Coping Strategies

Social & Emotional Learning Sept. 4, 2018 12:30 – 1:15

What is mindfulness and why is it important?

Students will be able to identify their emotions and find strategies to manage them.

Students will be able to identify strategies they can use to calm down when they are
angry or upset.

“Jared’s Cool Out Space” by Dr. Jane Nelsen, Social and Emotional Journals

Discussion: What do you do when you are angry? Have you been so angry you felt like you were going
to explode? How do you feel when you are angry, sad, scared, worried, etc.? Introduce, “Jared’s Cool
out Space.” Make predictions and inferences.

1) Read “Jared’s Cool Out Space.”

2) Discuss Jared’s cool out space. Have you ever tried this strategy when you are angry or upset. What
are some other things you do when you are angry or upset? Chart ideas.

3) Introduce coping strategies sheet. Display under the projector. Discuss the meaning of the work
coping. Have you ever tried any of these other strategies? What strategies work best for you? Do you
see any you haven’t tried but that you think would help when you are upset?

4) Instruct students to open their social and emotional journals to the next clean page. Students will
complete the sentence starter “When I am feeling upset I will try these coping strategies…” Students will
pick 5 coping strategies that they will refer back to throughout the year when they are upset and write
them down. They will also draw a picture to accompany each coping strategy they write down.

Wrap Up – Show students cool down area in the classroom. Explain to them that this is where the coping
strategies list will be posted for them to refer too. Explain that this is a place they can come take a break
if they are feeling overwhelmed, upset, or angry.