EDUCATOR TOOLKIT

Get Involved & Support

Action Anxiety Day
in the classroom!
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
POSTER 3
INTRODUCTION 4
TOOLKIT HOW TO GUIDE 5
ANXIETY IN THE CLASSROOM 6
ABC's OF ANXIETY 7
VIDEO CONTENT 8
GRADES K-3 LESSON PLAN 10
GRADES 4-7 LESSON PLAN 18
MINDFULNESS AND GRATITUDE 25
GAMES AND ACTIVITIES 38
PROCLAMATIONS 39
BONUS PACK & THANK YOU 40

Special Thanks
Thank you to our incredible Mental Health Champion, Beneva,
and our Mindful Partner, Telus.
 JUNE 10, 2023
How can you ACT on Action Anxiety Day?
Awareness: Raise awareness & share anxiety stories!
C olours: Wear blue and orange to show your support.
T reatment: Support anxiety resources and treatment.

Learn more ways to ACT

actionanxietyday.com
WHY CELEBRATE AAD?
We created Action Anxiety Day (AAD) as an annual anxiety awareness
and education day. AAD is dedicated to learning about anxiety and
normalizing it. Together, we can reduce the stigma and give anxious
children and youth the tools they need to cope.

But to do that, we need your help! You can ACT by:

A wareness Help advocate for the cause and raise awareness

by sharing anxiety facts and stories.

C olours Wear blue and orange June 5-10 to show support

and eliminate the stigma around anxiety disorders.

Treatment Providing access to trusted, evidence-based

resources & affordable treatment for children,
teens, and adults.

4
 WHY WE CREATED THE
EDUCATOR TOOLKIT
& HOW TO USE IT
At Anxiety Canada, we help individuals better understand and manage
anxiety. It is essential for everyone to access resources they trust.
-Judith Law

As educators, you have a unique

opportunity to create a safe and supportive
space for students, especially when it comes
to their mental health. Anxiety is common
for many children, and we can empower
them with knowledge and the tools they
need to cope.

We understand that as teachers, your

schedules are already jam-packed, which is
why we've created an anxiety toolkit
specifically designed for elementary
students. Our lesson plans are easy to
implement and designed to make learning
about anxiety fun and engaging.

This toolkit offers lesson plans and multiple

worksheets to make the experience suitable
for your class (you know your class best and
what will resonate with them)! We offer a
lesson plan for grades K-3, a lesson plan for
grades 4-7, and a general lesson plan on
gratitude and mindfulness.

Our goal is to make educating about anxiety as easy and accessible as possible while
also reducing the stigma surrounding it. Together, we can create a positive and
supportive learning environment that benefits young students. Thank you for your
dedication to education and for your willingness to help us create a brighter future for
young people.

We hope this toolkit works for you and would appreciate any feedback we can apply
to next year's toolkit for Action Anxiety Day.

5
Anxiety in the
Classroom
Is my student struggling
with anxiety?
As educators, increasing your awareness
of the impact of anxiety is important to
support your students and yourself.
When some students experience high
anxiety, it may seem obvious.
For example, a young student who cries
and clings to their parent each morning
at drop-off, remaining tearful for the first
hour of the day despite school being in
session for months. Or a student who has
lost a family member and now withdraws
from peers, cannot concentrate, is jumpy,
and skips class. Or a student who spends
30+ minutes in the bathroom several
times a day and has red, chapped,
bleeding hands. However, anxiety can
also be invisible and is not always easy to
spot.
It may be harder to identify anxiety in a
student who performs below their
capacity, is often late, and is reluctant to
read out loud in class. Or a child known
as a “dream student” who suffers in
silence, secretly spending 6+ hours a day
doing homework to perfection and laying
awake at night due to fear of failure.
Taking the first step
Students spend a lot of their life in
school. As an educator, you can play an
essential role in identifying and assisting
them with unwanted anxiety. The first
step is to learn what anxiety disorders
look like in students within the classroom.
Anxiety specialists have identified that
when a child or teen experiences anxiety
more often (e.g., most days, and for
months at a time), and more intensely
than their peers of the same age, it's
more likely that the student has an
anxiety disorder.
The frequent, intense symptoms students
with anxiety disorders encounter often
significantly disrupt their lives and
prevent them from participating in
various school experiences, including:
• Attending school on a daily basis
• Completing assignments
• Joining social, athletic, or other clubs
• Learning or participating in class
• Making friends
If you think a student is experiencing
excessive, disruptive, and intense anxiety
symptoms, consult your school
counsellor or principal. Once you've done
this, you may want to schedule a meeting
with the student and/or their family to
gather information and discuss resources,
like our free online course, My Anxiety Plan
(MAP).
6
 ABC's of Anxiety
6 Ways Anxiety Impacts Children
Anxiety is an emotion felt in the body that can result in physical symptoms like
stomachaches, headaches, and rapid breathing. Anxiety is one of the most common
mental health concerns for children and adults, affecting upwards of 20% of children and
adolescents.

