Calming Down Tools | Social Skills Scenarios for Kids | SEL Activities

Help your students learn how to manage their emotions and practice calming down strategies with these leveled social skills scenarios! This pack includes 20 calming down texts (10 Level 1, 10 Level 2) that guide students through real-life situations where they might feel upset, frustrated, or angry — and shows them tools they can use to calm down.

Each text is designed to build social-emotional learning (SEL) skills while also supporting behavior management and self-regulation in the classroom.

✨ What’s Included:

• 10 Level 1 social scenarios with guided comprehension questions (higher-level text for readers ready for more detail).
• 10 Level 2 social scenarios with simplified text and visuals (perfect for younger students, ESL, and SPED).
• Clear “good choice vs bad choice” options for each story so students can reflect on reactions.
• Printable and digital versions for flexible use in whole-class lessons, small groups, or counseling sessions.
• Illustrated student pages that keep kids engaged while learning calming down tools.

Skills Covered:

✔ Self-regulation strategies

✔ Identifying emotions

✔ Appropriate reactions vs. inappropriate reactions

✔ Social problem-solving

✔ Coping skills for stress, frustration, or anger

✔ Classroom behavior management support

Why Teachers Love It:

⭐ Saves time – ready-to-use texts, no prep required

⭐ Differentiated levels for diverse learners (SPED, ESL, elementary)

⭐ Improves classroom management by reducing outbursts and disruptions

⭐ Encourages independence – students reflect and make better choices

⭐ Supports counseling, morning meetings, and SEL lessons

10 Level 1 Texts (Higher-Level)

1. A student drops their project and it breaks.
2. A friend says something mean at recess.
3. Losing a turn during a game.
4. Being told “no” when asking for help.
5. Having to wait for the swing.
6. Forgetting to bring homework.
7. Someone takes a favorite seat.
8. Getting tagged out in a playground game.
9. Teacher corrects a mistake in class.
10. Losing at a board game with friends.

10 Level 2 Texts (Simpler, Beginner-Friendly)

1. Spilling a water bottle.
2. Not being picked first in line.
3. Running out of crayons.
4. Being asked to clean up toys.
5. Another student gets the ball first.
6. Having to sit next to a different partner.
7. Forgetting a pencil.
8. Teacher says “quiet down.”
9. Someone bumps into them by accident.
10. Can’t play a favorite game right away.

This resource is ideal for calming down tools, social emotional learning activities, SEL worksheets, social problem solving, conflict resolution worksheets, social stories for kids, coping skills activities, classroom management SEL, special education social skills, and self regulation activities.

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