Home›Lesson Plans›Social-Emotional Learning›Self-Management · Grade 3

Calming Down: Managing Big Feelings

Third graders build self-management by learning healthy ways to calm down when feelings get big — deep breaths, counting, taking a break, asking for help, and kind self-talk — so they can handle strong emotions.

Grade 3CASEL: Self-Management30 minutes1 class periodCASEL SELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Notice when feelings get big.
  • ✓Learn calm-down tools.
  • ✓Practice deep breaths.
  • ✓Choose a healthy strategy.
Essential Question

Sometimes feelings get really big — and that’s okay! But when we feel upset, we can use calm-down tools to help our bodies and minds feel better. What are some good ways to calm down?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The Calm-Down Explorer

Project this and tap each calming tool. Have children learn healthy ways to feel better when feelings get big.

🌬️ Explore ways to calm down — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

30 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Check-In — When Feelings Grow

5 min

Sometimes feelings get really big — what can help us feel calm again?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Do a calm check-in.
  • Ask what helps them.
  • Set a caring tone.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Check in.
  • Share ideas.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Calm-Down Tools

8 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send children to the Calm-Down Explorer.
  • Note each tool.
  • Try deep breaths together.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Note tools.
  • Breathe.
3

Practice — Practice

8 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Practice deep breathing.
  • Practice counting to ten.
  • Try positive self-talk.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Breathe.
  • Count.
  • Say kind words.
4

Apply — My Calm-Down Plan

6 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a favorite tool.
  • Explain when to use it.
  • Make a calm plan.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick one.
  • Explain it.
  • Plan it.
5

Reflect — Reflect

3 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a calm-down tool.
  • Say when to use it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Say when.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL 5 Social & Emotional Learning Competencies.

CASEL
Self-Management

Use strategies to manage strong emotions.

CASEL
Self-Management

Practice calming and stress-management skills.

CASEL
Self-Management

Demonstrate impulse control.

CASEL
Self-Awareness

Recognize when emotions are becoming intense.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Calm-tool picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “To calm down, I can ___.”
  • Practice breathing together.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with deep breaths.
  • Practice one tool.
  • Use picture cues.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Build a calm-down corner.
  • Explain when each tool helps.
  • Teach a tool to a friend.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🌬️A breathing poster
  • 💻The Calm-Down Explorer
  • 🖍️Crayons
  • 🪑A calm-down corner
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

self-managementhandling your own feelingscalmpeaceful and relaxeddeep breatha slow, big breathstrategya plan or tool that helpsbreaka short restself-talkthe things you tell yourselftrusted adulta grown-up who helps youpatiencestaying calm while you wait
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Name one healthy way to calm down.
Take deep breaths, count to ten, take a break, ask for help, or think kind thoughts.
QUESTION 2
How do deep breaths help?
They help your body relax and calm down.
QUESTION 3
Who can you ask for help when feelings get too big?
A trusted grown-up, like a teacher or family member.

Reflect: your calm-down tool.

Have students choose one calm-down tool to try the next time they feel upset, and practice it a few times so it’s ready when they need it. A printable calm-down sheet is in the SEL library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Self-Management: Calming DownFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Self-Management: Calming DownQuiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Self-Management: Calming DownPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: break, calm, deep breath, patience, self-management, self-talk, strategy, trusted adult
  1. a slow, big breath
  2. peaceful and relaxed
  3. a grown-up who helps you
  4. staying calm while you wait
  5. a plan or tool that helps
  6. handling your own feelings
  7. a short rest
  8. the things you tell yourself

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Name one healthy way to calm down.
  2. How do deep breaths help?
  3. Who can you ask for help when feelings get too big?
Answer key — Part A: 1) deep breath · 2) calm · 3) trusted adult · 4) patience · 5) strategy · 6) self-management · 7) break · 8) self-talk
Part B: 1) Take deep breaths, count to ten, take a break, ask for help, or think kind thoughts. 2) They help your body relax and calm down. 3) A trusted grown-up, like a teacher or family member.