💛 SELGrade 2Lesson 29
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Overcome Fears

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

What you will learn

  • 1Put the four steps for facing a small fear in the correct order
  • 2Explain why bravery means acting despite fear, not in the absence of it
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Mini Lesson

Did you know that every brave person you have ever admired was probably scared too? Bravery is not the absence of fear — it is choosing to act even when you are scared. Fear is a normal, human feeling. What you do with it is what matters.

What is fear?

  • Fear is a feeling that something might be dangerous, painful, or overwhelming.
  • Some fears keep us safe (fear of touching hot things).
  • Other fears hold us back from trying new things (fear of failing, fear of speaking in front of others).
  • Everyone has fears — even grown-ups.

What is bravery?

  • Bravery is not the absence of fear — it is doing something important even though you feel scared.
  • The more you face a small fear, the smaller it gets.
  • Example: Speaking in front of a group feels terrifying the first time — but easier the tenth time.

The 4 steps to face a small fear

  • Step 1 — Name it: Give your fear a name. "I am scared of getting the answer wrong in my lessons."
  • Step 2 — Breathe: Take slow breaths to calm your body before you act.
  • Step 3 — Try: Do the scary thing — even just a small first step.
  • Step 4 — Celebrate: Acknowledge that you were brave. Every try counts.

Words to know

Fear

The feeling that something might be scary or harmful

e.g. I felt fear before speaking in front of my family.

Bravery

Doing something important even when you feel scared

e.g. Bravery is not the absence of fear.

Brave

Acting even though you are scared

e.g. I was brave when I tried something new.

Practice

Doing something many times to grow used to it

e.g. Practice makes a fear smaller each time.

Courageous

Showing courage by acting despite fear

e.g. Asking a question can be courageous.

Bravery definition and fear shrinking diagramA banner defining bravery as acting despite fear, followed by three shrinking circles showing fear getting smaller each time you face it.Bravery = acting DESPITE fearNot the absence of fear — the choice to go anyway.Each time you try, your fear gets smaller:1st tryscary!5th trysmaller10theasier!Every try makes the fear a little smaller.
Bravery means acting despite fear — and each time you face a fear, it gets a little smaller.
Four steps to face a small fearA staircase showing four steps: Name it at the bottom, then Breathe, then Try, and Celebrate at the top with a star.4 Steps to Face a Fear1. Name it — give your fear a name2. Breathe — calm your body3. Try — takeone brave step4. Celebrate!
The four steps to face a small fear — Name it, Breathe, Try, Celebrate.
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Ask yourself: "What is one small fear I could face this week — and what would my first brave step be?"

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← Lesson 28: Encourage OthersLesson 30: Keep Trying After Mistakes →