Anxious youth can present in different ways. Some are quiet and well-behaved, while
others can be disruptive and act out, being seen as a troublemaker or “bad” kid. Both
scenarios can result in youth failing to receive the help they need. Sadly, untreated anxiety
can lead to a decreased quality of life, missed opportunities in career and relationships,
depression and increased substance use.

Anxious children may:

Worry excessively and seek reassurance from their parents, peers, or educators. While
it is normal for children to seek comfort, anxious children do so more often and in non-
threatening situations.
Avoid anxiety-inducing situations and refuse to do things, which is not a helpful way of
coping with stress.
Function at a lower level than their peers due to challenges with time management,
organization, and focus.
Experience more conflict with their families or depend more on parents to get their
needs met.

We can help children remember that when it comes to anxiety, it's best to ACT, as taking
action on anxiety reminds us that we can fight our fears by facing them.

Anxiety can impact the lives of children, teens (and adults!) in the following six ways:

Affect: Emotionally and physically – what we feel in our body

Behaviour: Behaviourally – what we do or our actions, like avoiding or seeking-reassurance
Cognition: Mentally – what goes through our mind, like worrisome thoughts
Dependence: Relying on parents – what happens over time is that children and teens depend
too much on their parents
Excess/Extreme: Anxiety is problematic when it's excessive/extreme related to a situation
Functioning: How a child manages each day

Note: The pattern of these experiences varies in each child, and from situation to situation,
but generally anxious children are impacted in all six domains.

7
 VIDEO
CONTENT
Grades K-3 Videos
Fight Flight Freeze – A Guide to Anxiety for Kids
This videos teaches kids that anxiety is a normal biological response – called “Fight,
Flight, Freeze”
Length: 2min 18s
CLICK TO WATCH

Caretoons
Caretoons are entertaining cartoons that help children recognize and face anxiety.
Galaxy Brain and Time Travelling Pizza address social anxiety, health anxiety,
contamination OCD, separation anxiety, and more.
Length: 1-2mins each
WATCH CARETOONS

Grades 4-7 Videos

Let's Talk About Anxiety with Mark Antczak
Watch Mark Antczak (Clinical Counsellor & Educator) and Anxiety Canada's Youth
Network present about anxiety in the classroom and share coping strategies.
Length: 16min 37s
CLICK TO WATCH

Fight Flight Freeze – A Guide to Anxiety for Pre-teens

This video teaches young people that anxiety is a normal biological response called
“Fight, Flight, Freeze” that can get triggered inappropriately sometimes.
Length: 2min 42s
CLICK TO WATCH

What is Fight-Flight-Freeze? (F3)

When anxiety triggers the “Fight-Flight-Freeze” (F3) response, the automatic response affects our
thoughts, body, and behaviours. When faced with a potential threat, your thoughts focus on the
danger, your body revs up to help protect you, and you take action (fight, flight, or freeze). When
you're scared, your body reacts (heart beats faster, and muscles tense up) to help protect
ourselves. And we take action; for example, swatting a wasp away (fight), running away from it
(flight), or remaining very still and hoping it doesn’t sting you (freeze).

8
 Level:
Kindergarten-Grade 3
 LESSON PLAN K-3
Subject: What is Anxiety? Date:

Topic: Identifying Anxiety & The Fight-Flight-Freeze Response

Lesson Focus and Goals:

Identify worry, anxiety, and the Fight-Flight-Freeze Response.
Identify personal skills and preferences to manage worry.
Materials Needed:
Computer or Projector for YouTube Videos
Poster Paper or Whiteboard to Record Responses
Optional Printed Worksheets
Learning Objectives: Students will be able to identify
worry and anxiety, as well as the Fight-Flight-Freeze
Response. They will learn that anxiety is normal and there
are healthy ways to cope.

