Distance LearningCLS School Counseling Optional

Lessons and Activities K-5th GradeMrs. Curry Salmon Lodge School Counselor brigette.curry@leschischools.org

Mr. Artis Frog Lodge School Counselor gregory.artis@leschischools.org

Facebook @CLSSchoolCounseling

Elementary School Counseling Lessons and Activities

• These lessons are here for students and families to continue receiving SEL and Tier 1 school counseling support while we are away from school. All of these activities can be done at any time and are optional. The Elementary School Counselors have provided topics meant to help build skills in the areas of Academic, Personal/ Social and College and Career.

• Although these lessons build off one another, many can be done out of order and on their own.

• Please contact your school counselor if you have any questions or concerns!

• Frog Lodge School Counselor (K-2nd): Greg Artis gregory.artis@leschischools.org

• Salmon Lodge School Counselor (3rd-5th): Brigette Curry brigette.curry@leschischools.org

Student and Guardian Resources for Worries about COVID-19

Student and guardian hand out on Coronavirus coping strategies

• Student Handout on Coronavirus

• Parent Handout on Coronavirus

Have compassion for yourself. ʔušəbicut.

Breathe.

You are Brave.

You are strong.

Week of March 23rd- 27th

Lessons Topic: Feelings and Coping

• Objective: To discuss healthy ways to cope and work through big feelings

• Activity 1: Read aloud Trudy's Rock Story (Video)

• Activity 2: Feelings Body Activity (Conscious Discipline/ ZONES of Regulation) - Body drawing activity

• Activity 3: Triggers and Coping Skills (Worksheet) video

• Activity 4: My Support System (Activity) Write down the important people in your life who support you- family, Elders, teachers, community members

• Activity 5: Coping Skills BINGO print or create your own sheet based on the coping skills in the activity video OR create your own and play!

• CHALLENGE- Talk with an adult about a safe space/ calm space you can create at home. Identify what tools you could use in that space, such as a journal, coloring, stress ball, calm jar, music, blanket, pillow, stuffed animal(s), feelings check in pictures, puzzle, breathing exercises

Activity 1: Read aloud Trudy's Rock Story (Video)

Click on the link to hear the story!

https://youtu.be/Bzmhz7OPi6MAuthor Trudy Spiller is part of the Gitxsan

Nation in British Columbia, Canada

Questions

• What did Trudy's grandmother do?

• Why did Trudy look for the stone?

• What do you think Trudy said to the rock?

• Why did Trudy give the rock back to Mother Earth?

• What do you do when you feel sad or angry?

• Why is it good to let go of big feelings?

• Although we are not to go away from our homes right now, how could you use this story to help you deal with your own big feelings?

Always remember to check in with a trusting adult before going anywhere**

Activity 2: Feelings Body Activity (Conscious Discipline/ ZONES of Regulation) Body drawing activity- Draw the outline of a body on a blank piece of paper. Choose a feeling to identify within the body. The first feeling is Anger.

• How do you know when you are angry?• What does anger look like in the body?

• Examples- clenched hands, red face, sweaty palms, furrowed eyebrows, everything turns red/ black

• What thoughts do you have?• Get back at, name call, how could they? I want to yell!

• What does anger look like?• When Anger is out of control: yelling, name calling, kicking, hitting• When We are in control of Anger: Taking deep breathes, using coping tools, taking a break, getting water, using an "I' statement

• How can knowing what anger feels like help us manage it in the moment?Do the same activity for happy, sad, frustrated, excited etc.ALL feelings are okay! How we respond and what we do with those feelings is important. Now that you have identified different feelings in the body, think about what you could do in the moment if you have really BIG feelings.

Activity 3: Triggers and Coping Skills

Now that you have identifed feelings in the body, you can identify situations that may trigger those feelings. In the Zones o f Regulation, this would be moving from the Green Zone into Red, Yellow or Blue. Mrs. Kennedy's class came up with some ideas of what you can do when you are in the different Zones.

Using their ideas as a guide, think about what experiences may push you into one Zone to another. What can you do to move back into the Green Zone? Make a chart of different tools you can use for each Zone.

Mrs. Kennedy's Class Triggers Examples

Examples of Tools You Can use to move to GreenBlue- Need to energize

• –Tired/Bored- Jumping jacks, run in place, run an errand

• –Sad/Sick- deep breath, talk to someone, happy thoughts, listen to music, drink water

Green- Use tools to stay Green

• –Sit up, good attitude, listen, focus, participate, connect with someone, calm

Yellow- Catch yourself early before you become Red

• –Nervous/Frustrated- Deep breathing, safe place, positive self talk, talk to someone

• –Silly/Energetic- get a drink of water, walk, deep breaths, mindfulness

Red- Feeling out of control- use tools

• Out of control/ angry

• Walk away/get out of situation, safe place, squeeze ball, talk to someone, find a quiet space, breathe

Activity 4: My Support System

Think about the different people in your life and community who support you.

Examples of support people and helpers in our life include:

Family members, friends, Elders, teachers and school workers, doctors, coaches, emergency support, counselors

Make a list of the different people in your life who support you.

Activity 5: Coping Skills BINGO!!

Coping skills are the tools we use to help us be in control and have balance in our lives, even when things are difficult. For example, talking to someone you trust, listening to music or going for a walk are ways people cope.

Coping skills do not solve all our problems, but they are ways to help us manage in a HEALTHY and GOOD WAY.

Using the BINGO sheets provided, create coping skills BINGO sheets with coping skills that help you!

There may be coping skills that are not on the board- that's okay! You can get creative and create your own boards at home with coping skills that you use. For example, talking to an Elder, participating in Culture, Drum and Dance, doing beadwork, gifting, and going to PowWows are all examples of ways people stay connected and stay balanced, even during tough times.