Your Inner Zilla: Creating a Calming Corner

Big emotions require lots of room, literally.

Transform a corner of your classroom into a calming corner with your students’ help. Start by asking your class what helps them relax when they get overwhelmed or frustrated. Record their responses on a white board or a large piece of chart paper. Next, provide a large piece of butcher paper and let each student draw pictures of the things that keep them calm, using the list you just created as a reference. By the time you’re done, you’ll have created a large mural of your class’s favorite things. Hang this mural on the wall of a quiet corner of your classroom. This corner can be where your students can go if they feel overwhelmed, frustrated or just need a moment alone. Include materials like markers, paints and crayons in the corner, so students can continue to draw on the mural and channel their feelings into creativity. Conclude this unit with a talk about how to use the space and process big emotions, utilizing the calming corner as a tool throughout the year.

To support this unit, use the See You on the Flip Side! Creativity Page.