SELF CONTROL

Cut & Paste Activities

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About CounselorChelsey:
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am now a curriculum developer. My favorite part of my work has
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Since becoming a curriculum developer, I have loved being able to
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 Objectives:
• Students will learn what self control is and why it’s important.
• Students will learn strategies that can help them use self control.

What’s Included:
P. 4-5: “Is It Self Control?” Cut & Paste
P. 6-7: “Importance Of Self Control” Cut & Paste
P. 8-9: “Coping Skills” Cut & Paste
P. 10-11: “My Self-Talk” Cut & Paste
P. 12-13: “Think It Or Say It?” Cut & Paste
P. 14-18: Answer Keys

Directions:
• For each cut and paste activity, students will cut out rectangles
from the first page and sort them into the correct categories on
the second page.
• The completed worksheets can be used as displays to remind
students of self control concepts.

Ideas For Use:

• Self control lessons or small groups
• Character education lessons or small groups
• Social skills lessons or small groups
• With students who struggle to think before they act
• With students who could benefit from considering consequences
of their actions
• With students who have ADHD

©Counselor Chelsey
Name: __________________________

Is It Self Control? Cut And Paste

Self control is a term that you have probably heard before, but what does it
actually mean? Self control is being able to stay in control of your feelings and
behavior and being able to think about what you are doing before you do it.
We can use self control in many different areas of our lives. It can help us
manage our voice levels, our bodies, our feelings, our actions and the things
we say.
This can be hard sometimes because we don’t think about the effects of our
actions or we don’t slow down and take time to think about what we are doing.
When we do remember to use self control, it’s easier to make good choices
and be kind and respectful to others.
For this activity, look at the examples below and decide whether or not they
are examples of self control. Then, cut them out and paste them into the
correct box on the next page.

You played by the rules You interrupt your You see candy on
of the game, even
friend when he’s your teacher’s desk,
though you really
talking so you take it.
wanted to cheat.
You don’t know an answer You did your You blurt out the
on your test, so you look homework before answer during
at what the person next
to you put. you went outside. class.
You remember to You get mad and You only ate one
whisper in the start yelling at your slice of cake at a
library. teacher. birthday party.
You think of a joke, but
You are excited to go You hug your friend,
decide that it might hurt
outside so you start but you forget to ask someone’s feelings, so
running in the hallway. if it’s okay first. you decide not to say it.

You keep your Your school work is

hard, so you take 5
hands to yourself
deep breaths and try
in the hallway. again.
©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_______________________

Is It Self Control? Cut & Paste

This IS Self Control:

This IS NOT Self Control:

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_________________________

The Importance Of Self Control Cut &

Paste
When you aren’t thinking about what you are doing, or are making bad choices,
your family members or teachers might remind you to use self control. It might be
tempting to ignore them, but using self control can actually be beneficial for many
reasons.

Using self control not only helps you to make better choices, but can also improve
your relationships with the people around you, and help you to accomplish more.
On the other hand, when we don’t use self control, we may be more likely to make
poor choices or do something that will negatively impact our friendships.

To learn more about the importance of self control, look at each scenario below.
Decide whether it is something that would happen from using self control or from
not using self control. Cut out the boxes and paste them into the correct rectangle
on the next page.

My friends and I
I may break I may learn
can have more
something. something new.
fun.

Other people may be

I may get in Other people may
more likely to want to
be around me. trouble. be annoyed by me.

I won’t get in I may not know I will be proud of

trouble as much. what to do. my choices later.

I may hurt
I may regret my I may hurt myself
someone else’s
choices later. or someone else.
feelings.

Other people will I will make it easier

be able to trust me. for others to learn.
©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_______________________

The Importance Of Self Control

When I DO Use Self Control…

When I DON’T Use Self Control…

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_________________________

Coping Skills Cut And Paste

Being able to calm down when we feel upset is an important part of
self control. It’s normal to feel angry, frustrated or annoyed, but if
we don’t take time to calm down, it may be hard for us to make
good choices or to think about what we are doing.

