Coping Skills What Would You Do? Cards — Think, Choose, Act

About this resource

A calming tool only helps if a student knows which one fits the moment. These coping skills what would you do scenarios put Grades 2–5 in forty tense spots, from a torn paper snowflake to shaky knees on the concert risers, and give three action cards for each. The most helpful card is a real calming strategy, so students build a toolbox of Self-Management moves as they choose.

What students practice

• Taking slow, deep breaths to settle their bodies
• Counting to calm down when feelings get big
• Using a calm-down spot at school, at home or in the community
• Taking a short break and coming back to the task
• Choosing the calming tool that fits the place

What’s inside

• 40 scenario cards across five subtopics: Taking Slow, Deep Breaths; Counting to Calm Down; Using a Calm-Down Spot; Taking a Break and Coming Back; Choosing the Right Tool for the Moment
• 120 action cards, three for every scenario
• 40 reflection sheets for writing or drawing a response
• Teacher guide with five classroom uses; 77 pages

A look inside

• The Torn Paper Snowflake: the scissors slip through the middle for the second time. The best card, Cocoa Breaths, says, “Hold a pretend mug of cocoa, smell it slowly, then blow on it gently three times.”
• The Headless Action Figure: Open Your Calm Box, Replay It in Bed or Storm to His Room?
• The Slipping Parade Hat: you can’t step out of the parade line, so Marching Breaths has to work right where you are.

How to use these coping skills what would you do cards

• Discuss The Frozen Screen, then reveal Count Back From Ten and the other two cards
• Act out Shaky Knees on the Risers twice, once with Two Quiet Breaths and once with Hop Off the Risers, and compare what happens
• Sort the cards for Long Division at the Table into best, okay and not the best
• Use the reflection sheets as bell-ringers or in counselor small groups
• Turn the set into SEL learning stations, ending with students writing their own calm-down scenario

Grade fit

Fifteen scenes are at home, 13 at school and 12 in the community (a farmers market, a dance studio, a deli counter), so students see the tools working beyond the calm corner. The steps are short enough for second graders, and older students can debate which tool suits which place: solid decision making activities for Grades 2–5.

Digital version

The interactive digital version shares as one link: students answer the think questions (or just read them in the quick format), choose an action card and say why, on any device with no student logins. At the end they download an answer sheet to hand in.

Pairs well with

Try Coping Skills Scenario Cards for open-ended answers, or Coping Skills Worksheets for a quick written check.