Lesson Idea | Calming Your Flipped Lid

This Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Lesson: Calming Your Flipped Lid is designed for students in grades 4–6 and focuses on the SEL competency of Self-Management, specifically Emotional Regulation. The lesson helps students understand what happens in their brain when they experience uncomfortable emotions, introduces the concept of “flipping your lid,” and teaches strategies to regain control through calming techniques. Students will learn about the roles of the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, practice naming emotions (“Name it to Tame it”), and apply calming strategies like breathing exercises, grounding, and positive self-talk. This lesson is for teachers who want to equip upper elementary students with practical tools for emotional self-regulation to support healthy relationships, better decision-making, and overall well-being.