Worry Definition: Worry means feeling scared or nervous about something real or imagined. An example: The
feeling you get when you can't find your favourite toy.
Anxiety Definition: Anxiety is when you often feel scared or nervous about the future and/or specific situations
real or imagined. An example: When you are always feeling nervous of recess because you're scared of being left
out.
Warm-up: Ensure students know the meaning of worry. Together, create a list of things that cause the children to
worry. Write the list on the board or poster in a column titled, “Things that cause worry.” Reassure the class that
being worried is a normal feeling, and everyone feels it from time-to-time. Give examples to start the discussion.
View Video: Fight, Flight, Freeze for Kids (click here).
Watch the video together- it provides an explanation of the fight, flight, freeze response.
Video Follow-up: Distribute the "Fight, Flight, Freeze" handout (page 11). Ask the class if they have any questions
about what they've learned. Did anyone gather from the video that anxiety or worry can appear differently for
different people? You may want to discuss identifying and describing big feelings and worries.
Activity: Fight, Flight, Freeze Role Play (page 12).
Discussion: Together, create a list of healthy ways to deal with worry. Once you have a list of examples, reinforce
that anxiety is normal and everyone manages stress differently.
Activity: Distribute the "Grounding Exercise 5,4,3,2,1" worksheet (page 13). Explain to students that focusing on
your surroundings can help calm your worries.
Optional Videos: View the 'Caretoons' Videos -Time Travelling Pizza- Social Anxiety (click here) and Galaxy Brain-
Future Uncertainty (click here). These videos further explain types of anxiety in a fun and engaging way.
Optional Worksheets:
Ask students to select a "worry situation" from earlier or use an example from Caretoons. They can write how
they think they'd feel in the situation and how they'd cope. If they watched Caretoons, they can write a letter
to Caretoons characters, Drexal or Christ Crust, offering them advice on anxiety (page 14 or 15).
Distribute the "Feeling worried" handout and ask students to fill it in (page 16).
If you’d like to expand on this lesson and include learning about breathing exercises and gratitude as coping strategies that promote mental well-being, please see
page 25.
10
 FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE
FIGHT EXAMPLES

Yelling, screaming,
using mean words

FREEZE EXAMPLES
Shutting down, mind
goes blank

Hitting, kicking,
punching, throwing
Numb, bored,
sad, or helpless

FLIGHT EXAMPLES
Wanting to escape Procrastination, avoidance,
or run away or ignoring

11 anxietycanada.com
 FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE
Acting out the F3 Response

Ready for some role play? This activity can help children understand how anxiety affects
the body and the different ways people react when feeling anxious or worried.

Scenario to act out: Getting lost in a crowded place

You can start by saying, "Let’s play a game. I'm going to act out a scenario, and I want
you to guess which F3 response I'm showing. Ready?"

"Imagine you're at a crowded mall with your family, and suddenly you realize you're lost.
You don't know where your parents are, and you can't find anyone you know. You start
to feel anxious and scared."

(Act out one of the options)

Option 1 - Fight Response: You start to feel angry and frustrated. You push people out of
the way or start yelling for your parents.
Option 2 - Flight Response: You feel like you need to escape from the situation as
quickly as possible. You might start running around the mall, trying to find your parents
or someone you know.
Option 3 - Freeze Response: You feel overwhelmed and unable to move. You might
stand in one spot, feeling paralyzed and unable to think or act.

Ask children: “Which response did I just act out? Was it the fight response, the flight
response, or the freeze response?”

They can guess which response you acted out and discuss as a group if that response
was ideal in the situation. They can also come up with ideas for what someone should do
in the scenario and how they can stay calm.

Other examples you can act out include seeing a skunk, accidentally spilling something
or knocking it to the ground, or thinking you did poorly on a test.

Acting out other scenarios using examples of Flight, Fight, and Freeze, can help illustrate
how anxiety manifests differently for everyone—and that we can boss anxiety back and
fight our fears by identifying and facing them.

