Guided Imagery Journey — Calming Activity Kit (K–1)

About this resource

Give a restless class a sunny beach to picture and the room can settle in minutes. This guided imagery journey kit gives kindergarten and first-grade classes (Grades K–1) six read-aloud journeys and a simple way to talk about them afterward. It is a Self-Management lesson on using imagination to calm the body, one of the SEL activities that needs only your voice.

What students practice

• Using imagination to calm their bodies
• Handling stress with a peaceful place in their mind
• Following a guided journey with eyes closed
• Describing how they felt before and after

What’s inside

• A teacher script with a built-in forest journey, about 25 minutes, and a flexible outline
• Guided Imagery Scripts: six one-page read-aloud journeys
• Guided Imagery Instructions Poster with four steps
• Feelings Chart: circle how you felt before and after (two versions)
• Reflection Questions: eight circle-the-answer questions (two versions); 24 pages

A look inside

• Script titles: Under the Sea Adventure, Space Journey, Magical Castle, Sunny Beach Day, Mountain Top Exploration and Peaceful Forest Escape
• From Space Journey: “You land on the Moon and step out of the rocket.”
• Reflection Questions: “When will you use guided imagery?”

How to use this guided imagery journey kit

• Have students sit or lie down, close their eyes if they like and take a deep breath
• Read the forest journey, then ask them to wiggle fingers and toes and open their eyes
• Hold a five-minute discussion on how they felt and when they might visit their peaceful place again
• On other days, pick any of the six scripts, each with a return-to-the-present ending

Grade fit

Pretend play comes easily at this age, and the circle-the-answer sheets work for children who aren’t writing yet. That is why the kit is aimed at Grades K–1.

Pairs well with

Pair it with Breathing Buddy or Balloon Breathing, more mindfulness activities for the same age.