorting worries into "My Control" versus "Out of My Control" helps us shrink down big worries.
4. Active Practice: "My Worry Sizer" (15 mins) 0:25 - 0:40
Distribute the Worry Sizer Worksheet . Point to the thermometer on the first page, have students color or draw a worry they have, and place it on the thermometer. Flip to the second page (or bottom section) and color or draw things inside their control vs. outside their control.
5. Reflection & Closing Circle (5 mins) 0:40 - 0:45
Gather back in a circle. Share one worry that we sorted out of our control. Guide a group "letting go" ritual: "Put that worry in your hand, close it tight, blow it out of your hands like confetti, and say together: 'I let it go!'" Close with positive self-talk modeling.
Sizing Metaphors for K-2
For early childhood students, things they can't control (the weather, what others do, homework assignments) can feel frustrating. Remind them that letting go of a "can't control" worry is like dropping a heavy rock to free up our hands to play!
Worry Sizers Worksheet NAME:
DATE:
Session 3
My Worry Sizer & Control Lasso
How big is your worry, and can you control it? Use the Worry Thermometer to find its size, then lasso what you can change!
1. WORRY THERMOMETER
3. BIG WORRY
Feels like a giant boulder.
2. MEDIUM WORRY
Feels like a brick.
1. SMALL WORRY
Feels like a tiny pebble.
2. THE CONTROL LASSO
Color the items inside the lasso GREEN (things you can control). Color items outside the lasso RED (things you can't control).
🌧️ The Weather
📢 Loud Noises
🏫 School Rules
👥 What Others Do
MY CONTROL
✨ My Breathing
💬 My Brave Words
🤝 Asking for Help
My Brave Wrangler Self-Talk Statement
Draw a smiley face or write your favorite brave words here...
Worry Wranglers Small Group • Grades K-2 I can wrangler my worries down!
Coping Shield Craft Sheet NAME:
DATE:
Session 4 Craft
My Mighty Coping Shield
You are now a certified Worry Wrangler! Draw and write inside the four sections of your mighty shield to show off your super coping powers.
1. MY BODY TAMER 💨
Draw your favorite breathing or physical tool
2. MY BRAVE WORDS 💬
Write or draw your positive self-talk
Draw parents, teachers, counselors, or friends
3. MY SAFE HELPERS 👥
Draw a happy place or favorite activity
4. MY HAPPY SPACE ☀️
Show and Tell Shield Challenge
Take turns presenting your Mighty Coping Shield to the circle. When we put our shields together, we make a strong fort that worries can't get past! Keep this shield in your cubby or room to remind you of your bravery.
Worry Wranglers Small Group • Grades K-2 I am brave, strong, and ready!
Worry Wranglers Graduation Guide Session 4 • Counselor Guide
Coping Champions Celebration
Focus: Consolidating skills, crafting coping shields, and celebrating graduation
Worry Wranglers
Final Session 4
Pacing
30-45 Minutes
Key Goal
Graduation ceremony
Take-home
Shield, Certificate
Session Objectives
Students will summarize and select their top coping strategy learned during the group.
Students will assemble and explain their personal Coping Shield Craft Sheet.
Students will celebrate their growth in a supportive graduation circle.
Celebration Flow
1. Open Check-in & Tool Review (5 mins) 0:00 - 0:05
Welcome back the Worry Wranglers! In our final session, we celebrate everything we have learned. Briefly display all strategies learned: 1) Body awareness, 2) Star Breathing, 3) High-5 Grounding, 4) Lemon Squeeze, 5) Brave Self-Talk, 6) Sizing down. Have each child show their current worry index.
2. Core Activity: "My Mighty Coping Shield" (15 mins) 0:05 - 0:20
Hand out the Coping Shield Craft Sheet . Explain that shields are used for protection, and our coping shield helps protect our peace. Guide students to fill out the four quadrants by drawing or writing. Move around to offer spelling support or prompts.
3. Shield Presentation & Validation (10 mins) 0:20 - 0:30
Allow each child to stand up and hold their shield, describing their "Body Tamer" and "Brave Word." Encourage group applause and supportive praise. Use statements like, "Wow, you are so ready to tackle big feelings!"
4. Wrangler Graduation Ceremony (10 mins) 0:30 - 0:40
Use Page 2 of this guide. Read out the graduation pledge script. Present each student with their signed Worry Wranglers Graduation Certificate . Hand them a little golden sheriff star sticker or custom coping token if available. Take a group picture holding their shields!
Graduation Ceremony Script
"I now declare us all Master Worry Wranglers! Repeat after me: I am brave! I am smart! I can handle big feelings with a calm heart!" Provide resources to classroom teachers so they can reinforce Star Breathing and "Control Lasso" vocabulary back in the classroom.
Official Graduation
Worry Wranglers Certificate
"Round Up the Worries, Quiet Down the Heart!"
This Certificate is Proudly Awarded To
(Write Student Name Here)
for successfully completing the Worry Wranglers Small Group ! They have unlocked their internal body detectors, compiled a customized calm down toolbox, learned to size and lasso their worries, and are officially declared a