12
 anxietycanada.com
GROUNDING EXERCISE 5,4,3,2,1

13
Name Date
Draw 5 things I see Draw 3 things I can hear

Draw 2 things I can smell

Draw 4 things I feel
Draw 1 thing I taste
 Write to Drexal
What would you tell Drexal the Alien so that he can feel
better? What do you do when you are worried?

Name Date

14
 Write a letter to Drexal
What would you tell Drexal the Alien so that he can feel
better? What do you do when you are worried?

Name

Date
15
 FEELING WORRIED
Name Date
Worry looks different for everyone.

What does your face look like

when you're worried? Draw it

Write and draw 4 things that Write and draw 4 ways you
make you feel worried. express that you are worried.

anxietycanada.com

16
 Level:
Grades 4-7
 LESSON PLAN 4-7
Subject: What is Anxiety? Date:

Topic: Stress & Anxiety Strategies

Lesson Focus and Goals:

Many factors influence our health and well-being, but anxiety is normal and manageable.
Identify anxiety and how to cope with healthy practices.
Materials Needed: Learning Objectives:
Computer or Projector for YouTube Video Students will be able to identify and understand the F3
Poster Paper or Whiteboard to Record Responses Response and have a basic understanding of gratitude
Optional Printed Worksheets and mindfulness.
Stress Definition: Stress is a common feeling we get when we feel under pressure. You can feel stressed about
something real or imagined. An example: The feeling you get before writing a test.
Anxiety Definition: Anxiety is when you often feel scared or nervous about the future and/or specific situations real
or imagined. An example: When you are always feeling nervous about recess because you're scared of being left
out.
Warm-up: Ask students if they can think of a time that they were anxious. How did they feel in their body? Together,
create a list of potential anxiety-inducing situations. Write the list on the whiteboard in a column titled, “Stressful
Situations.” Ask, “What makes these situations stressful?”.
View Video: Let's Talk About Anxiety (Click here). (16min)
This videos explains the Fight, Flight or Freeze (F3) responses and strategies for coping with anxiety. Alternatively,
you can view "Fight Flight Freeze – A Guide to Anxiety" (Click here) - (2min 42s). 
Video Follow-up: Distribute the "Fight, Flight, Freeze" handout (page 19). Explain that the handout includes different
examples of the F3 response. Ask the class if they have any questions about what they've learned.
Optional Activities:
Have students fill out the "Me Vs. My Worry" worksheet (page 20) to delve into reframing thoughts and 'bossing
back' anxiety.
Ask students to select a stressful situation from earlier as a writing prompt. They can write how they think they'd
feel in the situation and how they'd cope. Pair them with a partner for a 1-1 share and discussion (page 21).
Distribute the "Grounding Exercise 5,4,3,2,1" worksheet (page 22). Explain to students that focusing on your
surroundings can help calm your worries.
Distribute the "STOP" worksheet (page 23). Ask students to identify a common source of anxiety and work
through their anxiety using the STOP strategy.
Sign/or create an Action Anxiety Day Proclamation to let your students show they care about mental health. Get
your class to read and sign our ready-made proclamation (page 39) OR Ask your students to come up with a list
of statements that assert their intention to make their classroom a safe and supportive place where mental
health is prioritized. Snap a photo of your proclamation, and send to info@anxietycanada.com! A lucky class will
win a prize from Anxiety Canada.
Discussion: Ask students to reflect on what they've learned today and if their feelings about anxiety have changed.
If you’d like to expand on this lesson and include more grounding exercises and gratitude as coping strategies that promote mental well-being,
please see page 25.

18
 FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE
An automatic response that affects our thoughts, body, and behaviours. When faced
with a potential threat, your thoughts focus on the danger, your body revs up to help
protect you, and you take action (fight, flight, or freeze). Here are some examples.

FIGHT EXAMPLES FLIGHT EXAMPLES FREEZE EXAMPLES

Yelling, screaming, Wanting to escape Shutting down,

using mean words or running away mind goes blank

Hitting, kicking, Trouble paying Urge to hide or

punching, throwing attention isolate self

Blaming, deflecting, Restless, fidgeting, Unresponsive or

don't know what
or defensiveness or hyperactive
to say

Procrastination,
Demanding or Zoned out or
avoidance,
trying to control daydreaming
or ignoring

Feeling stuck
Approaching what Fleeing from what
physically
feels like a threat feels like a threat
and mentally

Irritable, angry Anxiety, fear, Numb, bored,

or agressive panic, or worry sad, or helpless

19 anxietycanada.com
 ME VS. MY WORRY
Sometimes our worries try to take over, but when we identify them, we can try to overcome them.
Challenge your worry using this worksheet, with the example below as a guide.