Thankfully, there are many things we can do to calm down. These

are called coping skills because they help us cope with our difficult
emotions. Look at the coping skills below and decide whether they
could be helpful to you at school, at home, or in both places. Then,
cut out the boxes and glue them into the correct box on the next
page.

Imagining a Asking if you

Using your 5 Thinking about
peaceful senses to notice what you are
can use a fidget what’s around
place or stress ball you
thankful for

Going to sit Taking 3 Punching a

Laying down
outside breaths pillow

Asking for Asking if you

Going to Talking to a
help can take a
your room teacher break

Quietly watching Asking your

the classroom teacher if you
Calling a
clock for 1 minute can get a drink friend

Watching a Saying your Pushing your

show or ABC’s hands down on
movie backwards your desk

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_________________________

Coping Skills Cut And Paste

Coping
Skills I
Can Use
At Home

Coping Skills I Can Use At School

Coping Skills I Can Use In Both Places

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_________________________

My Self-Talk Cut And Paste

The things we tell ourselves can impact the things we do. Using
positive self-talk is a helpful strategy that can make it easier to use
self control.

When we remind ourselves to think about what we are doing and to

consider the impact of our actions, we may be more likely to make
better choices. On the other hand, when we try to justify or make
excuses for our behavior, we may convince ourselves that it’s okay
to just do what we want without thinking about the consequences.

Look at the self-talk statements below and decide whether they will
help you use self control or make it harder for you to use self
control. Cut out the boxes and paste them into the corresponding
speech bubble on the next page.

“She’s mean, so it’s “What I want to say is “If I yell at my

more important than
okay to make fun of
what the other people
mom, I’ll get in
her.” are talking about.” trouble.”
“I need to calm “I don’t have to have “My teacher
down before I a cookie now, I can won’t notice if
lose control.” have one later.” I’m talking.”
“My friends will like “Waiting takes too
“I might regret
it if I keep my long. I’m just going
hands to myself.”
doing this later.” to do it now.”

“I won’t miss anything “I need to be quiet

“I need a pen, so so my classmates
if I sleep during the
I’ll just take his.” class lesson.” can focus.”

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_________________________

My Self-Talk Cut And Paste

Things I Can
Tell Myself
That’ll Make
It Easier
To Use Self
Control

Things I Can
Tell Myself
That’ll Make
It Harder
To Use Self
Control

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_________________________

Think It Or Say It Cut And Paste

Throughout the day, we have so many thoughts. Some of the thoughts we have are
things that we can say out loud and share with other people. However, some of the
thoughts we have should just stay in our heads.
Before you say something, it’s important to decide whether or not it’s something you
should say out loud. Think about whether the things you want to say are kind and
encouraging, and whether or not it’s the right time to say them.
When we take time to think about what we are saying before we say it, we’re more
likely to be respectful and to make good choices. To practice this skill, look at the
examples below and decide whether or not you should say these things, or keep the
thoughts in your head. Cut out the boxes and paste them into the correct box on the
next page.

Telling your teacher that you Saying “Shut up. You are so
had fun in class. annoying.”

Telling the other team “good Telling someone that their

job” after you lose the game. shirt looks weird.
Telling someone “thank you”
Bragging about the grade
when they hold the door open
you got on your test. for you.
Answering your teacher’s Telling your friend about the
question after she calls on game you went to, in the
you. middle of the class.

Telling a stranger where Telling your teacher that

you live. she’s stupid.
Telling your grandma that the food
Telling your little brother
she cooked is disgusting and that
there’s no way you will eat it. that you are proud of him.

Saying hi to someone new at Asking for help with your

recess. classwork during work time.

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_________________________

Think It Or Say It? Cut & Paste

Say it Think it

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_______________________

Is It Self Control? Cut & Paste Answer Key

The original copy of this activity is on pages 4-5 of the download.

