How to Use the Calm Down Corner in Your Classroom

A guide for teachers on integrating mindfulness and regulation tools throughout the day

Classrooms can be busy, noisy, and full of transitions—and for many autistic students, that constant change can feel overwhelming.

That’s why we built the Calm Down Corner at Autism Learning Worlds: a collection of short meditations, calming games, and regulation tools that help kids reset, refocus, and rejoin learning with confidence.

Below is a walkthrough of how educators can use these tools to make every transition smoother and every classroom a little more peaceful.

🌤 Start Transitions with Calm Reset

Best time to use: at the start of the day, after lunch, or between activities.

The Calm Reset is a short, guided mindfulness animation that helps students slow their breathing, relax their muscles, and prepare to shift focus.

How to use it:
  1. Dim the lights or turn down background noise.
  2. Invite students to find their calm bodies (feet on floor, eyes on screen or closed).
  3. Play the Calm Reset video as a group—no need to over-explain; just model calm breathing.
  4. When it ends, ask one reflection question like, “How does your body feel now?”

Why it works: Transitions are often the hardest moments for regulation. The Calm Reset helps the brain shift gears and brings group energy down before moving to the next task.

🌈 Try Rainbow Breathing for Morning Meetings

Best time to use: during morning meeting or before a challenging lesson.

Rainbow Breathing walks students through slow, visualized breaths—matching the rhythm of colors in a rainbow. It gives sensory-seeking learners something to see while they breathe, combining movement and mindfulness in one.

Pro tip: Encourage students to trace the rainbow in the air as they breathe in and out.

🧘‍♀️ Use the Body Scan After Recess or PE

Turn off harsh lighting and ask students to sit or lie comfortably. Best time to use: after physical activity or high-energy periods.

The Body Scan meditation helps students reconnect with their bodies—perfect for post-movement calm. It guides them to notice how different parts of their body feel, building awareness and self-regulation.

How to use it:
  • Turn off harsh lighting and ask students to sit or lie comfortably.
  • Play the Body Scan once or twice a week to teach kids how to identify sensations before they turn into dysregulation.

Why it helps: It gives students language and awareness for how their bodies feel—an essential step in emotional regulation.

🫧 Practice Breathing with the Bubble

Best time to use: when students are overstimulated or need quick calm before a task.

This interactive tool lets kids watch a floating bubble expand and shrink as they breathe with it—helping regulate their nervous system visually.

How to use it:
  • Play the Bubble Breathing animation on the board.
  • Have students breathe in as the bubble grows, and out as it shrinks.
  • Use it before tests, after transitions, or anytime energy spikes.

Tip: You can even print a “bubble” visual cue card for individual desks or calm corners.

💥 Use the Bubble Wrap Pop & Fidget Tools for Self-Directed Regulation

Best time to use: during independent work, breaks, or moments of frustration.

The Bubble Wrap Pop, Virtual Fidget Spinner, and other sensory tools in the Calm Down Corner give students a safe outlet for sensory input and self-regulation.

How to use them:

  • Offer 3–5 minutes of fidget or pop time when a student needs a reset.
  • Use a timer or a visual countdown to signal when to return to work.
  • Reinforce the skill by saying, “You used your tool and got calm—great job getting back to learning!”

💙 Bringing It All Together

The Calm Down Corner isn’t just a set of videos or games—it’s a classroom regulation system.

Use Calm Reset during group transitions, Rainbow Breathing to start the day, Body Scan after active periods, and Bubble Tools for individual breaks. Over time, students will start recognizing their own needs and choosing the right tools themselves.

🎬 Explore the full Calm Down Corner collection inside Autism Learning Worlds to build calm, focus, and emotional awareness—one visual at a time.
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