What comes to your mind when you think of calm? I personally think of a “spa-like” atmosphere with soft lighting, subtle aromas, and soothing white noise. Wouldn’t it be nice to work and learn in this type of environment? The latest trend seems to be to have a “calm down corner” but what if we apply some of these concepts to create a calm classroom from the start? Here are a few ways you can create a calming classroom environment from the moment the students walk in the door!

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Soft Lighting

The bright lights in my classroom used to give me a headache! That is of course until I realized there was a way to tame the harsh fluorescent lighting. My favorite way is to use these Fluorescent Light Filters. There are cutesy designs too, but those are a bit more expensive. My co-worker has these Patterned Fluorescent Light Filters. You can cover all of the lights in your room or just a few. Even a few can completely change the atmosphere and ambiance. The first day I implemented them in my kindergarten classroom I saw a notable difference in my students’ behavior and energy level. Now I’m NOT saying they are a miracle worker, but I am saying that my kids seemed more calm than usual. This one little change is what actually started me on my journey to create a more calming classroom environment. I mean, who doesn’t want a calm classroom on a regular basis?!

Light filters aren’t the only way to combat harsh fluorescent lights. If you have windows in your classroom try turning off the lights and using natural light instead. Some schools have the ability to turn off half of the lights which is helpful too.

Ready to take it a step further? You can add soft lighting with lamps, which give an additional home/family vibe.

Subtle Aromas

I’m going to preface this section with the fact that you need to check with your administration and parents before using any fragrances in your classroom. With that said, I personally use a diffuser and essential oils because wall plugs and wax warmers tend to have a “slap you in the face” effect on me. Lavender is a great start, but you can branch out and use chamomile, frankincense, or patchouli. There are several blends on the market as well. Young Living has a blend called Peace and Calming. The bonus of having a diffuser in the classroom is you can use it to combat sickness as well with blends such as Thieves and Purification.

There are many opinions about essential oils, candles, wall plugs, and wax warmers. I’m sure you have your own opinion on the matter as well. I suggest that you do what feels right to you and is allowable by your administration and parents. If you do choose to use aromas/fragrances in your classroom, I suggest you choose soft and subtle scents that will encourage a calm classroom rather than sweet or invigorating scents that might rile your students up. Remember, the ultimate goal is to create a calming classroom environment from the moment students walk through the door, so be cognizant of the fragrance you choose and the effect it can have.

Soothing White Noise

When I think of soothing white noise I think of water (waves or rain), the soft gentle hum of a fan, or the sounds of the rainforest. You can play music that imitates these sounds, or have a “water feature.” I personally have this CD set that I play, though nowadays you can simply create a Spotify playlist! If you play music, it should be played quietly so you can continue to teach without it causing a distraction. For a water feature, you can do a quick search on Amazon for “desk water fountain.” There are many cute options available, but I have not personally used any of them, so I have not provided a direct link. Another option is to play the “classical version” of songs but there is a chance that students will recognize the tune and start singing the lyrics (even when there are none).

Now that you’ve created a calming classroom environment from the moment you walk in the door, here are some things you can do to maintain a calm classroom.

Yoga

One of my favorite things to do with my students is yoga. For a brain break, I would pull up Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube and my students would follow along. It was a great way to provide them a brain break, without things becoming chaotic. She has some wonderful mindfulness exercises but if I’m being honest, her themed adventures are much more fun!

Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles are a wonderful calming tool. If you truly feel the need to have a specific calm down corner then I would make sure to have one or two (or more) of these in that area. However, you don’t have to have a calm down corner to have and utilize sensory bottles. When a student gets upset, they simply sit to the side and examine the bottle (look at it, turn it upside down, and/or swirl it).

You can create a variety of sensory bottles for different effects. One bottle might imitate a lava lamp, while another looks like the galaxy with glitter swirling around. They are rather easy to make. Simply add baby oil, water, and glitter to a bottle for a glitter option. Add presoaked water beads for a cool stained glass look (like the second bottle in the picture). My amazing friend made these from different types of water bottles (recycling at it’s best!).

Classroom Pet

We all know that petting a dog or cat can relieve stress and calm us down at home, so why not bring the same concept to the classroom? My students love to pet or even just look at Odin (our bearded dragon) when they are upset. It’s amazing how quickly they calm down. Fish are a great option for those with allergy concerns. Staring into a fish tank of bright colorful fish is certainly calming as you watch them glide effortlessly through the water.

You can check out my post Pets in the Classroom to see how you can get a grant to get a classroom pet! The classroom pet can be located in a low-traffic area to keep the pet feeling safe and secure but also to allow students that need to calm down to be out of the way. If you have a specific calm down corner in your classroom it’s a great place to have your classroom pet.

So, who wants a calm classroom of their very own? I want to encourage you to think beyond a calm down corner and expand the concepts to create a calming classroom environment instead.