Every Child is Special - Social and Emotional Learning Part B - Unit 2

In this unit, students build on their understanding of feelings by learning how to recognise and manage strong emotions – also known as ‘big feelings.’ They are introduced to simple self-regulation tools and calming strategies to help them make smart choices when faced with emotional challenges.  

The unit supports students to tune in to their personal body cues – such as clenched fists, fast breathing or tears – as early signals of emotional intensity. Using visual tools like a personal gauge and guided lessons on movement, breathing and help-seeking, students explore how to calm down and solve small problems in healthy, safe and socially responsible ways.  

Through repeated practice and role play, students learn that while big feelings like anger, fear or frustration are normal, the choices they make next are important. The unit encourages reflection and personal responsibility, helping students build a simple toolkit they can use at school and at home.  

• Use a personal gauge to show how strong your feelings are.
• Notice what your body does when you feel upset.
• Learn what a big feeling is and how it might feel different from a small feeling.
• Try calming strategies that help you feel better when you’re upset.
• Learn how to solve small problems by making smart choices.
• Learn how to use a breathing strategy to help your body feel calm and in control.
• Learn how to ask an adult or friend for help when you need it.
• Try ways to use movement to feel calm.
• Review all the calming strategies and choices you have learned.

Lessons

• 9 lessons 

Resources

• Teaching Guide
• Student Workbook
• Posters/Resources: 
  • My Gauge Poster: Helps students understand that their feelings can change. 
  • Student Reflections: Optional activity that can be used to have students reflect on certain emotions. 
  • Calm Down Poster: Displays a number of calming strategy examples to support students to manage strong feelings. 

Optional Summative Assessment 

In this unit, students build essential skills to recognise, manage and respond to their emotions in positive ways. The unit focuses on strengthening emotional regulation and simple problem-solving strategies that students can apply in everyday situations. 

Through engaging activities and structured discussion, students explore how to identify ‘big feelings’ like anger, worry or frustration and how to notice early body cues that signal rising emotional intensity. Students learn and practise calming tools such as breathing, movement and visualisation, building a personal toolkit to use when emotions feel overwhelming. 

As the unit progresses, students begin to develop problem-solving skills by identifying whether something is a problem, thinking through their options and choosing helpful responses. Students are encouraged to reflect on how their choices affect themselves and others, and they rehearse strategies that support safe, kind and confident behaviour. 

• Learn that big feelings like anger or worry are normal and can be managed.
• Practise using your breath to help your body and brain feel calm.
• Explore how moving your body can help you feel better when you’re upset.
• Learn how your body gives clues when a feeling is getting strong.
• Learn to picture a calm place in your mind to help your body feel peaceful.
• Practise telling the difference between real problems and things you can let go.
• Think of different things you could do to solve a problem kindly.
• Practise calming strategies you can use when you feel upset.
• Review all the calming and problem-solving tools you’ve learned.

Lessons

• 9 lessons

Resources

• Teaching Guide
• Student Workbook
• Posters/Resources:  
  • My Gauge Poster: Helps students understand that their feelings can change. 
  • Student Reflections: Optional activity that can be used to have students reflect on certain emotions. 
  • Calm Down Poster: Displays a number of calming strategy examples to support students to manage strong feelings.

Optional Summative Assessment 

In Unit 2, students learn to recognise the intensity of their emotions and apply structured strategies to manage them. This unit builds students’ ability to self-regulate and problem-solve in real-life situations by equipping them with tools to stay calm, think ahead and make respectful and responsible choices.  

Students learn about key parts of the brain (the amygdala and prefrontal cortex). They learn to train their brain to think more clearly and calm their body and mind by strengthening the Thinking Coach part of the brain, so the Emotion Alarm part of their brain doesn’t react first. 

Students explore how emotions can vary in strength and practise recognising their own emotional responses using tools such as feeling scales and calming strategies. Lessons introduce positive self-talk and visualisation techniques that students can use to manage strong emotions before acting. As their skills grow, students begin applying simple problem-solving models – identifying the problem, anticipating consequences, generating solutions and setting small, achievable goals.  

The unit supports students in building a personalised emotional regulation toolkit and encourages regular reflection on what works best for them. Interactive games and peer discussions give students opportunities to practise making smart choices and applying their emotional strategies in a safe and supportive environment. 

• Recognise how strong emotions feel in your body and use a feelings scale to help you make smart choices. 
• Use visualisation to feel calm and ready before you act. 
• Use positive self-talk to guide your actions and manage strong feelings. 
• Learn how to stop and identify the real problem before reacting. 
• Learn how to predict what might happen next before making a choice. 
• Think of and choose solutions when given new rules in the game. 
• Learn to set small goals to be successful in the game. 
• Review calming strategies and choose ones that work best for you. 
• Reflect on the strategies that helped you stay calm and make smart choices. 

Lessons

• 9 lessons

Resources

• Teaching Guide
• Student Workbook
• Instruction Posters 
• Professional Learning Modules 

Personal Reflection – Completed by students 
Teacher Observation – Completed by teachers 
Optional Summative Assessment 

In this unit, students practise recognising and managing their emotions using evidence-based self-regulation tools and structured problem-solving strategies.

Students learn about key parts of the brain (the amygdala and prefrontal cortex). They learn to train their brain to become better at thinking clearly, and calming their body and mind by strengthening the use of the thinking part of the brain, so the emotion part of their brain doesn’t react first.

Students explore the use of self-talk, visualisation, balloon breathing and a senses mindfulness exercise, which are calming strategies that can be used in the moment that a complex social situation occurs. They also learn about mantras, journaling and meditation that can be used as long-term strategies for developing a calmer and more positive well-being.

By the end of the unit, students have built a personalised Emotional Regulation First-Aid Kit to help them regulate their nervous systems, reduce stress and anxiety, strengthen attention and emotional control, and build self-efficacy and resilience—supporting both their wellbeing and readiness to learn.

• Learn how to use self-talk and visualisation to stay calm and focused. 
• Explore how to respond when you face a problem that’s outside your control. 
• Learn how mantras and journaling can help you manage difficult emotions. 
• Practise guided meditation to help your mind and body reset. 
• Learn how to solve problems with others using respectful conversation. 
• Practise thinking through the possible outcomes before making a choice. 
• Reflect on how your values can guide your choices—even when it’s hard. 
• Build your own emotional regulation first-aid kit with strategies that work for you. 
• Reflect on how self-regulation and decision-making strategies helped you stay calm and act wisely. 

Lessons

• 9 lessons

Resources

• Teaching Guide
• Student Workbook
• Instruction Posters
• Professional Learning Modules 

Personal Reflection – Completed by students
Teacher Observation – Completed by teachers
Optional Summative Assessment