What does my *worry*

How I can talk back to
What do *I* want to do? want me to do? What
my worry.
does it say?

Example: Example: Example:

Stay home because there My friends are more important

might be germs there. than germs.
Don’t go!! Danger!  
Hang out with my friends.

What if I get sick?? Just because it says there is

danger doesn’t mean there
REALLY is danger.

Write down something you Write down the worry that Confront your worry:
want to do: stops you:

     

     
anxietycanada.com

20
 Stressful Situations
Select a stressful situation.
Write how you would feel. Share your strategy on how you would cope.

21
GROUNDING EXERCISE 5,4,3,2,1
Name Date

5 things I see
Something you see around you. Notice details, shapes, and colours.

4 things I feel
A physical sensation, like the feel of your feet on the ground, or clothes on your skin.

3 things I can hear 2 things I can smell

Sounds around you, no matter how small or faint. Example: the scent of hand soap.

1 thing I taste
The taste of something you ate or drank earlier, or you may not taste anything at all.

22 anxietycanada.com
 anxietycanada.com
This STOP Plan is for:
S cared?
T houghts?
Scared
What's going on in your body?
Thoughts
What are you thinking? O ther helpful thoughts?
P raise and Plan!

23
Other Plan
What is something else you What is something nice you
can think? can say to yourself?
What can you do next time?
www.anxietycanada.com
Gratitude and
Mindfulness
 LESSON PLAN BOOSTER:
GRATITUDE & MINDFULNESS
Expand on anxiety teachings by focusing on the importance of gratitude in everyday life. Anxiety
focuses on future and past events that may be scary or catastrophic, while gratitude focuses on the
present and what's good in life. Gratitude can help to improve our mental health and is defined as
appreciating and expressing thanks for what we have. Practicing gratitude can lead to physical,
psychological, and social benefits, including optimism and decreased feelings of isolation.
Children may be starting to observe that personal choices, as well as social and emotional factors,
influence our health and well-being. This lesson will help show them that healthy practices, like
gratitude and mindfulness, can positively impact their mental well-being.
In this lesson, students will think critically, make meaningful personal connections, and engage with
others to share and develop ideas.

Materials Needed:
Worksheets or blank pieces of paper
Colouring pencils, crayons or markers

Gratitude Brainstorm
Anxiety is a normal part of life, but there are ways to manage it and feel better: introduce the
concept of gratitude as a practice to help reduce anxiety & improve mental well-being.
Create a gratitude wall on the whiteboard.
Explain that gratitude involves focusing on the positive things in our lives and expressing
appreciation for them. Ask students to share things they are grateful for and write their
responses on the gratitude wall or the "summer gratitude" worksheet (page 30-31).
Encourage students to think about different areas of their lives, such as family, friends,
school, nature, and personal achievements.
Gratitude Journal
Distribute "gratitude journal" worksheets (page 26-27) to each student and explain that a
gratitude journal is a personal space to write down things they are grateful for each day.
Ask students to think about 3 things they are grateful for and write them in their journals.
Encourage them to be specific & provide details about why they are grateful for each item.
Mindfulness
Define mindfulness (a mental state achieved by focusing your awareness on the present
moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily
sensations) for students.
Demonstrate the calming power of mindfulness through Mindful Breathing (page 28-29) or
Mindful Colouring (page 32-36)
Gratitude & Mindfulness Reflection
Ask students to reflect on how they feel after practicing gratitude. Discuss as a class how
focusing on positive aspects of their lives can shift their perspective and reduce anxiety.
Emphasize that gratitude is a habit that takes regular practice but can be a powerful tool to
manage anxiety and improve mental health.
End the lesson on a positive note, expressing gratitude toward your students for
participating and being willing to learn.

