Caution!

Triggers Ahead
Purpose:
K-1 students will identify three triggers that move them out of the green zone.
2-5 students will identify five triggers that move them out of the green zone.

Pre-Teaching:

Yellow Zone: frustrated, silly, worried, loss of control, wiggly

Red Zone: mad, angry, yelling, hitting, terrified, aggressive

Caution: care taken to avoid danger or mistakes

Teacher Definition- Trigger: an irritant that causes a student to become less regulated and
increases the likelihood of going into the yellow or red zone.

Student Friendly Definition- Trigger: Something at school that might push you into the yellow or
red zone.

Lead In: What events or trigger push you into the yellow or red zone?

Hook: Tell students a trigger of yours. For example, I am in yellow zone when I feel like I have
too much to do and not enough time to do it. Sometimes I have a deadline or something I need to
get done but I don’t feel like I can possibly do it without going into the red zone. I feel
overwhelmed. It doesn’t take much to push me into the red zone when I feel this way.

Brainstorm Triggers: Share with a shoulder partner what might push you into the yellow or red
zone. Have students share triggers to the whole group and teacher will record on the caution sign
given at the assembly.

Teacher will model a think aloud of a caution sign and reminders to slow down and use
strategies (i.e. - TAB, deep breathing, positive self-talk, count to ten)

Activity: Students will return to their seats with their own trigger worksheet (caution sign) to
identify by drawing or writing their own triggers. Students can use the anchor to jump start ideas
but encourage students to think of triggers unique to themselves.

Closing: Have each student share one or two triggers of their own

Answer closing questions as a whole group.

1. Why do you think it is important to recognize your own triggers?

2. How is it helpful to know each other triggers?
3. What will you do differently if you know what triggers your peers?
4. What will you do next time you detect one of your triggers?