Introduction
As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our young students to adapt to unexpected situations and maintain composure when things don’t go as planned. This essential skill fosters resilience and supports social-emotional development in PreK students. In this blog post, we will introduce a no-prep activity that encourages students to keep calm and follow the group when they encounter unexpected outcomes, as well as provide discussion questions to facilitate further understanding.
No-Prep Activity: The Calm Chameleon
The Calm Chameleon is a simple, no-prep activity that helps students practice keeping calm and following the group when things don’t go their way. Here’s how to conduct the activity:
- Ask your students to sit in a circle.
- Explain that they will be playing a game called “The Calm Chameleon,” where they must mimic the actions of the person next to them.
- Choose one student to start the game by performing a simple action, such as clapping their hands or stomping their feet.
- The student next to them must copy the action and add a new action of their own.
- The game continues around the circle, with each student copying the previous actions and adding their own.
- If a student makes a mistake or forgets an action, remind them to take a deep breath, keep calm, and try again.
- Encourage students to support and cheer for their classmates as they attempt to remember the actions.
This activity allows students to practice keeping calm and following the group in a fun, engaging way. It also encourages teamwork and fosters a supportive classroom environment.
Discussion Questions
After completing the activity, use these discussion questions to deepen students’ understanding of the skill and encourage self-reflection:
- How did you feel when you made a mistake during the game? What did you do to stay calm?
- Why is it important to stay calm when things don’t go as planned?
- How can we support our classmates when they are trying to keep calm and follow the group?
- Can you think of a time when you had to stay calm and follow the group outside of the classroom? What did you do?
- What are some strategies you can use to help you keep calm when things don’t go the way you want them to?
Related Skills
Teaching students to keep calm and follow the group is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that contribute to a well-rounded development include:
- Active listening and communication
- Empathy and understanding others’ feelings
- Conflict resolution and problem-solving
- Cooperation and teamwork
- Self-awareness and self-regulation
Next Steps
Ready to explore more social-emotional learning resources for your PreK students? We invite you to sign up for free samples of skill-building materials and activities at Everyday Speech. Discover a wealth of resources designed to support the social-emotional development of your students, and help them thrive in and out of the classroom.
