Introduction

Anger is a natural emotion, but it’s essential for students, especially those in special education, to learn how to stay calm when they’re angry. This blog post will guide educators through an engaging no-prep activity and discussion questions to help students develop this crucial skill in a supportive and understanding environment. By incorporating principles of Social-Emotional Learning, students can learn to relax their minds and bodies when experiencing anger.

No-Prep Activity: The Calm-Down Countdown

This activity requires no preparation or materials and can be easily implemented in any classroom setting. Students will practice staying calm while experiencing anger by participating in a simple and interactive countdown exercise.

1. Ask students to think of a situation that made them feel angry in the past.
2. Encourage them to visualize the scenario and remember how it made them feel.
3. Instruct students to close their eyes and take a few deep breaths.
4. Ask them to count down from 10 to 1 slowly, focusing on letting go of the anger with each number.
5. After the countdown, have students open their eyes and discuss how they feel.

This activity helps students practice staying calm when they’re angry by engaging in deep breathing and counting, which are effective techniques for calming the mind and body.

Discussion Questions

• How did you feel before and after the Calm-Down Countdown? Did it help you feel more relaxed?
• What are some other strategies you can use to stay calm when you’re angry?
• How does staying calm when you’re angry benefit you and those around you?
• Why is it important to express your feelings in a calm and respectful manner?
• Can you think of a time when you were able to stay calm when you were angry? How did it affect the situation?

Related Skills

In addition to staying calm when angry, students can benefit from developing other related skills, such as effective communication, empathy, self-awareness, and conflict resolution. These skills can help students navigate challenging situations and foster positive relationships with their peers and educators.

Next Steps

We hope you find this activity and discussion questions helpful in teaching your students to stay calm when they’re angry. To access more resources and free samples of skill-building activities, sign up for Everyday Speech’s sample materials. These resources can support your efforts in fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment for your students in special education.