Coping Skills Task Box: Safe Calm Choices by Place, High School

This coping skills task box teaches calm tools, safe choices, and which tool fits the place, in three levels.

Why I made this: Coping tools only work if students learn them when they are calm, and if they know which tool fits where they are. Taking a walk is great at home and not an option during a test. This box teaches the tools first, then safe and unsafe choices, then picking the tool that fits the place, including the bus, the cafeteria, and a job site.

What’s included (21 pages):

• Level A ●: 12 picture cards to match 6 coping tools

• Level B ■: 24 cards to sort safe calm down choices from choices that make it bigger or are not safe

• Level C ▲: 24 cards to pick the tool that fits the place: class, the bus, a job site, home, and the community

• A coping tools mat, a safe choice mat, and a "My coping plan" page

• 3 practice pages, one for each level

• Answer key for every card

• Data sheet and a 10 session accuracy graph

• A try it for real page with an adult check

• Ideas for practicing at home and around school, and blank cards

How I use it: We practice one tool every morning when everyone is calm. Then students work on their level in the task box, and each student fills out a coping plan that stays on their desk. I take data on the data sheet and watch for tools used during the real day.

Who it is for: Special education teachers in structured, self contained, and life skills classrooms, resource rooms, counselors, and paras, for students in grades 5 to 8 and older students who need the same skills.

What you download: Coping Skills Task Box Social Emotional.pdf (21 pages, US Letter, print ready)

How this is different: This is a structured task box with levels and data that teaches coping tools as a skill. Calm Down Picture Cards for Elementary is a K 5 card set to sort, and Calm Down Strategies for Teens is a coping card and calm plan set for grades 6 to 12. This box adds three levels, safe and unsafe choices, picking the tool that fits the place (class, the bus, a job site), and data sheets. No text is shared.

Part of the Social Emotional Task Box series.

Made by Jeremy D. Gooch, special education teacher and transition coordinator. Drafting and layout had AI assistance; every page was checked by me.