Skill: Dealing with Embarrassment | Learning Goal: Self-Control

Grades: 4-5 | Activity Type: Lesson | Purpose: 🟢 Core Instruction

Be Good People Curriculum © St. Croix River Education District

What Should You Do When You're Embarrassed?

Today, we'll talk about how to handle embarrassing situations and feelings of shame.

“You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.”

What do you notice or wonder about this quote? What does it make you think of?

Eleanor Roosevelt

First Lady during World War II, Human rights activist

Pretend you need to give advice to a friend about how to deal with embarrassment.

What would you tell them to do or not to do?

1. If you feel upset, use one of your calming tools. Walk away if you need to.
2. Tell yourself, 'It's not a big deal.'
3. Decide if you want to laugh at yourself, act like it's not a big deal, or something else.

Step 1: If you feel upset, use one of your calming tools. Walk away if you need to.

For example:

Count to 10, 100, etc.

Pick a color and count all the things you see that are that color.

Count

Deep Breathing

Slowly breathe in through your nose, into your belly, and out through your mouth.

Ask for permission to move to a calming space or a calming room.

Ask for a Break

Step 2: Tell yourself, 'It's not a big deal.'

It's not. Everybody makes mistakes!

You will probably remember what just happened longer than anybody else.

Step 3: Decide if you want to laugh at yourself, act like it's not a big deal, or something else.

Usually, if we get upset and make a big deal out of it, it just makes it worse.

Showing people that you don't care about what happened helps them to move on too.

• If you feel upset, use one of your calming tools. Walk away if you need to.
• Tell yourself, 'It's not a big deal.'
• Decide if you want to laugh at yourself, act like it's not a big deal, or something else.

During his class presentation, Miguel's voice cracks in the middle of a sentence. Some students giggle, and he still has two more paragraphs to read aloud.

Skip to end

• If you feel upset, use one of your calming tools. Walk away if you need to.
• Tell yourself, 'It's not a big deal.'
• Decide if you want to laugh at yourself, act like it's not a big deal, or something else.

DeAndre raises his hand and gives the wrong answer in math class. As soon as he says it, he realizes his mistake, and a few students whisper "That's so easy" behind him.

Skip to end

• If you feel upset, use one of your calming tools. Walk away if you need to.
• Tell yourself, 'It's not a big deal.'
• Decide if you want to laugh at yourself, act like it's not a big deal, or something else.

Aisha accidentally calls her teacher "Mom" in front of the whole class. She meant to ask for help with a math problem, but the wrong word came out.

Skip to end

• If you feel upset, use one of your calming tools. Walk away if you need to.
• Tell yourself, 'It's not a big deal.'
• Decide if you want to laugh at yourself, act like it's not a big deal, or something else.

Sofia's mom drops her off at school and yells "I love you, banana-muffin!" really loud. Several fifth graders from her bus are walking right behind her car.

Skip to end

• If you feel upset, use one of your calming tools. Walk away if you need to.
• Tell yourself, 'It's not a big deal.'
• Decide if you want to laugh at yourself, act like it's not a big deal, or something else.

Priya's hands are shaking during her recorder solo in music class. She keeps hitting the wrong notes, and everyone is watching her.

Skip to end