Managing strong emotions can be difficult for students so teaching them a few ways to help move an emotion through the body and release it can be hugely beneficial. You can make this a fun an active session.

Start by asking the children to imagine something that is really frustrating. It might be someone jumping the queue in front of you or banging into you and not saying sorry.

Ask students to really connect to the annoyance and frustration of this situation. Then ask them where they feel this emotion in the body, is it in the head? The chest? The stomach? What sensations do they feel in their body as they imagine someone barging into them and walking off without apologising?

Once they can connect with the sensations in their bodies, ask them what their normal response might be. Would they ignore them? Would they shout at them? Would they feel really mad?

Then ask them how they can get rid of those sensations from their bodies. It may be that they don’t know how to. In this case, ask them what movements they could make with their bodies that might help them get rid of the emotion. Would jumping up and down work? Would shaking their hands help? Would punching the air in front of them help? Would giving themselves a hug help? Can they try it?

If none of those things are appropriate in the situation they are in, going for a walk can help. How do the students feel after their movement? Do they feel less frustrated and annoyed? Could they use this method in other situations where they experience strong emotions? It works for all types of emotions.

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