Fun SEL Activity and Poem to Teach Anger Management to Kindergarten

Like a wildfire quickly spreading and destroying everything in its path, unchecked anger can easily inflict pain and damage through words and actions. Picture these familiar instances:

• A child, feeling angry for being denied a toy, screams and throws things all over the place.

• A child is angry after losing in a fair game. The child then destroys toys and speaks hurtful words to others.

• A child who accidentally trips and falls feels embarrassed and angry. Instead of making light of the situation or letting it go, the child redirects these feelings by bullying someone else.

• An adult whose idea is rejected by a superior feels angry and adds extra work to others.

These examples show how uncontrolled anger can lead to harmful and violent behaviors. Early intervention is of utmost importance to prevent this from further developing. In this kindergarten SEL lesson, students learn how to express and manage their anger healthily and constructively.

An insightful class discussion opens this lesson, where students recall the "Stop, Count, and Think" technique to control their emotions. In this strategy, kindergartners pause whenever they sense their anger getting out of control. After that, they count to ten to allow their feelings to calm down. As their bodies and minds relax, they can better think of positive thoughts to address their situation.

The lesson introduces an engaging poem to the class after the discussion as a retention strategy. The poem emphasizes pausing and counting to ten whenever anger surfaces. Kindergartners recite this poem and demonstrate the actions stated.

Finally, the lesson ends with a fun SEL activity that engages kindergartners' creativity and artistic talents. They are given a piece of paper and instructed to draw a person who is about to get angry in a situation. The goal here is for students to grasp the concept of this intense emotion and the consequences of letting it get out of control.

Introducing anger management in kindergarten with this lesson offers a range of benefits. Not only do they learn how to express their emotions healthily, but they also learn how to address their difficult situations positively. Moreover, it promotes physical and mental health by reducing the detrimental effects anger has on overall health. With this Positive Action lesson, schools prevent the emergence of aggressive behaviors, create a safe school environment, and help their young students grow into socially and emotionally intelligent adults.