ALASKA ACADEMY: ANGER MANAGEMENT – CAN CHILDREN LEARN IT?

In a life skills class for 4th and 5th graders, Alaskids are introduced to two visual aids: a Coke bottle in a bright red shirt, representing someone who’s ready to explode at the slightest provocation, and a “water bottle” with a clear outfit, symbolizing someone who remains calm no matter how much they’re shaken.

As part of the lesson, each student shares a situation that made them angry. To demonstrate their anger, the students stick a sharp toothpick into a piece of foam.

Like everyone else, Alaskids will sometimes face situations that frustrate or upset them, leading to outbursts of anger. However, much like the sharp toothpick leaving ugly holes in the foam after being removed, words and actions expressed in anger can harm oneself and others, creating undesirable “emotional gaps.”

Through analyzing these real-life sharing situations, the 4th and 5th-grade teacher and students work together to brainstorm ways to control anger and manage their emotions. Strategies discussed include drinking water, taking deep breaths, understanding the root cause of anger, and avoiding negative thoughts.