Pause and Think — Impulse Control Activity Kit

About this resource

The gap between an impulse and a response is a second or two, and that is where self-control lives. Pause and Think is an impulse control SEL activity kit for Grades 1–3 that gives students a concrete way to use that gap: an imaginary Pause Button. It draws on Self-Management and Responsible Decision-Making.

What students practice

• Stopping before reacting
• Taking a deep breath
• Thinking about how they feel
• Choosing a calmer response
• Tracking how often they paused

What’s inside

• A teacher guide with a detailed script and a flexible outline: three steps, about 25 minutes
• A My Pause Button craft to cut, decorate and write “Pause” in the middle
• 18 Impulse Control Scenario Cards, each with two guiding questions
• A Reflection on Pausing Worksheet (five questions, 2 versions) and an Impulse Control Chart with a weekly count of button presses
• A five-step Steps to Pause and Think poster; 19 pages in all

A look inside

• From the teacher script: “Your friend says something that hurts your feelings, and you feel like saying something mean back.”
• Scenario 7: “You really want to grab the last cookie, but your friend hasn’t had one yet.”
• Reflection on Pausing: “Do you think pausing helped you make a better choice? Why?”

How to use this pause and think impulse control kit

• Ask whether students have ever acted fast without thinking, then model pressing the imaginary Pause Button on your hand
• Read short situations aloud; students press their button and name a calmer choice
• Students make their own Pause Button and work through scenario cards in pairs or small groups
• Post the poster for reference and track pauses over the week

Grade fit

The Pause Button gesture and paper craft suit Grades 1–3 in early elementary. These SEL activities work as a class-wide tool you return to all year.

Pairs well with

Younger students can play Think Before You Act Game, or look at outcomes with What Happens Next?.