25
MY GRATITUDE JOURNAL
Name Date

I felt The weather was

zz

The three things I am grateful for today are

1.
2.
3.
Today I helped

anxietycanada.com

26
MY GRATITUDE JOURNAL
Name Date

I felt The weather was

zz

The three things I am grateful for today are

The best thing about today

Today I learned Today I helped

anxietycanada.com

27
 Mindful Breathing Script  
Get your students to find a comfortable space to lie down, or sit and read this in a calm
voice as they practice mindful breathing.
Grades K-3

Today, we are going to take a few minutes to practice a special exercise that will
help us relax and focus our minds. It's called deep breathing, and it's a great way to
bring mindfulness into our day. So, let's find a comfortable position, either sitting on
our chairs or cross-legged on the floor, and get ready to relax.

Close your eyes gently and take a moment to notice how your body feels right now.
Take a deep breath in through your nose, and slowly let it out through your mouth.
Let's do that one more time. Inhale deeply, and exhale slowly. As you breathe,
imagine that you are filling up a balloon inside your tummy.

Take a moment to pay attention to your breath as it goes in and out. Notice the cool
air as you breathe in and the warm air as you breathe out. Feel your belly rise and
fall with each breath. Let's take a few more deep breaths together.

Now, imagine that you're in a peaceful garden. Picture yourself sitting under a
beautiful tree, with a gentle breeze blowing and the warm sun shining down on you.
As you breathe in, imagine the sweet scent of flowers filling the air. And as you
breathe out, let go of any worries or thoughts that may be on your mind.

Now, let's try a breathing technique called "Five-Finger Breathing." We'll use our
fingers as a guide. As I say a number, touch the corresponding finger on your other
hand. Let's start with our thumbs.

Inhale as you trace up the outside edge of your thumb with your other finger. Now,
exhale as you trace down the inside edge of your thumb. Let's continue with the rest
of our fingers. Inhale up, exhale down. Inhale up, exhale down. Inhale up, exhale
down. Inhale up, exhale down.

Take a moment to notice how your body feels. Are you feeling more relaxed and
calm? Remember, you can always come back to this peaceful garden and deep
breathing whenever you need to feel calm and centered.

Slowly open your eyes and bring your attention back to the classroom. Take a
moment to notice how you feel now compared to before we started our mindfulness
exercise. Remember, deep breathing is a wonderful tool you can use anytime,
anywhere, to help you relax and find your inner calm.

Great job, everyone! I hope you enjoyed this mindfulness exercise. Whenever you
feel stressed or overwhelmed, remember that you have the power to take a few
deep breaths and find your calm.

28
 Mindful Breathing Script  
Get your students to find a comfortable space to lie down, or sit and read this in a calm
voice as they practice mindful breathing.
Grades 4-7

The intention of this brief exercise is to focus your attention on your breath as you
allow thoughts and sensations to come and go in the background.    
 
Find a comfortable place to sit. Put your feet flat on the ground and try to straighten
your posture. Gently close your eyes. Let your shoulders drop down and away from
your ears.      
 
Pay attention to your breathing and just allow yourself to continue to breathe
naturally.  

Now, rest your hands gently on your belly with the fingertips of each hand lightly
touching in the middle.  
 
Breathe in smoothly through your nose. And exhale slowly through your mouth.
Continue to take slow, smooth breaths.      
 
When you breathe in, notice your belly push your hands gently apart, as you fill your
lower lungs with air. When you breathe out, notice your belly sink back towards your
spine as you release your breath. You can imagine that your belly is a balloon. Fill it
with air and then watch it deflate.    
 
Now continue to focus on the gentle inhalation and exhalation of your breath. In…
and out…    
 
If any other thoughts or images come into your mind during this exercise, just notice
them, and gently bring your attention back to your breath.    
 
You may also become aware of feelings in your body. Simply notice them, and then
again, bring your mind back to your breath. You don’t need to overthink or give
these thoughts or feelings any meaning in this moment. Simply acknowledge them
without judgment and bring your mind back to your breath.  
 
It’s normal for your mind to wander. Simply notice that your mind has wandered and
gently bring your attention back to your breath.    
 
Continue to focus on your breathing and stay in this relaxed state for as long as you
like. When you are ready, slowly open your eyes and bring your attention back to
your surroundings.

29
 I am really good at... I am loved by...

I take care of myself

when I...

My favourite I love Summer because...

memory is...

Summer
anxietycanada.com

Gratitude
 I am really good at... I am loved by...

I take care of myself

when I...

My favourite I love Summer because...

memory is...

