When problems arise, it’s common for children to get upset and frustrated. However, it’s essential for them to learn how to stay calm and think about solving the problem. This blog post will explore a no-prep activity for educators to help elementary students learn the importance of staying calm and finding solutions to problems. We’ll also discuss related skills and provide a link to free sample materials.

No-Prep Activity: The Frisbee and Tag Dilemma

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. It’s designed to help students understand the importance of staying calm when facing problems and finding solutions that work for everyone.

1. Have the students sit in a circle and present them with the following scenario: Chris brought a frisbee to play with during recess, but the rest of the group decided to play tag instead. Chris gets upset and insists on playing frisbee.
2. Ask the students to think about how Chris’s reaction made the rest of the group feel. Encourage them to share their thoughts.
3. Now, present an alternative scenario where Chris stays calm when he learns that the group wants to play tag. Chris then suggests that they can play tag first and then play frisbee afterward.
4. Discuss with the students how this new approach made the rest of the group feel and how it helped resolve the problem.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to stimulate further discussions among students:

1. How did staying calm help Chris find a solution that made everyone happy?
2. Can you think of a time when you got upset about a problem? How did it affect the situation, and what could you have done differently?
3. Why is it important to consider the feelings of others when trying to solve a problem?
4. How can we practice staying calm when faced with problems or disagreements?

Related Skills

Helping students stay calm and solve problems effectively is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that educators can teach include:

• Active listening: Encouraging students to listen to others’ perspectives before reacting.
• Empathy: Teaching students to put themselves in others’ shoes and understand their feelings.
• Conflict resolution: Guiding students in learning how to resolve disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner.
• Self-regulation: Helping students develop the ability to manage their emotions and behaviors in different situations.

Next Steps

Now that you’ve learned about this no-prep activity and the importance of staying calm when solving problems, we encourage you to explore more social-emotional learning resources. Sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech and gain access to activities, videos, and lessons designed to help educators teach essential social-emotional skills to their students.