This IS Self Control:

You think of a joke, but You remember to You played by the rules
decide that it might hurt of the game, even
someone’s feelings, so
whisper in the
though you really
you decide not to say it. library. wanted to cheat.

You only ate one You did your

slice of cake at a homework before
birthday party. you went outside.

Your school work is You keep your

hard, so you take 5
hands to yourself
deep breaths and try
again. in the hallway.

This IS NOT Self Control:

You blurt out the You get mad and You interrupt your
answer during start yelling at your friend when he’s
class. teacher. talking

You see candy on You are excited to go

your teacher’s desk, outside so you start
so you take it. running in the hallway.

You don’t know an answer You hug your friend,

on your test, so you look but you forget to ask
at what the person next if it’s okay first.
to you put.

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_______________________
The Importance Of Self Control Answer Key
The original copy of this activity is on pages 6-7 of the download.

When I DO Use Self Control…

My friends and I
I will be proud of Other people will
can have more
my choices later. be able to trust me.
fun.

Other people may be

I may learn more likely to want to
something new. be around me.

I will make it easier I won’t get in

for others to learn. trouble as much.

When I DON’T Use Self Control…

I may hurt myself Other people may I may regret my
or someone else. be annoyed by me. choices later.

I may hurt
someone else’s I may get in
feelings. trouble.

I may not know I may break

what to do. something.

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_________________________
Coping Skills Cut And Paste Answer Key
The original copy of this activity is on pages 8-9 of the download.

Coping
Punching a Going to
Skills I pillow
Laying down
your room
Can Use
At Home
Watching a Going to sit
Calling a
show or outside
friend
movie

Coping Skills I Can Use At School

Asking if you Quietly watching
Talking to a the classroom
can take a
break teacher clock for 1 minute

Pushing your Asking your Asking if you

hands down on teacher if you can use a fidget
can get a drink or stress ball
your desk

Coping Skills I Can Use In Both Places

Thinking about Saying your Imagining a
what you are ABC’s peaceful
thankful for backwards place

Using your 5
senses to notice Asking for Taking 3
what’s around help breaths
you

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_________________________
My Self-Talk Cut And Paste Answer Key
The original copy of this activity is on pages 10-11 of the download.

“If I yell at my “I don’t have to have

mom, I’ll get in a cookie now, I can
trouble.” have one later.”

Things I Can
Tell Myself “I need to calm “I might regret
That’ll Make down before I
doing this later.”
It Easier lose control.”
To Use Self
Control “I need to be quiet
“My friends will like
it if I keep my so my classmates
hands to myself.” can focus.”

“What I want to say is

“She’s mean, so it’s more important than
okay to make fun of what the other people
her.” are talking about.”
Things I Can
“My teacher Tell Myself
“I need a pen, so won’t notice if That’ll Make
I’ll just take his.” I’m talking.” It Harder
To Use Self
Control
“Waiting takes too “I won’t miss anything
long. I’m just going if I sleep during the
to do it now.” class lesson.”

©Counselor Chelsey
Name:_________________________
Think It Or Say It? Cut & Paste Answer Key
The original copy of this activity is on pages 12-13 of the download.

Say it Think it
Saying hi to someone new at Telling a stranger where
recess. you live.

Answering your teacher’s Telling your grandma that the food

question after she calls on she cooked is disgusting and that
you. there’s no way you will eat it.

Telling the other team “good Bragging about the grade

job” after you lose the game. you got on your test.

Telling your teacher that you Telling your teacher that

had fun in class. she’s stupid.

Telling your friend about the

Asking for help with your
game you went to, in the
classwork during work time.
middle of the class.

Telling your little brother Telling someone that their

that you are proud of him. shirt looks weird.

Telling someone “thank you” Saying “Shut up. You are so

when they hold the door open annoying.”
for you.

©Counselor Chelsey