Identifying Triggers What Would You Do? Cards

Arash thinks he hates games, but he only gets snappy when a game ends in a tie.

40 scenario cards
120 action cards
40 reflection sheets
Print + digital

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Task cards, worksheets, role play and more (grades 2–8).

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Grades: 2–5
What you get: 40 scenario cards
Type: What Would You Do? Cards
Use it: Print + digitaldigital = any device, no student logins
Competency: Self-Awareness
Topic: Identifying Triggers

About this resource

Arash thinks he hates games, but he only gets snappy when a game ends in a tie. These identifying triggers what would you do scenarios help Grades 2–5 students spot that kind of pattern: the moment, place or time of day that sets a strong feeling off, and the plan that gets them ready for it. Each of the 40 cards comes with three action cards, and the set builds Self-Awareness.

What students practice

Noticing the exact thing that sets off a strong feeling
Spotting a pattern when a feeling keeps coming back
Naming tricky places and times of day
Making a small plan before a tricky moment
Telling family, teachers and coaches what helps

What’s inside

40scenario cards, eight each on Noticing What Sets Me Off, Spotting a Pattern, Tricky Places and Times of Day, Getting Ready for a Tricky Moment, and Telling Others What Helps Me

120action cards (three per card: best, partial, impulsive)

40reflection sheets with room for students to write their own action

Teacher guide with discussion, role-play and station ideas; 77 pages

A look inside

Grumpy at Cleanup TimeWen loves art but always leaves it cross once everyone rushes to clean up. Action cards: Spot the Rush, Blame the Paint, Switch to Pencils.

The Busy Kitchen TableKenji blames homework, but he was happy doing it at his own desk.

Called On Out of Nowhere: Noa knows the answers but goes blank when Mr. Ito calls on her. The best card: “Suggest Noa tell Mr. Ito that a quick heads-up before he calls on her helps.”

How to use these identifying triggers what would you do cards

Read Three Ties This Week and poll the class on what Arash’s snappy days have in common before showing the cards

Assign groups to defend Plan One Pick, Hope He Changes or Beg to Stay Home for The Reunion Games

Play “What Happens Next?” with The Sudden “Let’s Go”, acting out Tell Dad What Helps and Silent Treatment

Use the reflection sheets as identifying triggers activities in counselor or small-group sessions

Add a Create Your Own Scenario station to your SEL learning stations

Grade fit

Seventeen scenes are in the community (a trampoline park, a hayride line), 12 at home and 11 at school. Often a friend or sibling describes the feeling, so students spot someone else’s pattern first. That distance suits Grades 2–5 and keeps these identifying triggers scenarios easy to discuss.

Digital version

In the interactive digital version, 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

Identifying Triggers Role Play ScenariosFull library · Role Play

Questions teachers ask

How is this different from teaching calming strategies?

These cards focus on the step before calming down: noticing what sets a feeling off and planning for it, like asking a teacher for a heads-up or picking one game at a reunion.