💛 SELGrade 2Lesson 29
← Back🔒 PDF with full access

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).

Learning Objectives

  • 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
📘

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.
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 trysmaller10thgot this!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 — take one brave step4. Celebrate!
The four steps to face a small fear — Name it, Breathe, Try, Celebrate.
💡

Ask yourself: "What is one small fear I could face this week — and what would my first brave step be?"

Vocabulary
Fear
The feeling that something might be scary or harmfule.g. I felt fear before speaking in front of class.
Bravery
Doing something important even when you feel scarede.g. Bravery is not the absence of fear.
Brave
Acting even though you are scarede.g. I was brave when I tried something new.
Practice
Doing something many times to grow used to ite.g. Practice makes a fear smaller each time.
Courageous
Showing courage by acting despite feare.g. Asking a question can be courageous.
Free · 7 days · No credit card

Unlock the full HSEA system for 7 days.

Add your first kid profile and your 7 days start: every lesson in every grade, saved progress for each child. Nothing to set up, no card required, nothing to cancel.

  • ✓ All 1,680 lessons, Grades 1–6, every subject
  • ✓ Profiles + saved progress for every kid
  • ✓ Printable lessons with answer key
Start your 7-day free trial →
Already convinced? See full membership plans →
← Lesson 28: Encourage OthersLesson 30: Keep Trying After Mistakes →