Introduction

In a world full of distractions and stressors, it’s essential for educators to equip students with skills to manage overwhelming emotions. One such skill is Belly Breathing, a deep breathing technique that helps calm the body and mind. This blog post will introduce a no-prep activity for teaching Belly Breathing to Special Education students, along with discussion questions and related skills to further enhance their social-emotional learning.

No-Prep Activity

To teach Belly Breathing without requiring any preparation or materials, follow these simple steps:

1. Have students sit comfortably in their chairs with their feet flat on the ground.
2. Ask students to place one hand on their belly and the other on their chest.
3. Guide them through the following breathing exercise:
   • Inhale through the nose for 5 seconds, feeling the belly rise (count aloud: one, two, three, four, five).
   • Exhale through the mouth for 5 seconds, feeling the belly fall (count aloud: five, four, three, two, one).
4. Repeat the exercise 3-5 times, or until students feel noticeably calmer.

This activity can be easily incorporated into the classroom routine, providing students with a tool to self-regulate their emotions and focus on their learning.

Discussion Questions

To encourage further reflection and understanding, consider posing the following questions to your students after practicing Belly Breathing:

1. How did Belly Breathing make you feel? Did you notice any changes in your body or thoughts?
2. When do you think Belly Breathing could be helpful for you during the day?
3. Can you think of other situations outside of school where Belly Breathing might be useful?
4. How can you remember to use Belly Breathing when you start to feel overwhelmed?
5. Why do you think it’s essential to focus on your belly rising and falling, rather than your chest?

Related Skills

In addition to Belly Breathing, there are other valuable skills that can support students’ social-emotional learning. Some of these skills include:

• Mindfulness: Practicing being present and aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation: A technique for releasing tension in the body by systematically tensing and relaxing different muscle groups.
• Positive Self-Talk: Encouraging students to use kind and supportive language when speaking to themselves.
• Emotion Regulation: Helping students recognize, understand, and manage their emotions in a healthy way.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about Belly Breathing and its benefits for Special Education students, consider exploring more resources to support their social-emotional learning. Sign up for free samples of skill activities, videos, and other materials at Everyday Speech. These resources can help you create a more inclusive, supportive, and emotionally aware classroom environment for all your students.