How to Handle My Emotions (FLEX) - Calm Down Jar Craft

***this is a FLEX course*** Students often have trouble naming and dealing with their emotions, especially during challenging and uncertain times. This course will identify and name several emotions along with outlining several techniques for dealing with their feelings through the use of fun videos and practice. 

Week #1: The first week will focus on naming emotions and symptoms of those emotions. 

- Students will have the opportunity to talk about the emotion, naming some experiences during which they felt these emotions if they choose to share (either in the comments or with me privately). I will share an interactive google slides where students will read a scenario and manipulate facial features on the slide to create a face that matches the emotion someone may be feeling in that situation. This is a class presentation, so everyone in the class will work on the same presentation, allowing for collaboration and social interaction. I will share some videos where students will comment what emotion they feel is being expressed in that video. Students will also create paper plate emotion masks as a fun activity. 

Week #2: The first thing we will do is create a calm down jar for students to use during their most stressful or upsetting times. We will also discuss other physical resources students can use to contain their strong feelings. We will work on some different techniques students can use to control their emotions, such as breathing and manipulative strategies, through the help of some videos. Students will have time to practice these techniques and talk about the pros and cons of each. 

Week #3: we will be discussing empathy and sympathy. Students will complete an empathy puzzle using an interactive google slide. We will discuss using 'warm words' to 'fill each other's buckets'. We will listen to a story and discuss the many feelings that are demonstrated in the book and then complete an activity. Students will use pipe cleaners and beads to create empathy bracelets and learn that people comes in all shapes in sizes. Students will create their own sympathy card. This may be a generic card or a card directed towards someone in their life who could use it. 

Week #4: students will complete a "today I feel" activity. This is a great craft because it's something that your student can continue to use even after the course is finished to express themselves. Students will continue to work on the interactive google slide by sorting emotions and pictures. We will discuss regulation zones as well. We will talk about the four zones of regulation, how to identify which zone you're in, triggers, strategies, and how to recognize what zone others are in. Students will play a zones of regulation matching game on an interactive google slide and Regulation BINGO. 

Throughout the course, there will be several other activities being presented throughout the week for your child to complete along with emotional-themed books. I will also be sharing other resources for your student to learn how to cope with their emotions that include fun activities, techniques, websites, and more. 

Here are some helpful videos I have found. Some we will be using in class, others may be a good resource for parents and students to use at home!

https://youtu.be/bRkILioT_NA (go noodle - bring it down breathing technique)
https://youtu.be/O29e4rRMrV4 (go noodle -rainbow breaths technique)
https://youtu.be/1ZP-TMr984s (go noodle - turn off stressful energy technique)
https://youtu.be/bYlRFIzl4WA (go noodle -find peace technique- short video)
https://youtu.be/IVZuyjS7Iv4 (go noodle -let things go technique -short video)
https://youtu.be/KhfkYzUwYFk (go noodle - “cant stop this feeling” Trolls move it video - exercise technique)

Book List:
Nina in That Makes Me Mad! (TOON Level 2) By: Steven Kroll
Illustrated by: Hilary Knight
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Excited By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Embarrassed By: Kirsty Holmes
Hoggy Went-A-Courtin' By: Ethan Long
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Mad By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Lonely By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Jealous By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Happy By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Afraid By: Kirsty Holmes
A Kid's Guide to Feelings: Feeling Sad By: Kirsty Holmes
Posie the Pika By: Paige Braddock Illustrated by: Blythe Russo
Stop, breathe, think - kids meditation
Story Bots - "emotions" story based video - long video
Hunter & Eve- "keep calm" story based video

Videos:
Do Animals Feel Emoitons?
Smile and Learn: Empathy
Smile and Learn: Emotions
Kids Vocabulary: Feelings