Lesson Plan
Pause Plan
Students will learn and practice a simple three-step pause strategy (inhale, count, exhale) to manage impulsive reactions and build thoughtful self-regulation in real-life scenarios.
Learning to pause before reacting strengthens self-awareness, reduces conflict, and empowers students to make dependable, calm decisions under pressure.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up
4 minutes
Step 2
Vocabulary Focus
6 minutes
Step 3
Guided Discussion
10 minutes
Step 4
Interactive Activity
20 minutes
Step 5
Closing & Exit Ticket
5 minutes
Slide Deck
Pause, Don’t Pounce
Warm-Up: Trigger Trivia
Vocabulary Spotlight
Vocabulary Spotlight (cont.)
React vs. Respond
Why Pause?
Recognizing Your Cues
60-Second Pause Drill
Practice Scenarios
Closing Thought
Key Definitions: Stimulus & Response
Activity
Warm Up
Cool Down
Script
