Self-Regulation Strategies from The Shouting Girl

The Book

The Shouting Girl

Written by Steven Huynh, illustrated by Gehenna Pham, published by Steven De GC

The poem follows a young girl who struggles to express herself calmly, often shouting when she feels frustrated or unheard. Through her journey, she learns to recognise and understand her emotions (AC9HPFP03, AC9HP2P03 – Foundation to Year 2, Health and Physical Education) and works to develop positive strategies for expressing her thoughts and feelings in respectful ways (AC9HPFP02, AC9HP2P02 – Foundation to Year 2, Health and Physical Education).

The story also encourages children to explore characters’ perspectives and emotional responses, fostering empathy (AC9HP2P01 – Health and Physical Education, Years 1 and 2). It helps them define safe and unsafe environments through interactions with friends in a classroom, establishing help-seeking strategies in such situations (AC9HP2P05 – Health and Physical Education, Years 1 and 2). Additionally, the book highlights how environments, such as a calm corner or designated green boxes, can be designed to support emotional regulation and meet classroom needs (AC9TDEFK01, AC9TDE2K01 – Foundation to Year 2, Design and Technologies).

With its poetic language and engaging illustrations, The Shouting Girl helps students understand how rhyme and rhythm create cohesion in poems. It also explores how words and images shape settings and characters, along with other literary features such as lists of three and similes.

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Resource creator

Steven Huynh

Subject

Health and Physical Education,

Level

Year 1, Year 2,

Description

In this lesson, Year 2 students read The Shouting Girl and use scanning and monitoring skills to find examples of self-regulation in the story. Students then brainstorm self-regulation strategies for different emotional situations provided on a worksheet.

Learning Intentions

• We are learning to brainstorm self-regulation strategies for different situations.

Successful Criteria

• I can name and write the correct emotion for each situation.
• I can write or draw a self-regulation strategy to help manage big feelings.

Curriculum Alignment

AC9HP2P03 9.0 (Health and Physical Education Year 1,Year 2): Identify how different situations influence emotional responses

• recognising own emotions and demonstrating ways to manage how they express their emotions in different situations
• exploring self-regulation strategies to manage emotional responses
• identifying situations that may trigger strong emotional responses in themselves and others, and recognising the impact the responses can have on others
• identifying how someone might feel, think and act during an emergency through role-play and imaginative play
• predicting how a person or character might be feeling based on the words they use, their facial expressions and body language
• recognising how self and others are feeling in a range of situations

Materials

Big book or copy of The Shouting Girl
Self-Regulation Strategies Worksheet
Writing, coloured pencils or crayons
Zones of Regulation Poster (for reference)

Instructions

Warm-Up

Introduce the idea of self-regulation in simple terms: “Self-regulation is when we notice a big feeling inside, and we do something to help ourselves feel better or stay calm.”
Quick brainstorm: “What helps you calm down when you’re angry or upset?”

Reading: The Shouting Girl

Remind children before reading: “While we read today, I want you to monitor and scan for any ideas the girl or other characters use to help with big feelings. Listen carefully!”
Pause briefly at key moments to ask:
- “What is happening here? How might she be feeling?”
- “Did she find any way to help herself feel better?”

Tip: You can jot down ideas the students notice on a ‘Self-Regulation Chart’ on the board.

Discussion

After reading, ask:
- “What were some ways the girl could have managed her feelings better?”
- “What could you do if you felt the same way?”

Suggesting: Sometimes we can breathe, talk to someone, walk away, count to ten, squeeze a stress ball, etc.

Worksheet Activity: Self-Regulation Strategies

Hand out the Self-Regulation Strategies Worksheet.

For each situation,
1. Write the emotion in the designated area
2. Write or draw a self-regulation strategy for the emotion

Tip: There are suggested emotions at the bottom of the page for reference.

Reflection

Bring students back to the mat.
Invite volunteers to share one situation and their strategy.

Fast Finishers

Colour or design their Zen corner using The Shouting Girl Colouring Sheets.

Extensions

Explain why they choose or think the strategy is a good one.
Create a classroom “Calm Down Toolbox” with the strategies the children brainstormed.
Role-play some situations and practise strategies as a group.