Summer
anxietycanada.com

Gratitude
Today will be a
great day!
 I AM
rateful
g
 breathe
in
breathe out
remember
the good
stuff
 GAMES AND ACTIVITIES
There are so many games and activities you can play with your class to practice mindfulness, gratitude, and get
your students comfortable to recognize and talk about their feelings. Here are some suggestions!

Action Anxiety Day Challenge: Challenge your students on the week of June 5-10 to complete as many
mindfulness activities as they can!
1. Print the AAD challenge page for each student. (Page 38)
2. Once the activity is completed, each child should stamp/check/or circle the box.
3. At the end of the week, collect the challenge cards from your class, snap a photo of all of them piled
together, and send to info@anxietycanada.com! A lucky class will win a prize from Anxiety Canada.
Sign/or create an Action Anxiety Day Proclamation: Let your students show they care about mental health.
1. Get your class to read and sign our ready-made proclamation (Page 39) OR
2. Ask your students to come up with a list of statements that assert their intention to make their classroom
a safe and supportive place where mental health is prioritized.
3. For younger students instead of signing, they can leave a handprint or fingerprint with paint!
4. Snap a photo of your proclamation, and send to info@anxietycanada.com! A lucky class will win a prize
from Anxiety Canada.
Make A Glitter Jar: Material - jar or bottle (with lid), hot water, clear glue, food colouring, glitter, and stir
stick.
1. Pour clear glue to fill about 1/4 of your jar or bottle.
2. Fill the jar with hot water to about the 3/4 mark. *help your student pour the hot water
3. Add 2 tsp of glitter
4. Add a drop of food colouring
5. Stir well with stir stick.
6. Top up jar with more hot water *help your student pour the hot water
7. Secure lid, give it a shake and watch how the glitter calmly settles.
Rock Painting: Material - Smooth rocks, paint, paint brushes
1. Go on a nature walk with your students or ask your students to bring a smooth, small rock to class.
2. Instruct your students to paint anything that makes them happy on their rock.
3. The rocks can be displayed in the classroom, or the children can take them home as a reminder of
something that brings them joy.
Class Stretching:
1. Ask your class to stand in a circle or by their desk.
2. One by one, every student demonstrates their favourite stretch and the rest of the class copies their
move.
Worry Monster: Material - A shoe/tissue box, construction or tissue paper, googly eyes, glue or tape, any
decorative arts and craft supplies ie. ribbon, pom-pom balls, pipe cleaners, sparkles etc.
1. Cut a square opening in the box for the mouth (shoe box), or clear out the opening of a tissue box.
2. Cover the box in tissue/construction paper.
3. Use any decorative art supplies to turn the box into a monster! Don't forget eyes and sharp teeth!
4. Ask your students to write down their worries and "feed" them to their monsters.
Music Show and Tell:
1. Ask your class to write down their favorite song, and why it makes them happy. Collect responses.
2. Everyday, choose a handful of students to "show" their song to the class.

37


challenge
In the week of June 5-10, check off every challenge you complete!
Don't forget to show your teacher your completed challenge.

create stretch read a

art story

go FOR A Practice FACE A

WALK DEEP FEAR
BREATHING

WRITE 3 SPEND complete a

THINGS I'M TIME random
GRATEFUL IN NATURE Act of
FOR kindness

Name
 ACTION ANXIETY DAY
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, June 10, 2023, the 3rd World Anxiety Day, known as Action Anxiety Day – an
annual awareness and education day was created by Anxiety Canada, because:

Anxiety can keep us from feeling our best at home, school, sports, and when making
friends
Not talking about our anxiety or seeking help can keep us from living the life we want
Sharing resources and our stories can make our community stronger and healthier
Supporting others when they are feeling anxious or not themselves is the right thing
to do

THUS, We declare that June 10, 2023, shall be known as

"Action Anxiety Day"

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, I support Action Anxiety Day.

Sign here!
 BONUS POSTER
PACK CREATED BY
THE ANXIETY CANADA
YOUTH NETWORK

CLICK to Download the Youth

Network's Poster Pack!

Special Thanks
Thank you to our incredible Mental Health Champion, Beneva, and our
Mindful Partner Telus.

Thank you for supporting

Action Anxiety Day!
We'd love to hear from you!
Please contact us to provide feedback.
info@anxietycanada.com
604 620 0744 www.anxietycanada.com