Monday, April 28, 2014

Calm down techniques

This week 3rd grade is working on what to do when they get angry. They learned that anger is just a feeling, it isn't good or bad. But it's what we DO with our anger that can be bad.


Many students have their own techniques to calm down when they're mad at home, but these techniques usually don't transfer over to school very well (i.e. going into their bedroom, taking a nap, etc.).


We played a game practicing these techniques and students chose two they were going to work on this week.


DO 10  JUMPING JACKS
TAKE A WALK
TAKE A BIG BREATH IN THROUGH YOUR NOSE AND SLOWLY LET IT OUT THROUGH YOUR MOUTH
(REPEAT 2 MORE TIMES)
CLENCH YOUR FIST
(OPEN AND SHUT 20 TIMES)
PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN ON A DESK AND REST
GET A DRINK OF WATER
HOLD YOUR ARM OR LEG STIFF FOR A COUNT OF 12
COUNT BACKWARDS FROM 50
COUNT TO 25
HUM A FAVORITE SONG TO YOURSELF
THINK OF TEN OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO
PULL YOUR SHOULDERS UP TO YOUR EARS FOR A COUNT OF 12
THROW AN IMAGINARY BASEBALL 12 TIMES
TIGHTEN YOUR STOMACH MUSCLES FOR A COUNT OF 12
HOP ON ONE FOOT 20 TIMES

These techniques not only help with anger, but with stress also! Try these out with you students and see which ones you like the best!