A calm jar works as a visual reminder when teaching emotional regulation techniques. In this lesson, students will practice mindfulness of emotions and create a class calm jar together as a class.
Students will be able to practice mindfulness of emotions and identify techniques to manage emotions.
Introduction
(10 minutes)
Join students together in a circle, either seated or standing.
Explain to students that they will participate in an activity where they will toss the ball to someone, and the person that has the ball will name an emotion associated with a scenario you give the class.
Model and give them a scenario: "My parents said that we are going to Disneyland for winter break."
Ask one student to pass the ball to you.
Name an emotion you may feel when you hear the news of the Disneyland vacation (e.g., surprised).
Explain that you will pass the ball to someone else who has to name a different emotion for the same scenario.
Explain that an emotion cannot be repeated and to consider the range of emotions people may feel when hearing this news.
Give students time to pass the ball and share 4–5 emotions.
Repeat this activity with 4–5 other scenarios.
Ask, "What are emotions?"
Write students' responses on the board.
Take 3–4 student responses.
Explain that emotions are energy in the body and that sometimes it can be hard to name an emotion, or we may feel many different emotions all at once, and this is always okay.
Explain that the key is to remember that we are not the emotion and mindfulness of emotions can help us remember this.