Helping Kids Understand Feelings, Calm Their Bodies, and Trust Their Inner Helpers
As Josie and I wrote All the Pretty Butterflies, we hoped it would become more than just a bedtime favorite. We wanted it to be a gentle, empowering tool for teachers, counselors, librarians, and anyone supporting young children learning to understand their emotions.
In the book, Luca discovers that the fluttery, uncomfortable feeling in his tummy isn’t something scary—it’s his colorful “butterfly helpers” letting him know he’s nervous, overwhelmed, or unsure. And with a little practice, he learns how to use visualization and breathing to bring himself back to calm.
These are skills elementary teachers help kids practice every single day. Below are lesson plan ideas and a full, ready-to-use social emotional learning (SEL) lesson inspired by Luca’s journey.
Quick Lesson Plan Ideas for the Classroom
These can be done as stand-alone activities or woven into a regular SEL routine.
1. Butterfly Feelings Check-In
Objective: Build emotional awareness
Materials: Printable butterfly cards or a feelings chart
As students arrive, have them choose a butterfly color that matches how they’re feeling (yellow for brave, green for friendly, purple for calm, etc.). This creates a natural, low-pressure check-in and builds SEL vocabulary.
2. Body Clues Scavenger Hunt
Objective: Identify physical signs of anxiety
Materials: Chart paper, markers
After reading the book, brainstorm physical clues that tell us we’re nervous—sweaty palms, tummy aches, shaky hands, tight shoulders. Students “hunt” for clues in scenarios you pose (e.g., “If you have to speak in front of the class, what body clues might show up?”).
3. “My Butterfly Helper” Art Project
Objective: Visualization + creativity
Materials: Paper, crayons/markers, optional glitter
Students draw their own butterfly helper and name what it helps with:
- My blue butterfly helps me speak up.
- My pink butterfly helps me make friends.
- My purple butterfly helps me feel peaceful.
Great for hallway displays or class books.
4. Partner Talk: “Times I Felt the Butterflies”
Objective: Normalize feelings + build communication skills
Materials: None
Students pair up and share a time they felt a “butterfly feeling” and what helped them feel better. Teachers can model with sentence starters:
- I felt butterflies when…
- Something that helped me was…
5. Calming Corner Butterfly Jar
Objective: Build independent coping strategies
Materials: Jar, paper butterflies, markers
Create a “Butterfly Jar” and write coping tools on each butterfly—deep breaths, count to ten, squeeze a stuffie, get a drink of water, stretch, ask for help. Students can choose one when they need support.
Full Sample SEL Lesson: Meeting Your Butterfly Helpers
Here’s a complete lesson plan ready to go.
Grade Level: K–2
Length: 20–30 minutes
Objective: Students learn to recognize anxious feelings, understand the body clues, and use visualization to help themselves calm down.
Materials
- All the Pretty Butterflies
- Chart: Butterfly Colors & What They Help With
- Crayons or markers
- Paper butterfly templates or blank paper
Lesson Steps
1. Warm-Up Discussion (3 minutes)
Begin with:
- Have you ever felt nervous or worried?
- How did your body feel?
- What helped you?
Explain that in the story, Luca learns his nervous feelings show up as butterflies in his tummy.
2. Read Aloud (5–7 minutes)
Read the book to the class. Pause occasionally to ask:
- What color are Luca’s butterflies here?
- How do they help him?
3. Teach Visualization (5 minutes)
Show your Butterfly Colors & What They Help With chart:
- Yellow = bravery
- Green/Pink = making friends
- Blue = speaking up
- Purple = calm
Invite students to close their eyes while you guide them to imagine a gentle butterfly fluttering around them. Its wings are soft and colorful. It wants to help them feel safe.
Allow a quiet moment.
4. Art Project: Draw Your Butterfly Helper (8–10 minutes)
Students draw their butterfly in its special color. Add words if appropriate for their age:
My ____ butterfly helps me when I feel ____.
This builds connection to the skill and gives the teacher insight into student emotions.
5. Reflection & Share (2 minutes)
Invite students to share one idea: “One thing my butterfly helps me do is…” or “Today my butterflies feel like…”
This reinforces that everyone experiences feelings—nervousness included.
Extension Ideas
- Add student butterflies to the classroom calming corner
- Create a class book titled Our Butterfly Helpers
- Do a playground “butterfly chalk walk” where students draw butterflies they can visit during recess
Comments ()